Informed Consent in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.

Informed consent in psychedelic therapy requires clear communication of risks and potential benefits, as classical serotonergic psychedelics like psilocybin and entactogens like MDMA are increasingly used in Western clinical settings. Rigorous informed consent standards are essential for quality care and risk mitigation, especially in research and for vulnerable individuals. This chapter outlines practical elements of informed consent for these treatments based on current understanding.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Humans have long used classical serotonergic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, for a variety of purposes. Entactogens, such as methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), emerged during the twentieth century and have likewise seen use in a broad range of settings. Interest has arisen in the use of classical psychedelics and entactogens, together termed "psychedelics," for therapeutic purposes in Western clinical settings. Care in these settings is governed by standards for the communication and assumption of risk in the process of informed consent. Rigorous informed consent standards in psychedelic medicine are not only essential for quality care but also critical to the mitigation of risk, particularly in research settings and for vulnerable individuals. This chapter describes practical elements of informed consent in psychedelic therapy, with a focus on effective communication of the risks and potential benefits of classical psychedelic and entactogen treatments as they are currently understood.