Consciousness, Religion, and Gurus: Pitfalls of Psychedelic Medicine.
ACS pharmacology & translational science April 9, 2021 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00198 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA viewpoint article outlines three major pitfalls in psychedelic research that could hinder their medical use: imprecise use of the term "consciousness," the inappropriate introduction of investigators' or clinicians' religious or spiritual beliefs, and ethical challenges related to clinical boundaries in psychedelic treatments.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Viewpoint Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 109 |
| Key finding | The article identifies three pitfalls in psychedelic research: sloppy use of 'consciousness,' inappropriate introduction of religious/spiritual beliefs, and ethical challenges with clinical boundaries. |
Abstract
This viewpoint identifies pitfalls in the study of psychedelic compounds, including those that pose challenges for the potential use of psychedelics as medicines. They are as follows: (1) Sloppiness regarding use of the term "consciousness". (2) Inappropriate introduction of religious/spiritual beliefs of investigators or clinicians. (3) Clinical boundaries and other ethical challenges associated with psychedelic treatments.