Psychedelic Medicine: Much More Study Needed
Psychiatric News May 3, 2019 S. Caroff
A psychiatrist warns that the evidence for psychedelic medicine rests on small, selective pilot studies and is weak, while sensationalized accounts downplay serious risks such as triggering a psychotic episode or misuse in vulnerable populations. The author argues that these drugs can distort perceptions and alter conscious interpretations in unpredictable ways, and that expediting FDA approval of psychedelics is alarming given the ongoing catastrophe from mass-marketed opioids and the public health impact of other reality-altering substances. The piece calls for balanced scientific analysis and support for basic neuroscience rather than rushing to embrace each new trend.