Ensuring the safety and well-being of patients

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated challenges and future-work section and stated research gap of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2025 and 2026, spanning 4 journals. Those papers have been cited 14 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 4 representative gaps

• Ethical issues with psychedelic-assisted treatments in psychiatry: A systematic scoping review (2025) · Psychological Medicine · cited 14× · doi

  Ensuring the safety and well-being of patients in psychedelic therapy is a fundamental ethical concern. The intense nature of the experiences facilitated by psychedelics causes additional risks and requires clear guidelines regarding professional ethics. Equity and access concerns are paramount in ensuring that vulnerable populations are not 'left behind' in the current and future provision of psychedelic-assisted therapies.

  generalstated challenges
  Keywords: ensuring safety well-being patients psychedelic therapy fundamental ethical
• Psychedelics in psychiatry: from promise to translation (2026) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi

  The challenge of addressing the methodological limitations of current studies, including small samples, functional unblinding, and limited long-term follow-up. The challenge of developing a regulated ecosystem for the clinical translation of psychedelics, including product standards, service standards, patient safeguards, and reimbursement arrangements. The challenge of balancing enthusiasm and fear in public discourse, moving beyond polarized narratives and excessive enthusiasm or fear.

  generalstated challenges
  Keywords: challenge addressing methodological limitations current studies including small
• Childhood trauma and psychological outcomes following psychedelic use: a scoping review (2026) · npj Mental Health Research · doi

  Prospective, trauma-informed, and culturally-inclusive research is needed to clarify risks and therapeutic potential for childhood trauma-exposed populations. Longitudinal and randomized controlled trial designs are needed to further understand the relationship between childhood trauma and psychological outcomes following psychedelic use. Research should prioritize the development of effective and safe psychedelic therapies for individuals with childhood trauma.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: prospective trauma-informed culturally-inclusive research needed clarify risks therapeutic
• Transient or transformative? Psychedelics, agency and informed consent (2026) · Journal of Medical Ethics · doi

  The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of psychedelic transformation, highlighting the need for a more nuanced account of the process. It notes that the current view of psychedelic-mediated transformation is simplistic, overemphasizing the power of the experience itself. The paper also identifies a gap in the discussion on informed consent, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive understanding of transformative experiences and their implications for medical ethics.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: paper identifies gap understanding psychedelic transformation highlighting need

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