Psilocybin: Good Trip or Bad Trip

Psychedelic drugs, once used in religious ceremonies and known for distorting perception, are being rediscovered for potential therapeutic uses, continuing a long tradition of finding new applications for old drugs.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Much of the history of pharmacology and therapeutics involves finding new uses for old drugs. The latest rediscovery is that of psychedelic drugs. Since they can cause profound distortions of perception and were once used as part of religious ceremonies, such research may seem unusual at this time.