Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health is calling for submissions to our Collection on Navigating the Complexity of Psychedelics' Therapeutic Potential in Minors.
After having been banned for reasons that had little to do with science, psychedelics resurfaced and now spark hopes and enthusiasm, with hundreds of clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrial.gov and the first psychedelic-assisted therapy submitted for approval to the FDA in late 2023 for PTSD. Therefore, it is crucial to explore this research domain thoroughly and cautiously to avoid unrealistic enthusiasm and politicization of science, as seen in the 1960s.
Psychedelics and compounds that affect consciousness should undergo the same rigorous development process as any other drug, including their potential use in pediatric psychopharmacology. Simply refusing access to psychedelics to adolescents solely based on their age will not stand if, for instance, the use of psychedelics dramatically changes the course of Anorexia Nervosa in young adults.
This series wants to pave the way to these uncharted psychedelic pediatric territories. We aim to offer a unique forum to discuss topics ranging from investigating the neurodevelopmental and neurobiological effects of psychedelics in a developing brain, emphasizing ethical considerations, highlighting assessments of risks versus benefits, promoting best practices for clinical trials, reflecting on the regulatory moving framework to exploring the potential integration of psychedelics in pediatric therapeutic strategies.
Interested authors are welcome to contact the guest editor, Dr. Philippe Auby, at ph.auby@orange.fr to propose a manuscript and receive some initial input on suitability for this special collection.
