Trusted Sources
At States of Mind, accuracy is the foundation of everything we publish. We cover the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and psychedelic research where the science is rapidly evolving, the stakes for readers are high, and misinformation is easy to find. That makes our commitment to rigorous, well-sourced content especially important.
The sources on this page are the ones we rely on when writing and fact-checking our content. They include peer-reviewed academic databases, government health agencies, established medical associations, and selected mental health organizations — institutions that meet our standards for scientific credibility, editorial independence, and transparency.
Our approach to references
We understand that not all sources are equal in terms of credibility, and we treat them accordingly. When building or verifying a claim, we work in order of priority:
Primary sources: peer-reviewed research
Our first stop is always the primary scientific literature. We use databases, such as PubMed (NCBI) and ScienceDirect, for health data, and Blossom specifically for psychedelic research, to find relevant and reliable studies published in indexed, peer-reviewed journals. These include The Lancet, NEJM, BMJ, Frontiers in Psychology, Springer Nature, JAMA, and many others.
Wherever possible, we link directly to the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) of the original paper rather than to a publisher page: DOIs remain stable even if a publisher updates their website, making them more reliable for readers who want to check the original source.
When evaluating any study, we consider when it was published, whether its findings have been replicated, and whether its methodology is appropriate for the claims it makes. We do not cite research simply because it exists — context and quality matter.
Secondary sources: health agencies and medical associations
We regularly draw on official guidance from major health agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the UK National Health Service (NHS), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Also we use guidelines and educational materials prepared by professional medical associations, such as the APA, CDC, NAMI, and Mental Health Europe.
Supplementary sources: university publications and specialist media
We occasionally reference content from university medical schools — such as Harvard Health, Hopkins Medicine, and Stanford Medicine — for definitions, diagnostic criteria, and original research produced directly by those institutions. When verifying symptomatology or treatment details, we prefer to check with the Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic media hubs.
For psychedelic-specific coverage, we may reference organizations such as Psychedelic Alpha, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), or OPEN Foundation for their official reports and data repositories. We do not cite individually authored opinion pieces, blog posts, or promoted partner materials from these sources. When referencing research funded or commissioned by a pharmaceutical company, we will name and link to the sponsoring organization within the publication.
Moreover, major international media (BBC, The Guardian, Forbes, Wired, and similar) may be referenced in posts to illustrate sociocultural context or policy developments, but for sure not as primary sources for scientific or clinical claims.
Sources we don’t use — just to be fully transparent
To maintain scientific integrity, certain sources are off-limits for us (regardless of how widely they are shared):
- Wikipedia, WikiHow — useful starting points for general orientation, but… you know.
- Wellness & lifestyle media — we prefer to use primary research and authors’ interviews without reframing or reinterpreting the original findings.
- Clinic & telehealth service websites — often self-promotional, these sources may contain unverified claims that have not been independently checked.
- Personal blogs of experts and practitioners — useful only when the content presents original personal research or survey data. In those cases, we prefer to contact the author directly for an exclusive comment.
Sources we trust
This list includes the primary databases, journals, health agencies, and organizations that inform our editorial work.
A
 | American Psychological Association (APA) The leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the US. We reference APA peer-reviewed journals, official guidelines, and research publications on mental health, psychotherapy, and psychological science. apa.org |
B
 | Blossom A comprehensive psychedelic research database. Blossom aggregates thousands of peer-reviewed papers, clinical trials, compound profiles, and country-level policy data in one place, with expert-vetted summaries and weekly research updates. We use it as a primary discovery and verification tool when tracking the latest evidence in psychedelic science. moreblossom.com |
 | British Medical Journal (BMJ), BMJ Best Practice A peer-reviewed general medical journal, publishing original research and clinical reviews across all areas of medicine. We also use BMJ Best Practice as a clinical decision support tool when reviewing diagnostic and treatment guidelines. bmj.com, bestpractice.bmj.com |
C
 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The United States national public health agency. We draw on CDC data, epidemiological statistics, and official guidance on mental and physical health. cdc.gov |
 | Cleveland Clinic A nonprofit academic medical center and clinical research institution. We reference Cleveland Clinic for its official research findings and clinical recommendations. my.clevelandclinic.org |
 | Cochrane Library An international library of high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses, produced by the Cochrane Collaboration. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews is widely regarded as the gold standard for evidence synthesis. cochranelibrary.com |
 | Cureus A peer-reviewed, open-access medical journal publishing research across clinical specialties, with a growing body of work relevant to psychiatry and emerging therapies. cureus.com |
D
 | Drug Science Drug Science is an independent, science-led drugs charity in the UK. Bringing together leading researchers, clinicians, and policy experts, it produces evidence on drug harms and effects free from political or commercial influence. We reference Drug Science for its research publications, working group reports, and scientific commentary on drug policy. drugscience.org.uk |
E
 | Elsevier One of the world’s largest publishers of peer-reviewed scientific, technical, and medical literature, including major journals in psychiatry and neuroscience. elsevier.com |
 | European Medicines Agency (EMA) The EU regulatory agency for human and veterinary medicines. We reference EMA guidelines, approvals, and safety assessments for coverage of European drug policy and clinical developments. ema.europa.eu |
F
 | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The US federal agency responsible for regulating drugs, medical devices, and public health products. We rely on FDA approvals, guidance documents, and safety communications — particularly for coverage of psychedelic drug development and clinical trials. fda.gov |
 | Frontiers An open-access publisher of peer-reviewed research across scientific disciplines, with extensive coverage in neuroscience, psychiatry, pharmacology, and psychology. Particularly strong in emerging psychedelic research. frontiersin.org |
H
 | Harvard Health — Harvard Medical School A media portal from the medical team at Harvard Medical School. Harvard Medical School. We use it for diagnostic definitions, condition overviews, and content produced directly by Harvard researchers or faculty. health.harvard.edu |
 | Hopkins Medicine — Johns Hopkins University One of the world’s leading academic medical institutions, with a prominent ongoing program of clinical research in psychedelic-assisted therapy. We reference Hopkins Medicine for original research, clinical trial results, and faculty-authored content. hopkinsmedicine.org |
J
 | Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) A widely read and cited peer-reviewed medical journal in the world. We reference JAMA and its specialty titles — JAMA Psychiatry, JAMA Neurology, JAMA Network Open for clinical research relevant to mental health. jamanetwork.com |
L
 | The Lancet One of the oldest and most prestigious peer-reviewed general medical journals. We reference The Lancet family of publications — including The Lancet Psychiatry — for original clinical research and systematic reviews. thelancet.com |
M
 | Mayo Clinic A nonprofit academic medical center and one of the respected clinical institutions in the United States. We reference Mayo Clinic for official clinical research and condition-specific recommendations. mayoclinic.org |
 | Mental Health America (MHA) A leading national nonprofit dedicated to mental health education, advocacy, and community support. We reference MHA for prevalence data and condition overviews. mhanational.org |
N
 | National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) One of the largest mental health organizations in the United States. We reference NAMI for prevalence data, condition overviews, and educational resources on mental health conditions and treatment approaches. nami.org |
 | National Academies — Sciences, Engineering, Medicine The National Academies are among the most authoritative scientific advisory bodies in the United States. We also draw on their publications in neuroscience and public health. nationalacademies.org |
 | Nature, Springer Nature A prestigious family of peer-reviewed journals covering medicine, neuroscience, pharmacology, and the natural sciences. We reference Nature, Nature Medicine, Nature Mental Health, Neuropsychopharmacology, and Springer-published titles for high-impact original research. nature.com, link.springer.com |
 | New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) One of the world’s oldest peer-reviewed medical journals, published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. NEJM is a primary reference for landmark clinical trials in psychedelic medicine. nejm.org |
 | National Health Service (NHS) The UK national health service, providing evidence-based clinical guidelines and health information reviewed by medical professionals. nhs.uk |
 | National Institutes of Health (NIH) The US national medical research agency and one of the world’s largest public funders of biomedical research. We reference NIH for health information and research publications, including from NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health). nih.gov |
 | National Library of Medicine (NLM) A biomedical library, part of the National Institutes of Health. NLM maintains and provides free public access to PubMed, MedlinePlus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and dozens of other databases. We reference NLM as the institutional home of PubMed and PMC (PubMed Central), which are our primary tools for locating and verifying peer-reviewed research. www.nlm.nih.gov |
 | National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) The UK’s national body for evidence-based clinical guidance. NICE develops rigorously reviewed guidelines and recommendations that inform healthcare practice across the NHS. We reference NICE guidelines as a primary source for clinical recommendations relevant to UK-based coverage. nice.org.uk |
P
 | Public Library of Science (PLOS) An open-access publisher of peer-reviewed scientific journals including PLoS ONE, PLoS Medicine, and PLoS Biology. PLOS journals are widely cited in psychedelic and mental health research and are committed to making scientific literature freely accessible. plos.org |
 | Psychedelic Alpha The leading independent, data-driven media and intelligence platform covering psychedelic drug development, policy, and access. We use Psychedelic Alpha for official reports, clinical pipeline trackers, and curated data repositories. psychedelicalpha.com |
 | Psychiatry Online — American Psychiatric Association PsychiatryOnline provides access to APA peer-reviewed journals — including the American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services — as well as the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), APA Practice Guidelines, and key clinical textbooks. We reference it as a primary source for diagnostic criteria, clinical guidelines, and peer-reviewed research in psychiatry. psychiatryonline.org |
 | PubMed (NCBI) The National Center for Biotechnology Information’s database of more than 35 million citations of biomedical literature, including Medline and life science journals. PubMed is our primary tool for locating and verifying peer-reviewed research. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
R
 | ResearchGate An academic social network and repository where researchers share their work. We use ResearchGate to locate full-text papers when primary journal access is unavailable and to monitor ongoing research. researchgate.net |
S
 | ScienceDirect An international database of peer-reviewed scientific, technical, and medical literature, primarily from Elsevier. It gives us access to journal articles and book chapters across psychiatry, pharmacology, and neuroscience. sciencedirect.com |
 | Springer An international academic publisher of peer-reviewed journals, research monographs, and book series across medicine, psychology, and the sciences. link.springer.com |
 | Stanford Medicine Magazine — Stanford University The official magazine of Stanford Medicine. It covers original research, clinical innovation, and health science produced by Stanford faculty, researchers, and clinicians — including work in psychiatry, neuroscience, and emerging therapies. We reference Stanford Medicine for published research and content produced directly by its faculty and research centers. stanmed.stanford.edu/ |
T
 | Taylor & Francis Online A major international publisher of peer-reviewed academic journals across medicine, psychology, social sciences, and the humanities. tandfonline.com |
 | The Third Wave A psychedelic education platform and public benefit corporation focused on responsible, research-informed use of psychedelics. It publishes substance guides, microdosing resources, and research summaries. We reference The Third Wave for its curated research content and compound-specific guides. thethirdwave.co |
W
 | World Health Organization (WHO) The United Nations’ international public health agency. We reference WHO for global health data, clinical guidelines, disease classifications (ICD), and policy recommendations on mental health and substance use. who.int |
