Podcast Summary
The Potential of Psychedelics for Treating Psychiatric Challenges: Psychedelics can bring short-term therapeutic outcomes and may have long-term effects on brain rewiring. The term 'psychedelic' refers to their ability to reveal aspects of the human mind that are not ordinarily visible.
Dr. Robin Carhart Harris is a leading researcher in the field of psychedelics. His lab studies the effects of psilocybin on neural circuitry in the brain and has carried out clinical trials demonstrating its ability to alleviate major depression in more than 67% of people. The discussion covers the history and evolving laws surrounding psychedelics and their potential for treating psychiatric challenges. Psychedelics can provide short-term therapeutic outcomes and have long-term effects on brain rewiring. The term 'psychedelic' was coined by Humphrey Osmond and refers to their ability to reveal aspects of the human mind that are not ordinarily visible, making the term valence-nonspecific and highly accurate.
Classic Psychedelics and the Revelations of the Psyche: Classic psychedelics bring repressed aspects of the psyche to conscious awareness, aiding emotional release and insights in psychotherapeutic settings. Ongoing research explores the biology and psychology behind this phenomenon.
Psychedelics, particularly classic psychedelics, have a pharmacological and psychological effect on the brain, revealing aspects of the subconscious and unconscious mind that may be repressed or below the threshold of conscious awareness. This can have therapeutic benefits in the context of psychotherapy, allowing for emotional release and insights that catalyze the therapeutic process. Classic psychedelics work on a particular receptor in the brain, the serotonin two A receptor, and their unique action sets them apart from other compounds that may be broadly considered psychedelic. Understanding the biological and psychological mechanisms behind the revealing of the psyche is an area of ongoing research in the field of psychedelic studies.
Exploring Microdosing with Psilocybin: Microdosing with psilocybin is being studied for its potential therapeutic benefits. There is limited evidence for its effectiveness, but ongoing research is attempting to address challenges in conducting placebo-controlled studies.
Psilocybin, the primary psychedelic agent in magic mushrooms, is being studied in clinical trials for its potential therapeutic benefits as well as for microdosing. Microdosing a psychedelic like LSD or psilocybin is typically defined as a sub-perceptual dose that does not induce noticeable visual hallucinations. Microdosing protocols typically involve taking the drug one or two days on and then one or two days off. However, compelling evidence for the potential benefits of microdosing is lacking, despite some suggestive findings. Conducting research on microdosing is particularly difficult due to the need for participants to take doses offsite and the need for a placebo-controlled study design. An innovative citizen science study at Imperial College London attempted to address these challenges but more research is needed.
The Power of Positive Expectancy and Placebo Responses in Microdosing Psychedelics: The latest study has found that positive expectancy plays a vital role in the therapeutic effects of microdosing psychedelics, and placebo responses can produce similar benefits. However, higher doses of psilocybin show promising potential in treating depression.
Microdosing psychedelics may not be as effective as previously thought, according to a study that found positive expectancy to be the main driving force behind therapeutic effects. The study found that those who received a placebo but thought they were receiving a microdose received the same benefits as those who actually received a microdose. Despite controversy, the study underscores the power of the placebo response. Meanwhile, research into the therapeutic potential of higher doses of psilocybin continues to yield promising results for the treatment of depression. Researchers are finding that the magnitude of certain types of subjective experiences during these sessions predict therapeutic outcomes, suggesting that the experience is a crucial factor in the therapy's efficacy.
The Role of Music in Psychedelic Therapy: Psychedelic therapy involves ingesting drugs while mental health professionals guide patients on a journey to reveal unconscious material into conscious awareness through the use of music and letting go.
Psychedelic therapy is a structured setting where patients ingest drugs while mental health professionals observe and guide them. Music plays a central role throughout the therapy session, beginning spacious and gradually becoming more emotional to evoke a powerful psychedelic experience. Patients wear an eye mask and allow the psychedelic state to take them on a journey, revealing unconscious material into conscious awareness. The therapy is closely monitored and typically involves two mental health professionals guiding the patient. The use of music in psychedelic therapy has not yet been fully tested as a component of the therapy, but it is a staple in all published studies. Letting go is also an essential component of the therapy, which encourages a willingness to embrace the journey and allow the mind to reveal itself to itself.
The Importance of Trust, Letting Go, and Being Open in Psychedelic Therapy: Effective psychedelic therapy requires trust, surrendering resistance, and being open to confront and be inquisitive. These principles can lead to a breakthrough and positive therapeutic outcomes despite initial scare and intensity.
Trust, let go, and be open are essential factors in effective psychedelic therapy. The trust component involves building therapeutic rapport, which can be formally measured and is a significant predictor of positive therapeutic outcomes. The letting go component requires a readiness to surrender and not resist, which is also predictive of response. The being open component involves a willingness to confront and be inquisitive, which can be challenging but is ultimately rewarding. The psychedelic journey typically involves an initial struggle against the general drug effects, which can be scary and intense. However, embracing the trust, letting go, and being open principles can lead to a breakthrough and positive therapeutic outcomes.
The Effects of Psychedelic Drugs on Brain Connectivity: Psychedelic drugs can enhance communication between brain areas that do not typically communicate through increased activation of serotonin two A receptors and may have positive therapeutic outcomes. The correlation between increased connectivity and subjective effects should be further studied.
Psychedelic drugs like LSD and DMT can increase global functional connectivity in the brain, leading to enhanced communication between brain areas that typically do not communicate. This intermodular communication correlates with the magnitude of the subjective effects and may have a role in the positive therapeutic outcomes of these drugs. The activation of the serotonin two A receptor is responsible for this increased connectivity. However, it is not clear whether this increased connectivity causes the subjective experience or if they happen in parallel, influencing each other in a circular causality. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the two interpretations in cognitive neuroscience.
Developing Non-Psychedelic Psychedelic Drugs for Mental Health: While there is effort to create drugs that cure depression or trauma without hallucinations, the therapeutic action of psychedelics is tied to their psychedelic effects. And, selectively creating non-psychedelic agonists in psychiatry seems unlikely.
The scientific community studying psychedelics is developing drugs that can potentially cure or alleviate depression and trauma without producing hallucinations or massive changes in subjective experience. However, Robin Carhart-Harris is skeptical of this approach, as the therapeutic action of psychedelics is closely tied to their psychedelic effects, and it's difficult to see how the pieces of this logic fit together in a compelling way. Moreover, the desire for a non-hallucinogenic therapeutic approach might be driven more by convenience than logic. While there are selective serotonin 2A agonists that are used for other things, there are no non-psychedelic agonists that are currently used for therapeutic purposes in psychiatry.
The Potential of Psychedelic Therapy in Treating Depression: Studies have shown that psychedelic therapy can increase connectivity between different brain modules and improve symptoms of depression. This suggests a more flexible mode of brain functioning and a promising approach to treatment.
Psychedelic therapy has demonstrated increased communication components of neurons, dendritic growth, spine growth, and synaptic spine growth. Although the answer to whether or not increased connectivity between brain areas that's observed while people are under the influence of the psychedelic is observed later is unknown, studies have shown a residual effect similar to what is seen acutely being observed the next day and three weeks later. However, extreme modularity of brain function is depressive, so increasing crosstalk between different modules of the brain is strongly correlated with a positive therapeutic outcome. This suggests a more flexible mode of brain functioning. The relationship between the magnitude of change and the improvement in symptom severity suggests that psychedelic therapy may be a promising approach to treating depression.
The Therapeutic Value of Non-Linear Continuum and Psychedelic Dosing on Autism Spectrum and Depression: Moving towards non-linear thinking can benefit individuals on the autism spectrum, while psychedelic dosing sessions can help alleviate depression and anxiety, leading to enduring improvements in well-being. Full macro doses in safe settings with sessions spaced apart are preferred.
The processing of individuals on the autism spectrum is distinct from others, being non-linear and random. Moving along the continuum from linear to non-linear has therapeutic value, increasing flexibility and divergent thinking. Depression alters the perception of time, creating a cognitive bias that everything is hopeless and that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. This creates vulnerability to the time domain and can shut individuals off from sensory modalities and the outside world. Psychedelic dosing sessions are being used to alleviate depression and anxiety, increasing modularity and opening up the mind, leading to enduring improvements in well-being. Full macro doses in safe settings are preferred over microdosing, with sessions typically spaced 1-3 weeks apart. Anorexia trials have yielded exciting results in alleviating obsessive thoughts and improving weight at long follow-ups.
Using Psychedelics to Treat Anorexia Nervosa: Psychedelic therapy, including MDMA and classic psychedelics, is showing promise in helping individuals with anorexia process and integrate trauma, which is a crucial component of treatment. Integration is a lifelong practice, similar to meditation or spiritual practice.
Anorexia nervosa is the most deadly of all psychiatric illnesses, and many with anorexia often die. The tragedy in psychiatry is strong, but psychedelics, like MDMA therapy and classic psychedelics, are giving people a leg up, making it easier to process and integrate trauma. Integration is an essential component of the treatment model, and although integration lasts a lifetime, therapeutic teams can only treat patients to a certain point. It then becomes a practice, similar to meditation or spiritual practice. Psychedelic therapy allows individuals to sit with rather than sit on their trauma, promoting an ability to be present-centered and accepting.
The Use of Psychedelics in Depression and Trauma Treatment: Emerging Data and Ongoing Research: Psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA show promise as treatments for depression and trauma, with emerging data indicating positive results. However, ongoing research is necessary to determine appropriate dosages and protocols for psychedelic therapy.
Psychedelics seem to allow people to access a better version of themselves and create space between stimulus and reaction. Emerging data shows positive results on psychedelics as treatments for depression and trauma, specifically psilocybin and MDMA. However, there is still ongoing research into the appropriate dosages and protocols for psychedelic therapy. The study mentioned involved healthy middle-aged volunteers, who had never taken psychedelics before. The repeated-measures design included a placebo to standardize therapy procedures and one milligram dose of psilocybin before giving a dose of 25 milligrams. The study's results showed improvements in wellbeing both psychologically and neurobiologically.
Effects of a Single Dose of Psilocybin on Brain Anatomy and Psychological Wellbeing: A single dose of psilocybin can improve psychological wellbeing and change brain anatomy, leading to better communication between brain regions and cognitive flexibility. Further research is needed to establish correlations with specific psychological outcomes.
A study on the effects of a single dose of psilocybin showed significant improvements in psychological wellbeing and changes in brain anatomy, specifically in the cabling of the brain between the prefrontal cortex, thalamus, and striatum. The decrease in axial diffusivity suggests a higher fidelity of communication between these regions, which is opposite to what is seen in an aging brain or with pathology of aging. The study also showed improvements in cognitive flexibility. However, the correlations between the anatomical changes and psychological outcomes were not established. This study highlights the potential of psilocybin in the treatment of psychological disorders and the need for further research.
Psilocybin as a Promising Treatment for Fibromyalgia: A recent study is exploring psilocybin as a potential treatment option for those suffering from fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic pain. Initial reports suggest profound experiences for participants with no invitation to focus on the pain.
Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by generalized chronic pain, has largely been ignored by the standard medical community. However, a recent study using psilocybin as a therapeutic tool has shown promising results. The study is still ongoing, but initial reports suggest profound experiences for participants under the drug, with no invitation to focus on the pain. Interestingly, the etiology of fibromyalgia is believed to be linked to trauma. The study is still in its early stages, but psilocybin may be a potential treatment option for fibromyalgia patients.
The Promise of Classic Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Health: Classic psychedelic therapy has shown promising outcomes in treating mental health conditions and has a direct therapeutic action. Although more research is needed, it has the potential to offer effective treatment for conditions like depression, anorexia, and fibromyalgia.
Classic psychedelic therapy is a promising treatment for depression, anorexia, and fibromyalgia, among other conditions. The therapeutic outcomes have been impressive, and research shows that the therapy has a direct therapeutic action, rather than just being a placebo response. However, there is a lack of attention toward LSD, possibly due to the duration of the trip. The use of suggestive language, such as 'inner-healer', has been critiqued, but it remains an effective therapy. More research is needed to understand the therapeutic mechanisms of classic psychedelics, but the potential for treating mental health conditions is undeniable.
Exploring Practical Constraints in Psychedelic Therapy Studies: Researchers are finding ways to shorten psilocybin and LSD experiences while still achieving therapeutic results. Combining psilocybin and MDMA therapies may have potential, but careful consideration must be taken in conducting studies involving these substances.
The use of psilocybin and LSD in studies is often limited by practical constraints, such as the length and cost of the study due to the required staffing and monitoring for up to eight hours or more post-dose. Researchers are exploring ways to shorten the experience while still achieving therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, there is interest in combining psilocybin and MDMA therapies, although self-administered combinations such as a 'hippie flip' are not recommended. Practical considerations are a crucial factor in designing and conducting studies involving these substances.
Combining Psilocybin and MDMA in Therapy: Advantages and Caution.: In some cases, a combination of these compounds may offer a more positive therapeutic experience for individuals with PTSD. However, caution is advised due to the illegal nature and unknown risks of this practice.
Combining compounds like psilocybin and MDMA in therapy may offer advantages for certain patients. The empathogenic effects of MDMA can make it easier to go to deeper places in one's psyche, while the classic psychedelics like psilocybin can take someone there more reliably but aggressively. This combination may provide a more directionally positive therapeutic experience, making it easier for individuals with PTSD to revisit difficult memories and complexes without dissociating or having horrible flashbacks. However, caution must be taken since this is still an illegal practice, and more research needs to be done to understand the potential therapeutic benefits and risks.
Using Classic Psychedelics to Treat Trauma: Don't let fear of bad trips stop you from seeking treatment for trauma. Classic psychedelics like DMT can provide a powerful yet brief trip to help individuals deal with trauma. The potency of a psychedelic depends on its affinity for serotonin two A receptor. DMT and five methoxy DMT are being used medically and recreationally, and veterans in Mexico are finding success with iboga followed by DMT.
The fear of bad trips and avoiding uncomfortable situations should not deter individuals from seeking treatment for trauma. The only way to deal with trauma is to get up close and personal with it and experience some relief. Classic psychedelics like DMT offer a brief yet powerful trip that could potentially help individuals deal with trauma. The affinity or stickiness of a psychedelic for serotonin two A receptor determines its potency. Both DMT and five methoxy DMT are being used clinically and recreationally, with underground practitioners using vape pens to titrate the dosage. Veterans work in Mexico is giving iboga, followed by one or two doses of DMT, with great success.
Understanding Ego Dissolution and its Effects through Psychedelics: Ego dissolution is a phenomenon that can occur through psychedelics, leading to a feeling of interconnectedness and empathy. This experience can help individuals recognize their place in the world and promote personal growth.
Ego dissolution is a fascinating concept where the idea of self temporarily dissolves, bringing an interconnected feeling of oneness with the world. This happens because the construct of the self is just that, a construct that our minds create. Where we draw the boundaries of self is arbitrary and different for everyone. Psychedelics like classic psychedelics activate certain target receptors to create this ego dissolution experience. This experience can help us realize the molecular continuity of life and that we are vitally important, but not the only thing. It can also lead to empathy for others and forgiveness for oneself, making it a powerful tool for personal growth.
The role of empathy and psychedelics in dealing with narcissism: Proper self-empathy is important to prevent narcissism, and psychedelics like psilocybin can temporarily dissolve one's ego, providing insights about interconnectedness, but it requires integration work and is currently illegal for therapy.
Empathy for self is not reflexive for most people, and this may lead to narcissism. The ability to see oneself as deserving of love and care, even in challenging situations, is important. Psychedelics like psilocybin can offer ego dissolution by targeting the serotonin 2a receptors in the recent brain. This can lead to profound insights about molecular continuity and interconnectedness, but the paradox is that it doesn't last, and ego defenses may come back with a vengeance. Integration work after the trip is important, but sadly, psychedelic therapy is still illegal, and people may relapse without access to treatment.
The Legal Status of Psychedelics and Their Potential as Medicines: Psychedelic substances are currently illegal for recreational use but are being researched for medical purposes. Caution is needed when using uncertain sources, and their legality is likely to change if clinical trials prove successful.
The legality of psychedelic use is unclear and varies by country, but there are ongoing clinical trials to license these substances as medicines. Currently, possession and sale of psychedelics is illegal for recreational use, but some laboratories and therapists are accessing clean sources for clinical research and treatment. However, some psychedelic substances are being laced with dangerous drugs like fentanyl, so caution is needed when using uncertain sources. While psilocybin has been decriminalized in some places like Oakland, it is not yet legal for prescription or sale without risk of criminal charges. The FDA and law enforcement agencies currently consider these substances illegal, but the success of phase three clinical trials could lead to their legal prescription as medicines for conditions like depression and anxiety.
The Future of Psychedelic Therapy: MDMA vs Psilocybin: MDMA therapy for PTSD has shown high remission rates and potential to become a mainstream treatment, but clean MDMA sources and FDA regulations remain a concern. Psilocybin therapy for depression is still in early stages of trials.
MDMA therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder has shown remarkable results in two phase three trials, with remission rates of 67% and long-term remission for years. MAPS has set themselves up to potentially become the provider, but there are serious questions surrounding the source and distribution of clean MDMA, and who can provide it. The FDA is also questioning who can provide this therapy. Psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression is in phase three trials, with Compass as the lead company. The trials have just started, and the earliest estimate for rollout is 2026. MDMA therapy is ahead of psilocybin in terms of clinical trials.
The Growing Potential for Psychedelic Therapy in Treating Mental Health Disorders: Psychedelic research has seen significant growth in recent years, showing potential as a therapeutic treatment for various mental health disorders. However, strict precautions and safety protocols must be taken to ensure success in the field.
The field of psychedelic research has grown tremendously in recent years with a multitude of trials testing the effectiveness of psychedelics in treating various mental health disorders, from anorexia to fibromyalgia syndrome to methamphetamine use disorder. While there are concerns around bad practice and safety, the potential of psychedelics as therapeutic treatments has caught the attention of philanthropists and donors who see a need for alternative options for those who have not had success with current treatments. It is important to maintain balance and adhere to necessary safeguards and standards to ensure the success of the field, but the potential for progress in treating mental health disorders is significant.
The Promise of Psychedelic Therapy: A New Paradigm in Mental Health Treatment: Psychedelic therapy offers a new approach to mental health treatment with the potential for significant outcomes. It should be considered as a treatment option and can be combined with other treatments when appropriate. Its value lies in understanding its potential and underlying mechanisms.
Psychedelic therapy represents a paradigm shift in mental health treatment; it offers a new approach rather than just another drug to add to the current system. While not everyone may choose this option, understanding its potential value and the underlying mechanisms can lead to significant mental and physical health outcomes. This new movement is being driven by a small group of passionate individuals, and their work is sure to continue improving the current state of mental health treatment. There is great value in exploring psychedelic therapy as a potential treatment option and combining it with other treatments when appropriate.
