Psychedelics as Psychiatric Medications

Abstract

There is substantial contemporary interest in psychedelic agents as medicines for maladies of the mind. This follows research in the 1950s and 1960s exploring the use of LSD and other psychedelics to treat a range of psychiatric illnesses as well as addictions. This research was shut down after prohibition of these drugs; however, the last decade has seen a major renewal of interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics and related drugs in psychiatry. Part of the Oxford Psychiatry Library series, this book provides an overview of this hugely exciting field, covering the history of psychedelics, clinical aspects, risks and side effects, precautions, and processes. Psilocybin (found in ‘magic mushrooms’) has been used effectively for amelioration of distress in people with depression and anxiety in the context of potentially life-ending cancers. MDMA (‘ecstasy’) has shown efficacy for severe posttraumatic stress disorder, with enduring benefit. Other psychedelics, both plant-derived (e.g. ayahuasca) and synthetically produced (e.g. LSD) are also being investigated for their potential therapeutic value. These agents not only herald a new neurobiology but also allow an integration of psychotherapy with biological compounds that is truly novel and that challenges established psychiatric practice. Further, the action of these agents on the brain allows an exploration of how the brain works to ‘open up’ to psychotherapeutic healing. This book will appeal to clinicians in mental health and addictions, policy makers and neuroscientists; to pharmacists and pharmacologists; and to the general public.