A century of research on psychedelics: A scientometric analysis on trends and knowledge maps of hallucinogens, entactogens, entheogens and dissociative drugs.
Marco Solmi, Chaomei Chen, Charles Dauré, Anne Buot, Michael Ljuslin, Vincent Verroust, Luc Mallet, Yasser Khazaal, Stéphane Rothen, Gabriel Thorens, Daniele Zullino, Gabriella Gobbi, Joshua Rosenblat, Muhammad Ishrat Husain, Danilo De Gregorio, David Castle, Michel Sabé
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology November 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.09.004 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractOver the past century, clinical research on psychedelics has evolved from an early focus on safety into a 'psychedelic renaissance' after the 1990s. A scientometric analysis of 31,687 documents from the Web of Science identified major research themes: hallucinogens/entheogens, entactogens, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), and dissociative substances. The field has shifted from basic science to clinical applications, including phase 2 and 3 trials and evidence synthesis. Recent trends include NPS, ketamine-associated brain changes, and ayahuasca-assisted psychotherapy. The USA and Canada lead in productivity, reflecting legislative influences. This translational evolution has already led to esketamine approval for depression and may lead to further approvals across mental and physical conditions. Toxicology screening tools for NPS are urgently needed and may follow a similar path.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Scientometric analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 31,687 |
| Population | Publications on psychedelics in Web of Science Core Collection up to March 18, 2022 |
| Keywords | Bibliometrix Citespace Evidence synthesis Mood disorders New psychoactive substances |
| Citations | 55 |
| Key finding | Psychedelic research has undergone a translational evolution from bench to bedside, marked by a 'psychedelic renaissance' after the 1990s, leading to approval of esketamine for depression and likely future approvals for other psychedelics. |
Abstract
A scientometric analysis was realized to outline clinical research on psychedelics over the last century. Web of Science Core Collection was searched up to March 18, 2022, for publications on psychedelics. Network analyses and bibliometrics were combined, to identify research themes and trends with Bibliometrix and CiteSpace. The primary aim was to measure research trends evolution over time, and the secondary aims were to identify bibliometric performance and influence networks of publications, authors, institutions, and countries. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for 2016-2022, and 2021 time periods. We included 31,687 documents (591,329 references), which aggregated into a well-structured network with credible clustering. Research productivity was split into an early less productive period mainly focusing on safety issues, and a "psychedelic renaissance" after the 1990s. Major trends were identified for hallucinogens/entheogens, entactogens, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), and on dissociative substances. There was a translational evolution from the bench to the bedside, with phase 2 and 3 trials and/or evidence synthesis in particular. The most recent trends concerned NPS, ketamine-associated brain changes, and ayahuasca-assisted psychotherapy. The USA and Canada were the most productive settings for the research overall, and more recently this geographical distribution became more prominent, reflecting legislative context/policy making. A translational evolution of psychedelics has been occurring, that has brought approval of esketamine for depression and will likely lead to approval of additional psychedelics across mental and physical conditions. Toxicology screening tools for NPS are urgently needed, which in turn might follow the same translational evolution of psychedelics in the future.