Some Comments on Psychedelic Research
Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D.
 MAY 1, 2020
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 
https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20030272

The review in this issue by Reiff and colleagues (1) on psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy from the American Psychiatric Association’s Council of Research is to be commended for its thorough review of studies in the past 12 years in the area. 
The authors nicely lay out the rationale for reviewing the literature, which is in part based on the recent resurgence of interest and the potential to gain regulatory approval to make these treatments available to patients. Proposed industry studies are likely to yield informative data on the efficacy and safety of these compounds that will ultimately guide their clinical use. In the meantime, a detailed review of the entire area from its historical perspectives through pharmacology/mechanisms of action to clinical benefits and risk of abuse is extremely helpful for the field. This effort is to be lauded and will be of great benefit in informing patients, providers, and researchers, as there are a number of issues relevant to studying and ultimately using these agents.