The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: past, present and future
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Carhart-Harris, RL
Goodwin, GM
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Plant-based psychedelics, such as psilocybin, have an ancient history of medicinal use. After the first English language report on LSD in 1950, psychedelics enjoyed a short-lived relationship with psychology and psychiatry. Used most notably as aids to psychotherapy for the treatment of mood disorders and alcohol dependence, drugs such as LSD showed initial therapeutic promise before prohibitive legislature in the mid-1960s effectively ended all major psychedelic research programs. Since the early 1990s, there has been a steady revival of human psychedelic research: last year saw reports on the first modern brain imaging study with LSD and three separate clinical trials of psilocybin for depressive symptoms. In this circumspective piece, RLC-H and GMG share their opinions on the promises and pitfalls of renewed psychedelic research, with a focus on the development of psilocybin as a treatment for depression.
Date Issued
2017-05-17
Date Acceptance
2017-04-20
Citation
Neuropsychopharmacology, 2017, 42, pp.2105-2113
ISSN
1740-634X
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Start Page
2105
End Page
2113
Journal / Book Title
Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume
42
Copyright Statement
© 2017 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. All rights reserved
Subjects
11 Medical And Health Sciences
17 Psychology And Cognitive Sciences
Psychiatry
Publication Status
Published