Psychoactives
April 16, 2024
Daniel Meling, Rebecca Ehrenkranz, Sandeep M. Nayak et al.
26 citations
Psychedelic research has returned after a period of suppression, but media coverage now often overstates benefits as much as it once overstated risks. The actual evidence is more mixed than commonly portrayed, so conclusions about effectiveness remain preliminary. Poor communication may mislead patients and misinform policy. This article reviews studies on psychedelics for depression, noting that effect sizes for other depression treatments—cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, SSRIs, and ketamine—have decreased over time as trials improved. The authors suggest the same may happen for psychedelics: larger, better-controlled trials will likely show smaller, more realistic benefits. Clear communication is essential to set public expectations and guide policy.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
May 1, 2025
Sean P Goldy, Benjamin A Du, Julia S Rohde et al.
15 citations
Classic psychedelics carry both greater acute challenging effects and persisting negative effects compared to cannabis, but also produce greater positive acute and persisting effects. In two studies using quota-based sampling to approximate US Census demographics, participants reported on their first or most memorable experiences with either substance. Predictors of psychedelic outcomes—such as dose level, presence of others, religiosity, and personality—explained only a small degree of the variation. The findings offer a more nuanced characterization of the risks and benefits of psychedelic experiences relative to cannabis.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
March 1, 2025
Rebecca Ehrenkranz, Manish Agrawal, Sandeep M Nayak et al.
7 citations
Public discourse about psychedelic treatments has shifted from past fearmongering to current effusive optimism, but the field would benefit from more balanced attention to both risks and benefits. While most adverse events related to psychedelics are mild, some have been severe and serious, and public education about those risks is necessary. As more studies are conducted and eligibility criteria are relaxed to improve access, the incidence and severity of adverse events are predicted to increase. No medical intervention is risk-free, so quantifying and effectively communicating the risk/benefit profile of psychedelics will become increasingly important.
International Review of Psychiatry
May 23, 2024
Rebecca Ehrenkranz, Manish Agrawal, J. Kim Penberthy et al.
5 citations
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) affects up to 10% of bereaved people, causing functional impairment and intense yearning for at least a year after loss. Current treatments are mainly psychological, and more options are needed. Psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA may help because they reduce depression and PTSD symptoms in clinical trials and produce subjective effects relevant to existential distress in PGD. No randomized clinical trials have yet tested psychedelics for PGD, but initial survey and open-label studies suggest a consistent trend toward grief reduction. A randomized clinical trial is the appropriate next step to explore this potential.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
May 1, 2025
Katherine Cheung, Rebecca Ehrenkranz, Jared T Hinkle et al.
1 citation
A commentary responds to a proposed framework for assessing adverse events in psychedelic-assisted therapies, which includes spiritual, existential, religious, and theological impacts. The authors argue that adverse event assessment in psychedelic clinical trials should match the rigor and standards of other research areas, and emphasize the need for transparency and accessibility in reporting. The commentary discusses the framework's feasibility and various assessment methods, focusing on ensuring systematic and unbiased evaluation of adverse events.
Accountability in research
May 1, 2026
Katherine Cheung, Rebecca Ehrenkranz, Brian D Earp et al.
Several proposals across fields suggest including independent actors in research to manage bias, such as independent auditors for adverse events in psychedelic science or independent researchers in trial teams. However, the concept of independence is often undefined. While introducing independent actors seems beneficial for reducing bias and improving rigor, it may also have significant drawbacks. The authors argue that the implicit sense of independence is freedom from influences that could reduce the trustworthiness or accuracy of findings. They explore whether such actors can be identified without trade-offs with other scientific goals, like expertise. Two models from law and science are offered to guide incorporation of independent actors.