Pharmacotherapy of Psychological Disorders Using Psychedelic Drugs: A Treatise for Psychiatrists
Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews January 21, 2024 Payal Ghosh, Debjeet Sur 1 citation
After decades of research restrictions, psychedelics are being reexamined as potential treatments for difficult-to-treat mental illnesses. They are generally considered physically safe and rarely lead to addiction. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified psychedelics as Schedule I drugs. This review highlights the prospective use of psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ayahuasca for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, end-of-life anxiety, and substance misuse disorders. Evidence from both animal and human studies suggests these substances may offer revolutionary treatments, but their history and potential for abuse require careful regulation to ensure they are used as effective medical treatments rather than drugs of abuse.