BMC Psychiatry
July 31, 2018
Timothy I. Michaels, Jennifer Purdon, Alexis Collins et al.
256 citations
Minorities are greatly underrepresented in psychedelic medicine studies, so reported treatment outcomes may not apply to all ethnic and cultural groups. Including minorities in future studies and improving recruitment strategies are necessary to understand how well psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy works for people of color and to ensure equal opportunities for all to participate in this potentially promising treatment.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
July 1, 2019
Jamilah R. George, Timothy I. Michaels, Jae Sevelius et al.
222 citations
The resurgence of psychedelic science for treating psychiatric conditions like depression, PTSD, and addiction owes much to indigenous healing practices, yet the contributions of indigenous people, ethnic and racial minorities, women, and other disenfranchised groups are often overlooked in the mainstream narrative. This review first highlights the traditional role of psychedelic plants and summarizes the history of psychedelic medicine, then explores historical and sociocultural factors that have led to unequal research participation and treatment. It recommends broadening the Western medical framework to include a cultural focus and inclusive approaches for future treatment development and dissemination.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
June 7, 2021
Colleen Fogg, Timothy I. Michaels, Sara de la Salle et al.
53 citations
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) shows promise for treating substance use disorders, PTSD, depression, and anxiety in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, but research has almost exclusively involved White populations in North America and Western Europe, neglecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Ethnoracial differences in the metabolism, safety, and efficacy of psychotropic drugs are known from previous research, yet no studies have directly examined such differences for psychedelic pharmacology. This article argues that failing to include BIPOC in trials limits generalizability and overlooks biological and social factors affecting responses to PAP. It discusses limitations of ethnopsychopharmacology and advocates for expanded funding to address cultural, clinical, and public health needs.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
June 7, 2022
Mitchell Arnovitz, Andrew Spitzberg, Ashkhan J. Davani et al.
29 citations
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as social withdrawal and lack of motivation, contribute heavily to the economic burden of the disease and have no FDA-approved treatments. This review argues that MDMA, a schedule I substance known to enhance social interaction and empathy, may offer a novel therapeutic approach. The authors examine literature on negative symptoms, existing treatments, and MDMA-assisted therapy, concluding that recent evidence suggests MDMA can be safe and potentially effective for treating negative symptoms. The review also discusses safety considerations and possible mechanisms of action, including MDMA's ability to induce metaplasticity in the brain.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
July 1, 2022
Timothy I. Michaels, Lebert Lester, Sara de la Salle et al.
19 citations
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are greatly underrepresented in ketamine clinical trials for mood disorders, despite experiencing high rates of such conditions. A review of double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized ketamine trials from 1993 to 2020 found that among 380 participants, 73.7% were non-Hispanic White, 9.2% Black, 5.0% Hispanic/Latinx, and 0.8% Asian. Higher BIPOC inclusion was negatively correlated with the number of recruitment methods used. The lack of reported demographic information may further underestimate BIPOC participation. These disparities mean reported treatment outcomes may not generalize to all groups, and unequal access to novel treatments worsens health inequities.