Informed Consent in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Humans have long used classical serotonergic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, for a variety of purposes. Entactogens, such as methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), emerged during the twentieth century and have likewise seen use in a broad range of settings. Interest has arisen in the use of classical psychedelics and entactogens, together termed "psychedelics," for therapeutic purposes in Western clinical settings. Care in these settings is governed by standards for the communication and assumption of risk in the process of informed consent. Rigorous informed consent standards in psychedelic medicine are not only essential for quality care but also critical to the mitigation of risk, particularly in research settings and for vulnerable individuals. This chapter describes practical elements of informed consent in psychedelic therapy, with a focus on effective communication of the risks and potential benefits of classical psychedelic and entactogen treatments as they are currently understood.