Neuropsychologists and psychiatrists argue that the evidence for large-scale implementation of psychedelic drugs is insufficient.
Australia's drug regulator's decision to allow licensed psychiatrists to use psychedelic drugs medicines to prescribe is "questionable, if not worrisome," and likely dictated by the influence of lobby groups rather than health experts, mental health researchers say.
Since July 1, licensed psychiatrists can prescribe drugs containing psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder. In a commentary published in the latest edition of the Australian New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, neuropsychologists and neuroscientists wondered why the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has not consulted with researchers and clinicians experienced in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for a treatment-resistant depressive. disorder. “It appears that the TGA has given in to pressure from the public and lobby groups to increase access to these experimental treatments beyond clinical trials,” said the piece, led by Prof. Susan Rossell, a cognitive neuropsychologist at Swinburne's Center. for Mental Health.
Questions about psychedelic drugs
According to experts, the initial results are promising, but there are still too many questions to justify large-scale implementation. Rossell and her colleagues wrote that it is still unclear what kind of care should be provided in addition to the psychedelic dosage to ensure lasting benefit. In addition, too little is known about the long-term use of psychedelics, especially with regard to psychological recovery and relapse. “Until these questions are addressed in empirical research, the decision to increase public access to psychedelic drugs is questionable, if not concerning,” the piece concluded.
Source: theguardian.com (EN)
