María Virtudes Pérez Jover
Professor of Social Psychology, Department of Health Psychology
Currently, there is a growing interest in the development of 'psychedelic therapies' or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies as facilitators for treating emotional disorders associated with some physical illnesses, including cancer (Agin-Liebes et al., 2020; Malone et al., 2018; Reiff et al., 2020; Swift et al., 2017). These therapies involve the controlled use of psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin or MDMA, under therapeutic supervision. Some studies seem to show that these substances can be effective in treating mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction (Dawood & Pérez-Jover, 2023; Wheeler & Dyer, 2020).
The increasing number of experimental or quasi-experimental studies currently being conducted to explore the effectiveness and safety of these substances is encouraging. However, caution is still necessary, as psychedelic substances can also have risks and side effects. On one hand, some individuals may not tolerate these substances; on the other hand, the psychedelic experience may be unpleasant; it can also be consumed in an uncontrolled and abusive manner, etc. Therefore, even though the use of these substances is not yet legal in Spain, therapeutic treatment should be administered by professionals trained in their use and in an appropriate and controlled clinical environment.