In the media: Karel Scheepstra on the Use of Psychedelics in Psychiatry

1 December 2025

iCNS researcher Karel Scheepstra, psychiatrist and Work Package Leader at iCNS, recently contributed to the public debate on the medical use of psychedelics through an opinion piece in de Volkskrant and a radio interview on NPO Radio 1. 

In the opinion article, co-authored with colleagues, Scheepstra addresses the growing trend of psychiatric patients using psychedelics without medical supervision. While interest in psychedelics is rapidly increasing and research into their therapeutic potential is expanding, the authors caution against the risks of unsupervised use. The piece was inspired by the recent JAMA Psychiatry publication “Overmystifying the Psychedelic Experience,” which critically examines how these substances are sometimes portrayed. 

Scheepstra and his co-authors emphasize that, although psychedelics may hold promise in a clinical setting, they are not without risks. Patients seeking therapeutic or spiritual benefits are encouraged to remain critical, particularly when confronted with so-called “trip therapists” or commercial “keta clinics” operating outside established medical frameworks. 

Following the publication, Scheepstra further discussed the topic in a radio interview on NPO Radio 1, highlighting the importance of scientific evidence, careful regulation, and professional supervision in the evolving field of psychedelic research. 

🔗 Read the opinion piece in de Volkskrant (Dutch)
🔗 Read the JAMA Psychiatry article “Overmystifying the Psychedelic Experience” 
🔗 Listen to the NPO Radio 1 interview (Dutch)