Preventing the Gaps in Psychedelic Research from Becoming Practice Pitfalls: A Translational Research Agenda

Abstract

The reemergence of psychedelic medicines as clinical treatments has generated considerable interest in both professional and popular arenas. Although evidence is promising for psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), there is much that is not yet known and needs to be researched so as to understand how to safely and effectively utilize PAT in clinical populations and to most effectively deploy PAT to patients. In addition, non-clinical stakeholders introduce interests and agendas that may differ from those of clinicians. This article reviews the history of how psychedelics were initially outlawed and then introduces research questions that will help to fill these gaps in knowledge.