Past Is Prologue: Ethical Issues in Pediatric Psychedelics Research and Treatment
Perspectives in biology and medicine January 1, 2023 Gail A. Edelsohn, Dominic Sisti 8 citations
Recent clinical trials of psychedelic drugs such as MDMA and psilocybin, administered with psychotherapy, have shown promise for treating PTSD and treatment-resistant depression in adults, leading to FDA breakthrough therapy designations. This raises the question of whether such treatments should be tested in minors, who suffer from many of the same conditions. Examining historical psychedelic research on children from 1959 to 1974 reveals significant methodological and ethical flaws. The essay argues that the ineffable nature of the psychedelic experience makes informed proxy consent especially challenging for parents and guardians.