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Psychedelics, the media portrayal and large-language model evaluations
1Psychiatry, https://ror.org/00hj8s172Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Bjpsych Open
|June 18, 2026
Summary
Media coverage of psychedelic therapies, including MDMA, surged but has recently declined. Sustained progress in psychedelic therapeutics requires a strong foundation in scientific evidence.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Neuroscience
- Medical History
- Media Studies
Background:
- Psychedelics have historical roots in healing and spiritual practices.
- Mid-20th century biomedical research on psychedelics was curtailed by negative media and political responses.
- Recent resurgence in psychedelic research, including MDMA, has renewed public and media interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze media coverage trends and sentiment regarding psychedelic therapies over 25 years (2000-2025).
- To quantify shifts in public perception and media portrayal of psychedelic treatments.
- To understand the factors influencing the trajectory of psychedelic research and therapeutic acceptance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a large-language model, validated against human raters, to analyze 25 years of media articles.
- Quantified trends in media coverage volume and sentiment towards psychedelic therapies.
- Correlated media trends with key events, such as regulatory decisions.
Main Results:
- Observed a dramatic increase in media coverage of psychedelic therapies.
- Positive sentiment peaked in 2020, followed by a significant decline starting in 2024.
- The decline coincided with the FDA's decision regarding MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, mirroring historical patterns.
Conclusions:
- Media attention on psychedelic therapies is cyclical and influenced by external factors.
- The recent decline in positive sentiment echoes historical challenges faced by psychedelic research.
- Advancing psychedelic therapeutics necessitates a continued focus on robust scientific evidence over media trends.
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