THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF PSYCHEDELICS FOR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS: A REVIEW OF CURRENT EVIDENCE

A review of recent human studies indicates that psychedelic drugs—psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and MDMA—show potential as treatments for mental health conditions including treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, end-of-life anxiety, and substance use disorders. The article summarizes evidence on safety and effectiveness from both human and animal research, suggesting these substances could become groundbreaking therapies for disorders that do not respond to traditional treatments.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The purpose of this review article is to give a summary of the literature on the use of psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and MDMA, in the treatment of various mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. This review's main goal is to highlight recent human studies on the use of particular psychedelic drugs, like psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ayahuasca, in the treatment of various psychiatric illnesses, such as treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, end-of-life anxiety, and substance use disorders. There will also be a discussion of the safety and effectiveness as reported from both human and animal studies. Research has shown that psychedelics have the potential to become ground-breaking treatments for mental health disorders that are resistant to traditional therapies.