Clinical Research Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Adolescents Aged 16 to 17 Years: Rationale Balanced With Caution.
Jessica K Jeffrey, Marc J Weintraub, Charles S Grob
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.03.021 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA significant proportion of adolescents continue to experience impairing psychiatric symptoms even after receiving existing mental health services. The authors propose that the benefit-to-risk calculation supports trialing classic serotonergic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin) and empathogenic compounds (e.g., MDMA) in combination with psychotherapy among select adolescents aged 16 to 17 years. They specifically recommend testing these treatments in adolescents with treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders or disorders that align with the current adult evidence base, such as those with FDA breakthrough designation for psilocybin in major depressive disorder or MDMA in posttraumatic stress disorder.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Psilocybin MDMA |
| Topics | Depression Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Adolescent mental health Clinical research Psychiatric medicine |
| Citations | 12 |
| Key finding | The authors argue there is an acceptable benefit-to-risk calculation supporting the trialing of psychedelics and empathogenic compounds with psychotherapy in select adolescents aged 16 to 17 with treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. |
Abstract
Youth today are burdened by significant mental health challenges. In 2022, 25% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years experienced a mental illness, with 20% experiencing a depressive episode, 12.5% reporting serious thoughts of suicide, and 17% meeting criteria for a substance use disorder.1 Close to 5% of adolescents experience posttraumatic stress disorder.2 Impairing psychiatric symptoms remain present in upwards of 40% of adolescents after receiving existing mental health services,3 so it is necessary to identify additional and more effective treatment options. We propose there is an acceptable benefit-to-risk calculation that supports trialing classic serotonergic psychedelics (eg, psilocybin) and phenethylamine compounds with empathogenic and entactogenic range of effects (eg, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]) in combination with psychotherapy among select adolescents aged 16 to 17 years. Specifically, we propose testing these treatments among adolescents aged 16 to 17 years who are experiencing treatment-resistant manifestations of psychiatric disorders (ie, multiple failed trials of current evidence-based treatments) or psychiatric disorders that are in line with the current evidence base for adults as determined, for example, by the breakthrough designation of the US Food and Drug Administration for a particular psychedelic medicine (eg, psilocybin for major depressive disorder, MDMA for posttraumatic stress disorder).