Ethical Issues and Recommendations in Psychedelic Research and Practice: A Scoping Review
N Brittain, Nicholas Higgins, Mary Barber, Wonyong Choi, Adrian Carter, John Gardner
Journal of Bioethical Inquiry August 7, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-025-10454-3 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA scoping review of fifty-one articles identified five main ethical concerns in psychedelic research and practice: standards of practice, equity, integrity, cultural appropriation, and epistemic justice. A consultation workshop revealed additional neglected issues: post-trial care, lack of consensus on models of care and practitioner competencies, and how current research and ethical issues will translate into practice. Recommended future directions include designing clear competency frameworks, increased consultation with Indigenous and priority populations, guidelines for Indigenous recognition, management of post-trial care in clinical trials, and adequate governance of psychedelic prescribing practices.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Scoping review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 51 |
| Population | Relevant articles on psychedelic research and practice |
| Keywords | Medical law Engineering ethics Psychology Research ethics Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | Five main ethical concerns were identified in the literature—standards of practice, equity, integrity, cultural appropriation, and epistemic justice—with additional neglected issues including post-trial care, lack of consensus on models of care and practitioner competencies, and translation into practice. |
Abstract
The rapid growth in psychedelic research raises novel ethical challenges for both research and psychedelic-assisted therapy. Despite these challenges, there is no consensus among researchers, clinicians, patients, and regulators on how these ethical issues may be avoided or managed. This study aimed to identify key ethical issues in psychedelic research and practice in the literature. A scoping review was performed, identifying fifty-one relevant articles. Content analysis revealed five main ethical concerns in the literature: 1) standards of practice, 2) equity, 3) integrity, 4) cultural appropriation, and 5) epistemic justice. A consultation workshop highlighted several key concerns that were neglected in the literature: 1) post-trial care, 2) lack of consensus on models of care and psychedelic practitioner competencies, and 3) how current research and its associated ethical issues will be translated into practice. Based on these findings the following future directions are recommended: designing clear competency frameworks, increased consultation with Indigenous and priority populations (e.g. ethnic and cultural minorities, under-served groups), guidelines for Indigenous recognition, management of post-trial care in clinical trials, and adequate governance of psychedelic prescribing practices.