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In this opinion piece, we draw attention to a long-recognised component of the psychedelic treatment model, namely \u2018set\u2019 and \u2018setting\u2019 \u2013 subsumed here under the umbrella term \u2018context\u2019. We highlight: (a) the pharmacological mechanisms of classic psychedelics (5-HT2A receptor agonism and associated plasticity) that we believe render their effects exceptionally sensitive to context, (b) a study design for testing assumptions regarding positive interactions between psychedelics and context, and (c) new findings from our group regarding contextual determinants of the quality of a psychedelic experience and how acute experience predicts subsequent long-term mental health outcomes. We hope that this article can: (a) inform on good practice in psychedelic research, (b) provide a roadmap for optimising treatment models, and (c) help tackle unhelpful stigma still surrounding these compounds, while developing an evidence base for long-held assumptions about the critical importance of context in relation to psychedelic use that can help minimise harms and maximise potential benefits.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/0269881118754710","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,15]],"date-time":"2018-02-15T08:39:01Z","timestamp":1518683941000},"page":"725-731","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":580,"title":["Psychedelics and the essential importance of context"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"32","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6062-7150","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Robin L","family":"Carhart-Harris","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Psychedelic Research Group, Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leor","family":"Roseman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Psychedelic Research Group, Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eline","family":"Haijen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Psychedelic Research Group, Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Erritzoe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Psychedelic Research Group, Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rosalind","family":"Watts","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Psychedelic Research Group, Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Igor","family":"Branchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanit\u00e0, Viale Regina Elena, Roma, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mendel","family":"Kaelen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Psychedelic Research Group, Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-0269881118754710","volume-title":"Psychotherapeutic Intervention in Integration of Difficult Psychedelic Experiences: The ICEERS Support Service","author":"Aixala M","year":"2017"},{"key":"bibr2-0269881118754710","volume-title":"A Terrible Mistake: The Murder of Frank Olson and the CIA\u2019s Secret Cold War Experiments","author":"Albarelli HP","year":"2009"},{"key":"bibr3-0269881118754710","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/mp.2015.142"},{"key":"bibr4-0269881118754710","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/syn.890170306"},{"key":"bibr5-0269881118754710","unstructured":"Austin P, Tudorie V, Stone R, et al. 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