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.
The authors reviewed psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy studies published from 1993 to 2017 to see how many people of color took part. They found 18 studies with about 280 people. About 82% of participants were non-Hispanic White, while only small percentages were African American, Latino, Asian, indigenous, or mixed race. Because so…
This small, randomized, double-blind pilot study tested MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety tied to life‑threatening illness. Eighteen people were enrolled (13 got MDMA, 5 got placebo) and had two blinded 8‑hour therapy sessions, with later open‑label MDMA sessions and 6‑ and 12‑month follow-ups. The MDMA group showed a larger drop in…
Researchers ran a national online survey of U.S. adults from November 2020 to March 2021 that was weighted to represent the adult population. They asked about use of psychedelic mushrooms (psilocybin), reasons for use, and mental health. Many users said they took mushrooms for general mental health and well-being. Users…
Researchers built and tested a 20-question survey called the Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire (APQ) with 1,153 people in Croatia to measure how the general public thinks about psychedelics. The questions fall into four parts: legal use, effects, risks, and openness. The survey gave very consistent results, matched well with another…
Researchers ran an online survey of about 174 people who had used psychoactive drugs to see how these drugs affected obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. Participants reported that classic psychedelics were the only drugs that helped reduce OCD symptoms, and bigger immediate effects (which were linked to higher doses) were tied…
The Canadian Psychedelic Survey (CPS) surveyed 2,045 people in January 2022 about their use of psychedelic drugs in Canada. The survey found that psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD were the most used drugs. People most often used psychedelics for fun, self-exploration, general mental well-being, and personal growth. Large shares of respondents…
This paper reviews research on three naturally occurring psychedelics: psilocybin, ibogaine, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (the active part of the brew ayahuasca). It explains that these drugs work on the brain's serotonin system and summarizes growing studies that suggest they might help with problems like post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, anxiety, and…
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…
The study surveyed 419 psychiatrists working in 33 European countries about their knowledge and attitudes toward psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP). Overall, psychiatrists showed general openness to psychedelics and PAP but also notable concern about risks. Younger age, being male, higher knowledge, identifying as spiritual, past personal use of psychedelics,…
While there is therapeutic potential for psychedelics in women's reproductive health issues, comprehensive research pertaining to women is lacking. While rigorous scientific inquiry into the safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of psychedelics in women's health is paramount, public health messaging should dispel myths and promote risk reduction strategies. Collaboration…
