Socioeconomic status (SES) strongly affects mental health outcomes and treatment access, but its reporting in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials is inadequate. A systematic review of 98 articles (49 primary trials and 49 secondary analyses) from 2006 to 2024 found that only 12% of primary trials reported participant income data, and 31% reported educational attainment. In US-based trials, participants had markedly higher SES than the general population: 93% had some college education (versus 62% nationally), and median incomes in major trials substantially exceeded the national median for all workers. Non-US trials showed variable patterns. This underreporting and evidence of socioeconomic disparities highlights an urgent need for standardized SES reporting and strategies to improve socioeconomic diversity in psychedelic-assisted therapy research.
HIV-related shame predicts substance use and poor antiretroviral adherence among people with HIV, hindering national epidemic-ending goals. In a pilot clinical trial with 12 participants, psilocybin-assisted group therapy produced a large decrease in HIV-related shame, with a median reduction of 5.5 points on the HIV and Abuse Related Shame Inventory from baseline to 3-month follow-up. However, two participants experienced a paradoxical worsening of sexual abuse-related shame after psilocybin, raising concerns about its use in patients with trauma. These preliminary results suggest potential for addressing HIV-related shame but highlight cautions.