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Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.

Other Environmental health

2 papers

Other

Based on 15 papers

Researchers are studying many kinds of “other” treatments for mental health. These include short, fast-acting psychedelics (like 5‑MeO‑DMT and DMT/ayahuasca), new drugs that aim to rewire the brain without strong trips (called non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens), traditional plant medicines used by healers, and new synthetic drugs that appear on the market. Studies range from lab work and single-case reports to small clinical trials and systematic reviews, so the evidence is mixed in size and quality (15122, 15082, 15077, 15118, 15099). Some results look promising. Several reports find short-term drops in depression, suicidal thinking, or alcohol use after psychedelic experiences, and laboratory work suggests these drugs can change brain activity and help the brain form new connections. But there are real risks, such as drug-induced hallucinations and a rare condition called HPPD (long-lasting changes in perception). Many findings are early, small, or inconsistent, and experts disagree about whether the intense, subjective experience of a psychedelic is needed for benefit (15093, 15122, 15082, 15080, 15097, 15077).

Key findings

  • Researchers are studying these treatments mostly for depression, treatment-resistant depression, alcohol use disorder, and problems with stimulants like methamphetamine. 15082 15122 15116 15121
  • Short-acting psychedelics such as 5‑MeO‑DMT are noted for very brief sessions, while ayahuasca is a plant brew taken by mouth because it contains chemicals that protect DMT from being broken down. 15122 15082
  • Some new drugs called non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens aim to make the brain more flexible without causing the strong subjective 'trip' that classic psychedelics produce. 15077
  • Across small trials and reviews, people often report falls in depression scores and less suicidal thinking after psychedelic use, and these changes sometimes link to people becoming less likely to avoid painful thoughts and feelings. 15093 15082
  • Early work suggests 5‑MeO‑DMT and DMT can change brain rhythms and encourage the brain to rewire connections, which may relate to improved mood or reduced drinking, but these ideas are still preliminary. 15122 15082
  • There are real risks: psychedelics and other psychoactive drugs can cause hallucinations, full psychotic episodes in some people, and a rare, longer-lasting problem called Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD). 15080 15097
  • HPPD is uncommon but not well understood; it can include many kinds of lasting perceptual problems and is seen more often in people who already had mental-health or substance-use issues. 15097 15048
  • For methamphetamine use disorder, researchers report there are currently no approved medicines that reliably cut cravings or lead to long-term abstinence, though some drugs may help related symptoms like psychosis or thinking problems. 15116
  • Traditional healers use many plants and rituals (for example, a tobacco liquid in the Amazon or 25 plant species for alcohol problems in Uganda), and single case reports sometimes show improvement, but these reports do not prove safety or general effectiveness. 15069 15118
  • The field has many small studies, reviews, and case reports, so scientists say larger, better-controlled trials are needed; experts also disagree about whether the subjective psychedelic experience is necessary for benefit. 15122 15082 15077 15047 15093

Indigenous-Amazonian Traditional Medicine’s Usage of the Tobacco Plant: A Transdisciplinary Ethnopsychological Mixed-Methods Case Study

Ilana Berlowitz, Ernesto García Torres, Caroline Maake, Ursula Wolf, Chantal Martin‐Soelch
Plants Summary & key facts 2023 13 citations

Researchers reported a single case where a traditional Amazonian healer gave a weeklong, ritual treatment that included drinking a liquid made from the native tobacco plant. The patient was a 37-year-old woman with diagnosed low mood, anxiety, and attention problems plus a long-term physical health issue. The team used both…

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects Psychedelics and Drug Studies Other

Medicinal plants used by traditional medicine practitioners in treatment of alcohol-related disorders in Bushenyi District, southwestern Uganda

Samuel Maling, Jerome Kabakyenga, Charles Muchunguzi, Eunice Apio Olet, Mary Namaganda, Ivan Kahwa, et al.
Frontiers in Pharmacology Summary & key facts 2024 12 citations

Researchers interviewed 50 traditional medicine practitioners in a rural district of southwestern Uganda to record which plants they use to treat problems linked to drinking alcohol. They found 25 different plant species and clear patterns in how healers prepare and give these remedies, for example using leaves and drying plants…

African Botany and Ecology Studies Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies Other
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