The use of psychoactive substances in the treatment of mental disorders
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction August 31, 2022 Katarzyna Karaś, Katarzyna Groblińska, Krzysztof Szczygieł et al.
Psychoactive substances, particularly psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD, offer immediate therapeutic effects for depression and anxiety in terminal illness without the adverse effects of standard antidepressants, such as extrapyramidal syndrome or sexual disorders. Ketamine has proven effectiveness for depressive disorders and has been introduced as a new treatment. This review covers mechanisms, uses, and side effects of classic psychedelics, empathogens, cannabinoids, stimulants, and dissociants, noting that some substances have strong evidence for treating mental disorders including PTSD, substance dependence, ADHD, and Tourette's Syndrome.