Psychedelic drugs—a new era in psychiatry?

Classical psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and LSD, plus MDMA (ecstasy), were used extensively in psychiatric research before being prohibited. The ban stopped research and clinical treatments that had shown promise, though recreational use continued. In the past decade, groups have re-evaluated these substances in medicine. Preliminary data show promise for psilocybin in anxiety, depression, smoking, and alcoholism, and for MDMA in post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. The European Medicines Agency approved psilocybin for a phase 3 study in treatment-resistant depression, and the FDA approved MDMA for PTSD. Results are expected in 2020; positive outcomes could lead to clinical approval soon after.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article covers the renaissance of classical psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and LSD plus 3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-ecstasy) in psychiatric research. These drugs were used quite extensively before they became prohibited. This ban had little impact on recreational use, but effectively stopped research and clinical treatments, which up to that point had looked very promising in several areas of psychiatry. In the past decade a number of groups have been working to re-evaluate the utility of these substances in medicine. So far highly promising preliminary data have been produced with psilocybin in anxiety, depression, smoking, alcoholism, and with MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcoholism. These findings have led to the European Medicines Agency approving psilocybin for a phase 3 study in treatment-resistant depression and the Food and Drug Administration for PTSD with MDMA. Both trials should read out in 2020, and if the results are positive we are likely to see these medicines approved for clinical practice soon afterwards. .