Psychedelics and the essential importance of context.
J Psychopharmacol February 15, 2018 Robin L Carhart-Harris, Leor Roseman, Eline Haijen et al. 646 citations
Modern trials support the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs, but their effects are exceptionally sensitive to context—the combination of mindset and physical setting. This opinion piece highlights how classic psychedelics act through 5-HT2A receptor agonism and associated plasticity, making context crucial. It proposes a study design to test positive interactions between psychedelics and context, and presents new findings on how contextual determinants shape the quality of a psychedelic experience, which in turn predicts long-term mental health outcomes. The authors aim to inform good practice, optimize treatment models, and reduce stigma while building evidence that context minimizes harms and maximizes benefits.