Psychedelics: Historical Context, Emerging Science, and Future Clinical Frontiers
Vipul Janardan, Amit Khanna, Om Prakash, Anadrika Debbarma, Sk Mathur
Journal of Mental Health Disorders April 18, 2026 DOI: 10.33696/mentalhealth.6.068 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT show therapeutic promise for mental health conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and addiction, based on studies since 2020. This commentary synthesizes historical usage, current neuroscientific and clinical evidence, and explores ethical and regulatory challenges for future medical integration. Rigorous, ethically guided scientific validation is required.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Class philosophy Mental health Ethical issues Public health |
| Key finding | Psychedelics show efficacy in treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and addiction but require rigorous, ethically guided scientific validation. |
Abstract
Psychedelics a class of psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) are undergoing a scientific renaissance. Studies since 2020 have shown their therapeutic promise in mental health treatment. This Commentary synthesizes historical usage, current neuroscientific and clinical evidence, and explores ethical and regulatory frontiers for future medical integration. While showing efficacy in treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and addiction, these substances require rigorous, ethically guided scientific validation.