Posted by Eric on March 20, 2001, at 10:57:21
In reply to Scientists test hallucinogens for depression, posted by steve on March 19, 2001, at 20:13:54
> Read all about it at the NY Times.
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/13/health/13DRUG.html?pagewanted=printThis is a very bad idea. Hallucinogens are highly unpredictable drugs. There is no way any scientist will be able to ensure a patient reacts a certain way to them. To a large extent it is gambling giving someone a hallucinogen. Im skeptical of their use for any mental illness.
I think it is pathetic and ridiculous money is being spent on "hallucinogens for mental health" research. However, I am sure there is a sub group of psychiatry types who would be all into this research, weird as some of them are. However, psychiatry and psychology has always been known to attract some rather weird people sometimes so its not really surprising. Thats not to say all or most of them are "weird" but psychiatry has its share of weirdos with incorrect ideas about some things.
Instead of wasting money on bogus research such as this, why dont they take the money spent on this research and give it to some other more realistic research. Such as speeding up research on substance P antidepressants or CRF-Antagonists? Or researching new anti-psychotic medications? Or trying to research a workable, effective alternative to ECT? Or trying to figure out a way to develop "safe" MAOIs where you dont have to go on a diet to go on them? More usable, realistic research.
Research on hallucinogenic drugs for mental illness is going way out on a tangent, into left field and frankly its a waste of time and also potentially dangerous.
Unfortunately, psychiatry has a reputation and history of going way out into left field sometimes.
Eric
poster:Eric
thread:56948
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010319/msgs/56976.html