Skip the Trip? Five Arguments on the Use of Nonhallucinogenic Psychedelics in Psychiatry

The authors argue that the concept of personal identity is central to ethical debates about emerging neurotechnologies, such as deep brain stimulation and memory modification. They contend that these technologies can alter traits and memories in ways that raise concerns about continuity of self. The paper examines philosophical accounts of personal identity and applies them to clinical and research contexts, suggesting that ethical evaluation must consider how interventions affect a person's narrative identity. The authors conclude that a nuanced understanding of identity is necessary for responsible development and use of neurotechnologies.

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Abstract

Andrew Peterson* and Dominic Sisti Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy and Department of Philosophy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, USA Penn Program on Precision Medicine for the Brain, University of Pennsylvania Memory Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA *Corresponding author. Email: apeter31@gmu.edu