Beyond psychedelics: New journal broadens the scope of consciousness research

(Press-News.org) NEW YORK, USA, 6 May 2025 -- In a thought-provoking Genomic Press editorial, the Psychedelics journal has formally expanded its scope beyond classical psychedelic compounds to embrace the broader landscape of consciousness-altering substances. The publication, which previously focused primarily on serotonergic compounds, now explicitly includes all psychoactive drugs in its research purview.

A Quiet Correction, Not a Rebranding

The editorial, authored by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Julio Licinio, reflects on the inherent limitations of categorizing mind-altering substances solely by their pharmacological properties. "From the outset, our journal's indexed title, Psychedelics, has served a practical purpose," writes Dr. Licinio. "But even in our earliest planning, we knew this name alone could never hold the full scale of what we hoped to publish."

This expansion is formalized in the journal's revised subtitle: "The Journal of Psychedelic and Psychoactive Drug Research," which Dr. Licinio describes not as rebranding but as "a quiet correction of what was always slightly misaligned." This change acknowledges the publication was "never just about psychedelics" but rather "the pharmacopeia of mind alteration."

Challenging Traditional Classifications

The decision raises fascinating questions about how we categorize consciousness-altering substances. What precisely defines a "psychedelic" experience? Is it determined by molecular structure, receptor targets, subjective effects, or cultural context? These classifications, while useful, are ultimately human constructs that evolve as our understanding deepens.

"Our compounds of interest are part of humanity's ongoing attempt to transcend our incompleteness," explains Dr. Licinio, borrowing from Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade's metaphor of humans continually trying to compose definitive versions of knowledge and self without ever reaching completion.

Beyond Traditional Boundaries

The editorial acknowledges that this expanded focus includes substances like MDMA, ketamine, and ibogaine – compounds that resist neat categorization and exist at the margins of established taxonomies. These pharmacologically diverse substances challenge our understanding of consciousness alteration while offering promising therapeutic applications.

"The boundaries we rely on are 'concocted hour after hour without ever attaining our own convincing edition,'" Dr. Licinio notes, suggesting that these classifications, while useful, are never final. This philosophical approach positions the journal at the intersection of neuroscience, psychiatry, and the humanities.

Implications for Therapeutic Research

This refined focus comes at a pivotal moment in psychoactive drug research. Recent years have seen unprecedented interest in these compounds' therapeutic potential, from psilocybin for depression to MDMA for PTSD. How might broadening our understanding of consciousness-altering substances lead to novel therapeutic approaches? Could previously overlooked compounds offer unique benefits by acting through different neurological mechanisms?

Embracing Intellectual Discomfort

Dr. Licinio's approach encourages researchers to embrace the contradictions and incomplete understanding inherent in this field. "We have room for writing that resists the urge to wrap things up," he writes. "Sometimes, staying with the discomfort tells us more than reaching a quick conclusion."

This perspective raises intriguing questions about the future of consciousness research. How might our understanding of these substances evolve as we move beyond rigid classifications? What unexpected therapeutic applications might emerge from compounds currently at the margins of research? And how does studying these substances illuminate the fundamental nature of human consciousness?

A Platform for Ongoing Scientific Conversation

The editorial concludes with an invitation to anticipate contradiction, acknowledging that "some compounds will not fit" and "some theories are still in the middle of becoming something else." This admission of the field's evolving nature positions Psychedelics journal as a platform for ongoing scientific conversation rather than definitive conclusions.

The Psychedelics Editorial titled "Psychedelics, Yes—but Not Only: Redefining the boundaries of consciousness research as part of humanity's ongoing attempt to transcend our incompleteness," is freely available via Open Access on 6 May 2025 in Psychedelics at the following hyperlink: https://doi.org/10.61373/pp025d.0014.

About Psychedelics: Psychedelics: The Journal of Psychedelic and Psychoactive Drug Research (ISSN: 2997-2671, online and 2997-268X, print) is a peer reviewed medical research journal published by Genomic Press, New York. Psychedelics is dedicated to advancing knowledge across the full spectrum of consciousness altering substances, from classical psychedelics to stimulants, cannabinoids, entactogens, dissociatives, plant derived compounds, and novel compounds including drug discovery approaches. Our multidisciplinary approach encompasses molecular mechanisms, therapeutic applications, neuroscientific discoveries, and sociocultural analyses. We welcome diverse methodologies and perspectives from fundamental pharmacology and clinical studies to psychological investigations and societal-historical contexts that enhance our understanding of how these substances interact with human biology, psychology, and society. Visit the Genomic Press Virtual Library: https://issues.genomicpress.com/bookcase/gtvov/

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