What substances are used during psychedelic-assisted therapy and are they effective?

A range of psychedelic treatments are being used by practitioners (psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, guides) in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Some of the most frequently used substances in psychedelic-assisted therapy are ketamine, psilocybin, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ibogaine, ayahuasca, mescaline/peyote, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT).¹

In preliminary studies, these substances have been shown to be effective interventions that target a variety of mental health conditions like depression (including treatment-resistant depression), anxiety, substance dependence, and PTSD. Studies out of Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University have offered seminal findings in this area of research.