This post was co-written by Eugene Rubin, MD, PhD, and Charles Zorumski, MD

Recently, interest in using psychedelic drugs for certain psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, has been increasing. At the same time, some individuals are using psychedelics to enhance creative thinking. In a recent article in Molecular Psychiatry, Xiubo Du, Jiantao Liu, and Xiaohui Wang discuss research addressing both aspects of psychedelic use.

“Creativity [is] broadly defined as the ability to generate novel and valuable ideas… [I]t includes problem-solving, shifting perspectives, and even deep personal transformation…. These substances appear to foster creativity by enhancing cognitive flexibility and breaking free from conventional thought patterns.”

The authors review neuroimaging research that demonstrates the ability........

© Psychology Today