The UK’s independent Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) has issued a rapid response on psychedelic-assisted therapy for anxiety disorders.
The response is intended to inform policymakers on the topic as increasing research around psychedelics shows the compounds may hold promise as innovative treatments in the area of mental health.
The rapid response is the second response on psychedelics to come from POST – one of the first independent bodies of its kind in the world that sources independent analysis of public policy issues relating to science and tech for government.
The response reads: “The social and economic costs of anxiety disorders in the UK are substantial, both for individuals and society. The Office for National Statistics reported that between 2019 and 2023, ‘depression, bad nerves and anxiety’ was the most prevalent health condition amongst those economically inactive because of long-term sickness.
“Beyond personal impacts, people with anxiety disorders account for a large amount of demand on healthcare. Consultations for GAD increased significantly between 1998 to 2018, and levels of anxiety were reported to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Responding to research and policy developments
Both rapid responses have been issued following a parliamentary debate discussing psilocybin access in May 2023.
The debate saw a group of crossparty MPs call for the rescheduling of psilocybin to remove barriers to research and demand an urgent review of the evidence for psilocybin’s current status as a Schedule 1 drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, “with a view to rescheduling”.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists, psychedelic access non-profit Heroic Hearts UK, and other leading mental health charities, also wrote letters to the Veterans Minister and the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire, urging them to champion access for patients in the UK.
The rapid response covers psychedelics for anxiety including Treatment options for anxiety disorders, Lifestyle factors, Psychological treatments (psychotherapy), Pharmacological treatments, Psychedelic drugs for anxiety, Challenges in undertaking research involving psychedelics, Research examples and Ongoing research.
Joanna Neill, Professor of Psychopharmacology at the University of Manchester, acted as an external peer reviewer.
At the time of the first rapid response publication, speaking to Psychedelic Health, Neill commented: “It is very encouraging that Parliament is starting to engage with the enormous clinical potential of psychedelic medicine, particularly at a time when mental health disorders are at an all-time high.
“New therapies are urgently needed and psychedelics could provide just that. Given the weight of evidence presented in this new POST note, enabling safe patient access on the NHS must be a key priority for Parliament.”
POST has confirmed it intends to publish a major briefing on psychedelic drugs to treat mental health conditions in 2024.
