Avoiding Stigma and Sensationalism in Therapeutic Psilocybin Communications: Considerations for Reaching Older Patients
Charlotte M. Gillespie, Jesse M. Bering
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry July 23, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2025.07.003 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractOlder adults with treatment-resistant depression may benefit from psilocybin therapy but could hold more stigmatized views due to the drug's illicit history and past antidrug messaging. Current clinical communication may inadvertently reinforce negative attitudes. The authors offer communication guidelines for therapeutic psilocybin tailored to older patients.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 3 |
| Key finding | Older adults may hold more stigmatized attitudes toward psilocybin therapy, and current clinical communication strategies may reinforce these attitudes rather than reduce them. |
Abstract
Psilocybin's efficacy as a treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has led to a wave of new legislation permitting its usage in medical settings. Older adults are affected disproportionately by TRD and may be especially good candidates for this promising treatment. However, due to the drug's past (and present) illicit status and exposure to historic antidrug messaging, older prospective patients may hold more stigmatized attitudes towards this treatment than those who are younger. Stigma and sensationalism pose special challenges for the dissemination of effective, accurate information about therapeutic psilocybin, with recent "hype" around the drug treatment possibly further alienating these individuals. Because current clinical communication strategies may be inadvertently reinforcing negative attitudes about psychedelics rather than reducing them, we offer some general communication guidelines for therapeutic psilocybin geared towards the older patient profile.