Psychedelic-assisted therapy: Magical thinking or a meaningful treatment for mental illness

Psychedelics, which alter perception and mood, have a long history in ceremonies and 20th-century psychiatry before being banned in the 1960s. They are now being revisited for therapeutic benefits. Current research focuses on LSD for addiction therapy, psilocybin for palliative care, and MDMA for PTSD. This paper reviews these benefits to encourage further psychiatric research.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that are known to alter perception, alter mood, and affect numerous cognitive processes. Throughout history, psychedelics were utilized in ceremonies and rituals, and in the 20th century, their utilization in psychiatry began. In the 1960s they became a banned substance and are only recently being revisited for their benefits. The main forms of psychedelic substances being studied today are Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for addiction therapy, Psilocybin for palliative care, and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This paper focuses on the benefits of utilizing psychedelics for specific psychiatric conditions and is meant to encourage further research into this domain of Psychiatry.