Ethical challenges in the therapeutic application of classical psychedelics for pediatric health conditions: A comprehensive review
Brazilian Journal of Science September 29, 2025 Pinelopi Vlotinou, Konstantinos Christodoulou, Anna Tsiakiri et al.
Classical psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and mescaline act on serotonin receptors, altering perception, cognition, and emotion, and can induce lasting neural plasticity. Clinical trials in adults show promise for treating psychiatric disorders, sparking interest in pediatric applications. This review evaluates ethical considerations—autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—for using these compounds in children. While evidence suggests potential benefits, current research is preliminary, with uncertain outcomes and significant limitations, highlighting ethical and practical challenges for this vulnerable population.