AJN American Journal of Nursing
May 16, 2021
Andrew Penn, Caroline G. Dorsen, Stephanie Hope et al.
40 citations
Psychedelics, studied from 1943 to 1970 as potential treatments for mental health disorders including addiction, were halted in the early 1970s by the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. As psychedelic-assisted therapy develops, nurses can decide their role in clinical and scholarly research. The article proposes that nurses become familiar with the history, language, and scientific findings of psychedelic research, learn about existing therapy and research resources, examine their own thoughts and judgments about therapeutic psychedelic use, and consider nursing's potential role in these therapies going forward.
AJN American Journal of Nursing
February 19, 2026
Liz Braun, Alison Colbert
Ketamine, initially approved as an anesthetic in 1970, is increasingly used off-label for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Its S-enantiomer, esketamine (Spravato), received FDA approval for treatment-resistant depression in 2019. Clinical applications include intranasal esketamine, IV infusions, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and at-home therapy, with varying oversight. The regulatory landscape remains fragmented, evidence is evolving, and vulnerable patients seek relief. This article provides clinical information for nurses advising patients about ketamine and discusses regulatory, ethical, and nursing implications.
AJN American Journal of Nursing
November 21, 2023
MDMA-assisted therapy reduces symptoms and functional impairment in people with moderate to severe PTSD. In a confirmatory randomized controlled trial with 104 participants, 71% of those receiving MDMA no longer met criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, compared with 48% in the placebo group. The findings add to evidence that MDMA is a safe and effective treatment for PTSD. MDMA was used in psychotherapy until 1985, when it became a Schedule 1 drug, but may soon be considered for FDA approval.
AJN American Journal of Nursing
May 19, 2021
Diane Szulecki
A growing field of psychedelic-assisted therapy uses psychoactive substances such as MDMA and psilocybin to treat mental health disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and addiction. Both MDMA and psilocybin received breakthrough therapy designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and are being studied in clinical trials. Nurses are positioned to play important roles in this area, as their skills align with supporting patients through therapeutic psychedelic experiences, including holding space for healing during birth, illness, and death.
AJN American Journal of Nursing
May 19, 2021
Betsy Todd
A 1964 article by nurse Kay Parley describes the use of LSD therapy for patients with alcoholism in a psychiatric research hospital. Parley enthusiastically details the nurse's role in guiding patients through treatment, calling it a welcomed role on the psychiatric unit. Her perspective was shaped by her own long hospitalization for manic-depressive psychosis and LSD treatment. The editor notes renewed interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy today.