The use of psychedelics in the treatment of disorders of consciousness. An interview with Olivia Gosseries by Charlotte Martial.

An interview with Olivia Gosseries explores the potential of psychedelic drugs, particularly psilocybin, as a treatment for disorders of consciousness such as the persistent vegetative state. While psilocybin is undergoing clinical investigations in healthy volunteers and clinical populations, experts propose extending this research to patients with disorders of consciousness. Gosseries, drawing on her empirical and theoretical work, supports implementing rigorous clinical trials to test efficacy. The interview also touches on ethical and legal challenges and discusses other non-pathological modified states of consciousness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In this interview, we discuss the use of psychedelic drugs as a promising treatment in disorders of consciousness. Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, is currently undergoing substantial clinical investigations in healthy volunteers, but also in clinical populations. Recently, experts in the field of psychedelics have addressed the attractive possibility to use such psychedelics on patients suffering from disorders of consciousness. Building on her empirical and theoretical research on disorders of consciousness, Olivia Gosseries gives us her opinion. Implementing rigorous clinical trials with psychedelics on patients with disorders of consciousness will allow their clinical efficacy to be tested. We finish the interview by briefly addressing the ethical and legal challenges and discussing other related non-pathological modified states of consciousness.