[Psychedelic Experiences: Phenomenology, Therapeutic Potentials and Explanatory Models].
Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina) July 10, 2023 Tamara Chernoff, Bruno Kliger, Dante Hernán Venturini
Classic psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT are psychoactive compounds that work mainly by activating serotonergic receptors. In appropriate doses, they produce profound changes in subjective experience, leading to altered states of consciousness that can include mystical, transcendental, or ego-dissolution phenomena. These experiences are linked to therapeutic effects in various mental health conditions. Psychedelics are considered safe, with low risk of serious adverse effects and no addictive potential. Current evidence comes from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of phase II clinical trials with small samples, strict exclusion criteria, and challenges with double-blind methods. This bibliographic review examines the phenomenological features of psychedelic experiences, their potential therapeutic uses, and underlying mechanisms.