Possible legalisation of psychedelic drugs for the treatment of anxiety
The World Health Organisation (WHO) typed anxiety as one of the most common mental disorders in the world. These conditions affect the wellbeing and societal functioning of hundreds of millions of people.
New movements in the treatment of anxiety disorders involve psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) recently published information to this effect and claimed that research supported the possibility that these substances can be successfully incorporated into the treatment regimens for anxiety.
Anxiety disorders
This is a blanket term that covers conditions associated with fear, anxiety and possible behavioural deflections. Anxiety disorders can affect a person’s life on multiple levels, including personal relationships and work performance. The WHO includes the following under anxiety disorders:
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) – when individuals have excessive and uncontrollable anxiety about multiple aspects.
- Panic disorder – when individuals experience recurring and unpredictable intense fears.
- Agoraphobia – when people avoid circumstances that they cannot fully control.
- Specified phobias – fears of specific things such as spiders or enclosed spaces.
- Social anxiety disorder – a fear of being criticised or evaluated in social circles.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – the occurrence of intrusive and unwanted thoughts or repeat behaviours.
According to diagnostic data, GAD is the most prevalent anxiety disorder. Between 1% and 7% of populations in top-level economies suffer from GAD.
Treatment of anxiety disorders
Professionals approach and treat anxiety disorders on multiple, interrelated tiers. This includes lifestyle changes, such as exercise to release endorphins (the body’s natural way of handling stress and pain) and hygiene.
Psychotherapy aims to manage and treat anxiety disorders, and is often preferred, where possible, to pharmaceutical interventions. In the UK, the NHS uses ‘stepped care’, which starts with the least intrusive therapy and then escalates from there if necessary. This includes:
- Individual non-facilitated and guided self-help where people access online and other content to empower themselves.
- Psychoeducation group therapy where people attend organised sessions on treatments and coping strategies.
- Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), which is a scientific approach to mental disorders, such as anxiety classes. It identifies problems and introduces ways to negate harming thoughts and behaviours.
- Applied relaxation therapy, which promotes systematic muscle relaxation to relieve anxiety.
- Exposure therapy, which targets specific phobias and gradually exposes individuals to their fears or compulsions.
Pharmacological treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to stabilise mood swings, and benzodiazepines as sedation. Other medicines include beta-blockers, which alleviate stress by regulating cardiac rhythms.
Recent clinical trials found that psychedelic drugs have the potential to reduce anxiety symptoms over the long term. There is a chance that a few doses of psychedelics may replace the need for daily medication.
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is actively being researched. This novel approach may require regular drug testing as there is some dispute about the addictiveness of these substances.
The government indicated that although psychedelics are not generally considered addictive, there are concerns about ketamine. Using these drugs to treat alcohol, gambling and other addictions are also being investigated.
Should psychedelics be approved for therapeutic purposes, the legal and regulatory landscape will have to adapt.