The therapeutical role of psychedelic drugs in treatment of mental disorders

Psychedelic drugs, which primarily act on the 5-HT2 serotonergic receptor, are divided into indoleamines (such as LSD, DMT, and psilocybin) and phenethylamines (such as mescaline, DOM, MDA, and MDMA). Historically used in spiritual ceremonies and to treat physical and mental illnesses, research has highlighted their therapeutic potential in psychiatry. Studies on psilocybin and LSD have shown beneficial effects for conditions including anxiety, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and addictions to alcohol and smoking.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychedelic drugs (also called hallucinogens, psychotogenics, psycholytics, entheogens) are substances that act mainly on the 5-HT2 serotonergic receptor.There are two main groups of psychedelics: indoleamines (lysergic acid diethylamide-LSD, N, N-dimethyltryptamine-DMT, and psilocybin) and phenethylamines (mescaline, dimethoxymethamphetamine-DOM, methylenedioxyamphetamine-MDA, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine-MDMA).These drugs have a long history, being used in the past in spiritual and religious ceremonies and also in the treatment of physical and mental illnesses.Studies have been conducted over the years on the therapeutic utility of these psychedelic drugs (especially psilocybin, LSD) in the psychiatric field and their beneficial effect has been highlighted in conditions such as anxiety, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcohol addiction, smoking addiction.