Scientists are looking into mental health potential of psychedelic drugs. Previous research has shown that LSD and other psychedelic drugs can help reducing psychological distress and suicidal thoughts in mentally ill patients. Another study published in the year 2013 come to the conclusion that psychedelics drugs can have "lasting" health benefits for mental health.
However, the problem, according to News Week, is that the psychedelic culture is having a certain stigma associated with it. It is all started with the counterculture movement and the hippies of the '60s and '70s. This means that currently, studying any type of psychedelic drugs, similar to marijuana research, it often met with rejection, backlash or tight regulation. This situation is making it difficult for researchers to move forward.
However, all that might finally be changing, due to new research and progressing opinion among psychiatrists. On the same note came the new study of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The research was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). The paper reviewed several other small studies on psychedelics' effects. The conclusion of the research is that these drugs should be brought more into the spotlight and used openly in the field of psychotherapy.
"The re-emerging paradigm of psychedelic medicine may open clinical doors and therapeutic doors long closed," According to a press release by Dr. Evan Wood, professor of medicine and Canada research chair at the University of British Columbia, the doors to clinical and therapeutic use can be open by the re-emerging paradigm of psychedelic medicine.
The study that reviewed a small randomized controlled trial found that LSD in collaboration with psychotherapy could reduce anxiety caused by terminal illness. The scientists also reviewed another small study on the results of treating alcohol addiction by using an active molecule in mushrooms. The third small study analyzed by the research team has showed that MDMA (ecstasy) can lower post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in people suffering from chronic PTSD.
The authors of the study concluded that continued medical research into psychedelic drugs may lead to discovering new ways to treat mental illness and addiction in patients who cannot benefit from currently available treatments.
