Psychedelic medicine is focus of new journal

The emerging field of psychedelic medicine is rapidly evolving, as university centers dedicated to the study of psychedelics are expanding across North America and Europe. Advances in psychedelic research and the status of investigational psychedelic compounds in clinical trials are the focus of cutting-edge articles published in the new peer-reviewed journal Psychedelic Medicine. Click here to read the premier issue now.

The editorial board of Psychedelic Medicine collaborated on the article titled “Proposed Consensus Statement on Defining Psychedelic Drugs.” They agreed that Psychedelic Medicine will primarily focus on serotonergic agonists, and they “propose that the term ‘psychedelic’ used in the broader scientific sense is limited to the description of psychoactive substances that have as a primary mechanism of action activation of 5-HT2A receptors.” Additionally, “the journal may include research studies of compounds that affect consciousness, albeit not necessarily by direct stimulation of 5-HT2A receptors.”

The issue includes a Roundtable Discussion titled “Past, Present, and Future of Psychedelics,” moderated by Co-Editors-in-Chief of Psychedelic Medicine Peter Hendricks, PhD, Professor and Director of Research in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Charles Nichols, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans. The expert panelists explore the history of psychedelic research and the lessons learned. They also examine the current strategies for psychedelic research and the priorities for the future.

Also featured in this issue is the article titled “A Bayesian Reanalysis of a Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression.” Corresponding author Sandeep Nayak, MD, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and colleagues report on a trial of psilocybin versus the commonly used escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder. They concluded that although psilocybin outperformed escitalopram, it was not to an extent that was clinically meaningful. Psilocybin was not inferior to escitalopram, and this finding warrants the need for further research into the relative efficacy of psilocybin therapy for depression compared to leading treatments.

About the Journal

Psychedelic Medicine is the first peer-reviewed journal to publish original research papers on every aspect of psychedelic medicine, including basic science, clinical, and translational research, as well as medical applications. This journal provides a vital resource for clinicians and patients alike who are invested in the potential efficacy of psychedelic drugs currently undergoing research in preclinical and clinical studies as an alternative or supplement to traditionally manufactured pharmaceuticals to treat depression, anxiety, addiction, demoralization, and other mental health conditions. Visit the Psychedelic Medicine website to learn more.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research. A complete list of the firm’s more than 100 journals and books is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.