Ethics of Psychedelic Use in Psychiatry and Beyond—Drawing upon Legal, Social and Clinical Challenges

Psychedelics, which produce powerful mental effects by activating 5HT-2A receptors in the brain, were researched in the 1950s and 1960s until their criminalization. Their renewed clinical investigation as therapeutic tools for psychiatric disorders raises deontological ethical questions for clinicians, patients, and society. A review of 42 articles from 2017 to 2022 concludes that psychedelics must be culturally contextualized, epistemic harm minimized and represented to ensure informed consent. Open data and commissions are needed to guarantee safe and equal distribution.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Psychedelics are known for their powerful mental effects due to the activation of 5HT-2A receptors in the brain. During the 1950s and 1960s, research was conducted on these molecules until their criminalization. However, their clinical investigation as therapeutic tools for psychiatric disorders has revived the deontological ethics surrounding this subject. Questions arise as research on their therapeutic outcome becomes a reality. We aim to explore deontological ethics to understand the implications of psychedelics for the clinician, patient, and society. Results: A total of 42 articles were considered for this review. Methods: A methodological search of psychedelic studies from 2017 to 2022 was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and ScienceDirect to address the deontological ethics of clinical psychedelic use. Conclusion: Psychedelics need to be culturally contextualized, epistemic harm minimized and represented to ensure informed consent. Open data and commissions are needed to ensure safe and equal distribution.