Research Keyword: research methodology

Addressing blinding in classic psychedelic studies with innovative active placebos

This research paper discusses how scientists can better test whether psychedelic drugs actually work by improving the way they conduct clinical trials. A major problem is that psychedelic drugs produce obvious effects that make it easy for patients and researchers to figure out who received the real drug versus a fake one. The authors recommend using different types of drugs as placebos that produce similar effects without being therapeutic themselves, such as certain existing medications. By using these better-designed placebos along with other strategies, future research can more definitively prove whether psychedelics truly help treat depression, chronic pain, and other conditions.

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Psychedelics: Safety and Efficacy

This paper reviews scientific research on psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin that are being studied for treating depression and PTSD. While some research claims these drugs are beneficial, many studies have serious flaws including hiding negative side effects and being influenced by money from pharmaceutical companies. The author concludes that we need much better research before these drugs can be safely approved for medical use.

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Selective outcome reporting and non-reporting in trials of psychedelic drugs for mental disorders

Researchers examined whether studies of three promising psychedelic drugs (esketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA) for treating mental health conditions were reporting their results fairly and completely. They found that nearly 29% of completed trials had no published results, and some studies changed which outcomes they reported on between registration and publication. This selective reporting could make these drugs appear more effective than they actually are.

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