Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Detect the Risk of Serious Adverse Reactions Due to the Use of Psychedelic Drug in Therapy

Identifier:  imarina:8679859

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina8679859

Authors:  Ona, Genis

Abstract:
The use of psychedelic drugs for the treatment of some mental disorders is increasing. However, their use is associated to certain risks, being the most important the exacerbation of mental disorders, mainly psychosis or bipolar disorder. While both 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and psilocybin are on the Phase-III of the process of drug commercialization, there are not enough screening strategies in order to ensure the safety of patients who will receive those treatments. This article presents the development and validation of a test that assesses the risk of developing psychotic or bipolar disorders using two samples of 156 and 510 participants. The Graded Response Model from Item Response Theory was used. The final version of the test, composed by 30 items, shows very satisfactory psychometric indices, allowing its use as a screening tool in experimental or clinical settings.