Psychedelic research and sexuality: opportunities and pitfalls.
J Sex Med February 1, 2026
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) may influence sexuality through its effects on emotion, perception, and embodiment, but current evidence is limited and heterogeneous. Most studies report sexual outcomes only as secondary or incidental findings, which restricts interpretability and causal inference. The article reviews neurobiological, psychological, clinical, and ethical dimensions of PAT and outlines implications for sexuality, aiming to highlight future research directions. Esketamine has been approved for depression in the US and EU, while psilocybin and MDMA have Breakthrough Therapy Designation in the US for depression and PTSD, respectively.