Harnessing psychedelics for treating posttraumatic stress disorder: Does the science support all the hype?

Abstract

This paper is an edited transcript of a plenary panel held at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The panel comprised Drs. Mark Creamer (moderator), Richard Bryant (convenor), Amy Lehrner, Barbara O. Rothbaum, Joseph I. Ruzek, and Paula P. Schnurr. Bringing together clinicians and researchers with a diverse range of views, the panel sought to explore some of the pressing issues confronting the field. Following opening comments, the discussion addressed topics such as: "What is covered under the rubric of 'psychedelics'?," "Is there too much hype?," "What is the role of psychotherapy?," "What are the putative mechanisms of change?," and "What are the key ethical issues?" Audience questions were followed by brief closing comments. Despite disagreements, there was a high level of consensus that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy represents an exciting possibility for people living with posttraumatic stress disorder who have not responded to existing evidence-based treatments. Equally, there was agreement that considerably more rigorous research is required before definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the specific components and efficacy of these approaches. Ethical concerns, particularly regarding accessibility, will present a significant challenge for provider organizations.