Interest in psychedelics has increased significantly these last few years, with researchers finding out more about the potential mental health benefits of substances such as LSD, mescaline, DMT and psilocybin. Thus far, research has determined that these drugs induce intense emotional experiences and alter individuals’ perception and cognition, with some also causing mystical experiences.
Now, a recently conducted review has found that the therapeutic potential of these substances extends beyond mystical experiences.
The study authors argued that psychedelic benefits weren’t universal, noting that the drugs could also induce existential crises, anxiety and depersonalization. In their review, they highlight the importance of understanding these serious effects, particularly in a clinical context, because they may play a significant role in both the risks and benefits linked to psychedelic therapy.
The review also criticizes techniques used to measure the acute subjective effects of these substances, calling attention to the limitations and inconsistencies that impede clinical practice as well as research. Acute subjective effects include heightened affect, visual alterations, ineffability, emotional breakthrough and a sense of connectedness, among others.
Tools such as the 5D Altered States of Consciousness scale and the Mystical Experience Questionnaire have been used to evaluate these effects. Despite these tools being popular, the authors claim that they may not sufficiently forecast long-term therapeutic outcomes or even capture the entire range of experiences.
To make any advancements in this field, the authors demand that new and more comprehensive measures be developed which can accurately evaluate the diverse acute effects of psychedelics. This, they note, should include the creation of tools validated via strict empirical tests.
The authors’ findings have huge implications for the future of psychedelic therapy and research.
It is expected that scientists will be able to better understand how these substances affect the mind and how they contribute to mental health once the focus shifts from mystical experiences. This, in turn, may facilitate the development of efficacious therapeutic protocols that minimize the risks of these drugs while maximizing their benefits.
The need for empirically validated and data-driven measures becomes more important as scientific and public interest in psychedelics continues to increase. The review provides recommendations for clinicians and researchers alike, including suggestions on the development of next-gen psychometric tools and best practices for measuring acute subjective effects.
The review was authored by Roland R. Griffiths, Brandon Weiss, Sean P. Goldy and David B. Yaden. The researchers’ findings were published in “Nature Reviews Psychology.”
This study provides plenty of food for thought for the broader psychedelics industry, including companies such as Mind Medicine Inc. (NASDAQ: MNMD) (NEO: MMED) (DE: MMQ), to find more rigorous ways of measuring the effects of psychedelics on the mind. This is particularly critical given the recent rejection by the FDA of an MDMA drug with a recommendation that another phase 3 trial be done.
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