Current perspectives on psychedelic therapy: use of serotonergic hallucinogens in clinical interventions

This review (2018) investigates the models (e.g. medium/high dosage) of psychedelic therapy in both its historical context and possible future directions.

Abstract of Current perspectives on psychedelic therapy

“Humans have used serotonergic hallucinogens (i.e. psychedelics) for spiritual, ceremonial, and recreational purposes for thousands of years, but their administration as part of a structured therapeutic intervention is still a relatively novel practice within Western medical and psychological frameworks. In the mid-20th century, considerable advances were made in developing therapeutic approaches integrating administration of low (psycholytic) and high (psychedelic) doses of serotonergic hallucinogens for treatment of a variety of conditions, often incorporating psychoanalytic concepts prevalent at that time. This work contributed seminal insights regarding how these substances may be employed with efficacy and safety in targeted therapeutic interventions, including the importance of optimizing set (frame of mind) and setting (therapeutic environment). More recently, clinical and pharmacological research has revisited the effects and therapeutic potential of psychedelics utilizing a variety of approaches. The current article provides an overview of past and present models of psychedelic therapy, and discusses important considerations for future interventions incorporating the use of psychedelics in research and clinical practice.”

Authors: Albert Garcia-Romeu & William A. Richards

Summary of Current perspectives on psychedelic therapy

Evidence of human hallucinogen use dates back to prehistoric times, and these substances are still used for healing, divinatory, spiritual, and sacramental purposes. However, use of hallucinogens in modern medicine has been considerably shorter lived, and fraught with cultural and legal complications almost since the outset.

Psychopharmacology of hallucinogens

The term hallucinogen is applied broadly to many different naturally occurring and synthetic drugs, including psychedelics, entactogens, dissociative anaesthetics, anticholinergic deliriants, and cannabinoids. The focus of this article is on psychedelic therapy involving administration of 5-HT2A agonist psychedelics.

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Current perspectives on psychedelic therapy: use of serotonergic hallucinogens in clinical interventions

https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1486289

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Cite this paper (APA)

Garcia-Romeu, A., & Richards, W. A. (2018). Current perspectives on psychedelic therapy: use of serotonergic hallucinogens in clinical interventions. International Review of Psychiatry30(4), 291-316.

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Authors

Authors associated with this publication with profiles on Blossom

Albert Garcia-Romeu
Albert Garcia-Romeu is one of the principal researchers in the renaissance of psychedelics studies. He is doing his research at Johns Hopkins and focuses on psilocybin and how it can help with treating addiction.

William Richards
William A. 'Bill' Richards is one of the pioneering psychedelic researchers (Johns Hopkins), a teacher at CIIS, and clinician in private practice.

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