Abstract
Mental health problems constitute a major issue in contemporary society. Meanwhile, the evidence of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics obtained in clinical trials is continuing to grow.
One of the remarkable characteristics of this class of substances is the fact that they appear to be effective in the treatment of a variety of psychological symptoms and mental illnesses across diagnostic categories. Psychedelics thus seem to have a wider range of usefulness than traditional psychopharmaceuticals, which generally tend to target specific symptoms.
The administration of psychedelics includes the presence of an experienced professional until the acute effects subside. Moreover, these substances should be administered as part of a broader, more comprehensive programme, including preparatory and follow-up sessions.
Psychedelic therapy can also have an effect on certain psychological phenomena and processes even in healthy volunteers, e.g. increase their well-being, openness, mindfulness capacities and mental flexibility. These phenomena are important correlates of mental health.
The available evidence seems to indicate that the key psychological mechanism of the therapeutic effect of psychedelics is their impact on psychological flexibility. This could be the common underlying factor explaining the therapeutic efficacy of psychedelics in the treatment of various mental health disorders across diagnostic categories.
The transdiagnostic nature of this mechanism suggests that psychedelic therapy could potentially prove useful, apart from the treatment of various pathologies, also as a tool for general mental health promotion and prevention of mental illness in healthy people. Psychedelic therapy brings the attention to the multifactorial etiology of mental disorders, the importance of the psychotherapy component in healthcare, and the role of transdiagnostic processes and non-pharmacological variables.
In this review article, the potential of psychedelics in mental health care, their mechanisms of action, and possible risks as well as risk-prevention strategies is discussed.