Efficacy, all-cause discontinuation, and safety of serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA to treat mental disorders: A living systematic review with meta-analysis.
Mikkel Højlund, Helin Y. Kafali, Begüm Kırmızı, Paolo Fusar-Poli, Christoph U. Correll, Samuele Cortese, Michel Sabé, Jess Fiedorowicz, Gayatri Saraf, Josephine Zein, Michael Berk, Muhammad I. Husain, Joshua D. Rosenblat, Ruby Rubaiyat, Kim Corace, Stanley Wong, Simon Hatcher, Mark Kaluzienski, Lakshmi N. Yatham, Andrea Cipriani, Corentin J. Gosling, Robin Carhart-Harris, Peter Tanuseputro, Daniel T. Myran, Nicholas Fabiano, David Moher, Leah M. Mayo, Stuart G. Nicholls, Tracy White, Michele de Prisco, Joaquim Radua, Eduard Vieta, Karim S. Ladha, Jay Katz, Areti A. Veroniki, Marco Solmi
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol November 7, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.09.011 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA living systematic review with meta-analysis examined the efficacy, safety, and all-cause discontinuation of serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA for treating mental disorders. The review found that these substances show promise in reducing symptoms of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with some evidence supporting their therapeutic potential. However, the authors note that the overall quality of evidence is limited by small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and methodological concerns. Safety profiles varied, with most adverse events being mild to moderate, though serious adverse events were reported in some studies. The review emphasizes the need for larger, more rigorous trials to confirm these findings.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review with meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | MDMA Therapy Psychedelic medicine Entheogenic therapy Psycholytic treatment |
| Citations | 12 |
| Key finding | Serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA show therapeutic potential for mental disorders, but evidence is limited by small samples and methodological issues. |
Abstract
Efficacy, all-cause discontinuation, and safety of serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA to treat mental disorders: A living systematic review with meta-analysis.