Mental Health New wave of research puts psychedelics forward to treat mental health ->

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Why the future of mental health care may lie in psychedelics

by Rosie Mattio | Forbes Agency Council | 9 Jun 2020

Despite the fact that most non-COVID medical research and funding has come to a halt during the pandemic, there is one emerging field that is still forging ahead. The legal use of psychedelics to treat severe cases of psychological disorders, including depression, addiction and PTSD, has exploded in popularity among researchers and investors in the past two years and has garnered even more interest in recent months.

In just a handful of years, the perception of psychedelics’ brand image among mainstream audiences has rapidly shifted from a dubious party drug to an approachable form of medicine.

Cannabis executives across the industry, including myself, have been monitoring these advancements in hopes that Schedule I substances like cannabis and psychedelics can one day be accepted by mainstream communities as essential forms of medicine.

Psychedelics secures the support of the FDA and medical community

Unlike medical cannabis, which is still navigating a litany of federal research restrictions, psychedelic substances, including ketamine, psilocybin and ibogaine, have been granted FDA approval for clinical trials. In fact, in 2018 and 2019, the FDA designated psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in mushrooms, as a “Breakthrough Therapy” to treat clinical depression. This coveted classification allows the developers of the drug to conduct clinical trials with more regulatory support and fast-tracks the development and review of final treatments.

Last year, the FDA also approved a ketamine nasal spray to treat depression. The medication has been embraced by psychiatrists across the U.S. and is a breakthrough in its own right, since patients with severe cases of depression can now reimburse part of their legal ketamine treatment through insurance plans, a policy that is unheard of with medical cannabis.

The rising popularity and approval of ketamine therapy in the medical community has also resulted in a proliferation of ketamine clinics in the past few years. Private companies have started opening their doors in major cities in an effort to destigmatize psychedelic medicine and make treatments more accessible. In response to social distancing guidelines, some companies have recently pivoted to telemedicine services. For example, at Mindbloom, a Manhattan-based private clinic, qualifying patients are mailed sublingual ketamine tablets and monitored by a trained clinician over video conference. Considering how some states do not even permit medical cannabis delivery, these advancements in psychedelic medicine reflect how regulators and society may be more open to modern approaches in mental health care than we previously thought.

Investor intrigue fuels industry funding

Although most industries, including cannabis, are experiencing a considerable decline in investment during this period of economic uncertainty, psychedelics have been relatively impervious to recent investing trends. In March, two psychedelics companies, Champignon Brands and Mind Medicine Inc., went public on Canadian stock exchanges. MindMed, which aims to treat addiction and ADHD through ibogaine and LSD, notably raised $24 million ahead of its IPO this year. Bruce Linton, the former CEO of Canopy Growth, was an early investor, which reinforces the importance of legal cannabis and psychedelics growing in tandem.

At the beginning of May, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel led a $24 million funding round for ATAI Life Sciences, one of MindMed’s main competitors aiming to make psilocybin more scalable and accessible in clinical settings. Similarly, Compass Pathways, a company that was granted the “breakthrough therapy” designation by the FDA for its psilocybin depression drug, raised $80 million in its Series B in April. Another vote of confidence for the industry came from Canaccord Genuity, an investment bank known for funding promising emerging markets, when the company hosted its inaugural virtual Psychedelic Conference Series at the end of April.

Investors may favor psychedelics over cannabis due to the relative regulatory support the industry has received and higher barrier to entry. Risk-averse investors who watched cannabis companies battle with regulators and struggle to recover their stock prices likely view psychedelics as a more controlled and unsaturated environment. Investors are also considering the long-term returns of the industry, as experts estimate that the market for anxiety and depression treatment will reach $19 billion in the U.S. by 2026. For conservative investors, the psychedelics industry is a lucrative branch of pharmaceutical science that may be perceived as more credible due to consistent backing from the FDA and medical community.

Rising mental health cases will keep psychedelics research in high demand

The National Institutes of Health estimates that over 16 million Americans struggle with depression. Considering the marginal amount of money allocated to mental health care in the national stimulus package, the existing mental health system will be inundated with the number of cases that will certainly increase in the next few months. This, coupled with the fact that nearly 30% of depression cases are treatment-resistant, means the demand for more effective therapies will also escalate in a post-COVID world.

As the world grapples with the aftershocks of the pandemic, patients and healthcare providers will likely seek out alternative and modern mental health services to treat severe psychological disorders. The cannabis industry remains hopeful that their peers in the legal psychedelics space will pave the way for formerly illicit substances to be embraced as innovative medical treatments by regulatory and scientific communities. Individuals struggling with their mental health ultimately deserve to explore every avenue to recovery without social stigmas getting in the way.​

 

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Is psychedelic-assisted therapy the answer to the mental health crisis caused by COVID-19?

by Jeff Kronenfeld | Psychedelics Today | 20 Jul 2020

Mental health has become one of the central themes of 2020 thanks to COVID-19 and the resulting societal shutdown. In fact, the psychological spillover from coronavirus is projected to evolve into an entirely separate pandemic, according to the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA). Like the virus itself, the “second pandemic” is nothing to ignore. The United Nations, World Health Organization and other academic sources such as the Journal of the American Medical Association have also sounded the alarm about a potential mental health crisis coming down the pipeline.

The JAPNA study, however, calls for the implementation of “new mental health interventions” and “collaboration among health leaders” in order to prepare for mobilization when the masses are seeking psychological assistance. While psychedelic medicines were not explicitly cited in the study, these drugs offer an array of treatments that just so happen to address many of the mental health issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and paranoia. Specifically, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, which is on the brink of legalization in Oregon, may serve as one such model to assuage the psychological fallout from COVID-19.

Causes of the mental health crisis

So, how can COVID trigger a mental health crisis? That answer is: Easily. At the time of writing, over 121,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and more than 2.3 million have been infected, according to data from John Hopkins University. The authors of the JAPNA article note that survivors of ICU treatment face an elevated risk for depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbance, poor quality of life, and cognitive dysfunction.

Those who contract COVID are not the only ones facing psychological trauma from the pandemic, however. Healthcare workers on the frontlines are at a heightened risk of experiencing severe trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression from COVID. Family members of coronavirus patients also face heightened distress, fear, and anxiety, all of which are likely aggravated by the restrictions on hospital visits and lack of testing. The rapid influx of COVID-19 cases also has the potential to decrease capacity for treating other patients, such as those experiencing psychological issues.

Moreover, even people who have not directly dealt with COVID may experience mental health troubles. A lot of anxiety exists around virus exposure, which is triggered when having to leave the house for basic reasons, such as going to the grocery store or bank. The media’s inconsistent, doomsday coverage of the pandemic adds to the confusion around what’s going on, resulting in extreme fear, information overwhelm, and hysteria.

The unintended consequences of a nationwide shut down is also proving to have a negative impact on mental health, according to a study published in European Psychiatry (EP). Lack of social interaction, specifically, is a well-known risk factor for depression, anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions. Further, the study warns that the longer such policies are in effect, the more risk they pose to those with preexisting mental health issues.

“Most probably we will face an increase of mental health problems, behavioral disturbances, and substance-use disorders, as extreme stressors may exacerbate or induce psychiatric problems,” the EP authors write.

News from the economic front is also concerning. The IMF projects global GDP will contract by 3 percent this year—the most severe decline since the Great Depression—with the US GDP predicted to drop by a whopping 5.9 percent. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show more than 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since mid-March, a number that will likely increase. For many, job security means financial stability, which generally ties into one’s mental wellness.

Research published in Clinical Psychological Science found that people who lost their job, income and housing during the Great Recession were at a higher risk of depression, anxiety and substance abuse. This is particularly troubling considering the Great Recession only caused a .1 percent drop in global GDP, a decline 30 times less severe than the financial crisis caused by COVID-19. Moreover, suicide rates in the US are directly related to unemployment. In fact, for every unemployment rate percentage increase, the suicide rate rises 1.6 percent in the US, according to a study in the Social Science and Medicine journal.

Looking at all of these factors combined, a mental health crisis seems imminent. A report from the Well Being Trust predicts that COVID-19 and its associated stressors will cause anywhere from 27,644 to 154,000 deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicide. The results of a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation suggest our trajectory could already be trending towards the worst-case scenario. The poll shows that 56 percent of Americans surveyed believe the outbreak has negatively impacted their mental health. But that number rose to 64 percent for those who experienced income loss.

How can psychedelics help?

Psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine combined with psychotherapy show promise for treating an array of mental health conditions— many of which happen to be brought on by the pandemic.

Studies show that psilocybin-assisted therapy decreases depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening diseases, such as cancer. Participants reported reduced feelings of hopelessness, demoralization, and fear of death. Even 4.5 years after the treatment, 60 to 80 percent of participants still demonstrated clinically significant antidepressant and anti-anxiety responses. While we do not advocate for those sick with coronavirus to eat mushrooms, these studies suggest that psilocybin may be effective in treating the extreme fear, anxiety and depression activated by the virus and global shutdown.

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy also promises major relief from pandemic-related trauma. Multiple studies show that it is a profound tool in the treatment of PTSD for military veterans, firefighters and police officers with no adverse effects post-treatment. MDMA therapy could be particularly beneficial to healthcare workers, survivors of extreme COVID cases or those who lost a loved one to the disease— all of which can inflict significant trauma, and therefore, PTSD.

“We found that over 60 percent of the participants no longer had PTSD after just three sessions of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy,” says Brad Burge, the director of strategic communications at MAPS. “We also found that those benefits persisted and people actually tended to continue getting better over the next year without any further treatments.”

Ketamine (and the esketamine nasal spray) treatment, on the other hand, is already available in North America. It’s especially effective in assuaging the tension of treatment resistant depression, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, and PTSD —all of which could be exacerbated by pandemic-related stressors.

Keep in mind, however, that using psychedelics at home is different than receiving psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Catherine Auman, a licensed family and marriage therapist with experience in psychedelic integration, warns that now may not be the best time to use psychedelics, especially in a non-clinical setting. She worries that pandemic-related stressors could impact a patient’s psychological state.

“Psychedelics are powerful substances and are best to do at a time in a person’s life when they’re feeling more stable, not less,” Auman explains. “This is good advice whether someone is using them recreationally or therapeutically.”

Will COVID-19 impede psychedelic research and delay public access?

The pandemic has impeded both psychedelic research efforts and access to currently available therapies. We’re essentially at a standstill until COVID is controlled. MAPS is among few—if not the only—organization with FDA permission to carry on research, but at a reduced scale. When we first spoke with Burge for this story, MAPS was on its first session of Phase 3 MDMA clinical trials. More recently, however, the FDA allowed MAPS to end the first round of Phase 3 early with only 90 out of 100 of the planned participants enrolled. Burge confirmed MAPS is already preparing for their second and last Phase 3 clinical trial. He predicts the DEA could reschedule MDMA by as early as 2022.

Usona Institute temporarily paused all in-person activities related to its Phase 2 clinical trials looking at psilocybin for major depressive disorder, according to its April newsletter. Usona is still recruiting participants for clinical trials at five sites, however.

Compass Pathways is not currently accepting any new patients in its clinical trials looking into the impact of psilocybin on treatment-resistant depression, according to a statement. They continue to support already enrolled patients remotely, when possible within the protocol. Pre-screening of potential study participants continues where possible, too.

Field Trip Health is a recently formed network of clinics offering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. The facility opened its first clinic in Toronto in March. But, after seeing one patient, it promptly shut down due to the accelerating spread of COVID-19.

"The decision for Field Trip Health to close its clinic was relatively easy," says Ronan Levy, the company’s executive chairman. They didn’t have large numbers of patients actively receiving treatment yet. But, the pandemic has forced the organization to quickly adapt. “We launched a digital online therapy program, so patients can self-refer or have referrals to our psychotherapists, who are trained in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, with specific protocols and behavioral therapies,” says Verbora, Field Trip Health’s medical director. “Long term, as these clinics start to open up again, we’ll have dual streams. We’ll be able to sort patients in the clinic for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, but some of their care may be able to be done from home.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic has hampered research efforts in the short term and, the movement around the healing properties of psychedelic medicine is still going strong.

“The path to acceptance might be slowed down a little bit due to COVID,” Verbora says. “But the current path that’s being undertaken by a number of different groups and institutions is one that’s going to lead to profound changes in the way we approach mental health.”

The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

The Second Pandemic: Is Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy the Answer to the Mental Health Crisis Caused by COVID-19? – Psychedelics Today

By Jeff Kronenfeld Mental health has become one of the central themes of 2020 thanks to COVID-19 and the resulting societal shutdown. In fact, the psychological spillover from coronavirus is projected to evolve into an entirely separate pandemic, according to the Journal of the American...

psychedelicstoday.com

 

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The link between psychosis and the psychedelic state

Calvey, Howells

A population study which investigated psychedelic use in Norway, in 2013, reported that from their 21,967 respondents, 13% reported lifetime psychedelic use, and found no significant association with mental health outcomes; in fact there were several instances where psychedelic use was associated with lower rate of mental health problems. The use of psychedelics, such as cannabis, when psychosis does develop and persists, is suggested to result from an interaction of genes and the environment, as an example; multiple natural genetic variations interact with cannabis and other environmental factors (stress) to increase the risk of developing psychosis. Ergo psychedelics alone do not produce psychosis or psychotic disorder, as an individual needs to be genetically predisposed or carry a greater risk profile or susceptibility to developing psychosis.

This being said, basic animal researchers employ acute and chronic dosing of certain psychedelics to induce psychotic-like behaviors in their research animals, usually rat or mouse, to investigate the neurobiological mechanism of psychosis, e.g., NMDA antagonists ketamine and PCP. NMDA antagonists disrupt glutamatergic signaling, specifically reducing NMDA receptor function; this is a postulated mechanism which leads to the human psychotic state, at least in part, and conversion to psychosis in ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) individuals.

Importantly, for an animal to “serve” as a reliable model of a human condition it needs to meet several validity criteria. Behavioral comparisons between PCP and schizophrenia-like behavior in rodents report, for example, deficits in the cognitive domain which are comparable to schizophrenia executive function deficits; these include deficits in novel object recognition, attentional set shifting and T-maze delayed alternation. Then PCP in primates reduces frequency and duration of social interaction which is comparable to social withdrawal in humans, a negative symptom of schizophrenia. Administration of anti-psychotic medications has been shown to reverse these behavioral deficits produced by PCP, specifically deficits in reversal learning and locomotor sensitization, where it is suggested that this reversal is achieved through the activation of muscarinic-1 receptors. However, as with all psychiatric animal models, there are limitations in their translation to the human condition, e.g., animals cannot communicate the experience of a hallucination or the retrieval of unconscious memory. Other psychedelic animal models of schizophrenia address serotoninergic dysfunction reported in schizophrenia, and have included acute and chronic administration of mescaline, psilocybin, and LSD, and again lack full translation to the human condition.

Importantly, antipsychotic drugs are known to act on the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems; however, their full mechanism of action is still being discovered. Conventional typical anti-psychotics have strong affinity to D2 receptor, which are found in high concentrations within the mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways, which are seen as the primary pathways involved in schizophrenia, if following the dopamine hypothesis, and lead to the presentation of positive psychotic symptoms, i.e., hallucinations and delusions. New atypical anti-psychotics, which are prescribed in lower dosages than typical antipsychotics, make the addition of acting on 5HT receptors, e.g., 5HT1A, 5HT2A, and 5HT2C subtypes, as do classic psychedelics. Clozapine, an atypical anti-psychotic, which is effective in treating treatment resistant schizophrenia and negative symptoms of psychosis, may act as an inverse agonist on 5HT2C receptors. Where, the 5HT1A receptor gene promotor polymorphism as been associated with treatment efficacy of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

The identification of non-psychedelic compounds with similar serotonergic and glutamatergic receptor affinities as psychedelics has been proposed to be an important area for future research, with view to potential antineuro-inflammatory properties. An example given is how DOI induces profound anti-inflammatory effects at doses below those required to induce rodent head-twitch behavior. If non-psychedelic agonists that share the anti-inflammatory effects of DOI could be developed, this may have significant therapeutic implications as would the identification of non-psychedelic analogs capable of promoting plasticity in the prefrontal cortex. Such compounds would also be critical in resolving the debate as to whether the psychedelic state is necessary for their therapeutic effects.

As reviewed by Barsuglia et al., 2018, the intensity of the mystical experience is a key predictor of therapeutic outcomes in psilocybin-assisted treatment of alcohol dependence. Perhaps, for certain disorders (inflammatory disorders or degenerative disorders, for example), non-psychedelic compounds would be effective. More research needs to focus on psychedelic “microdosing,” as it is known in the field. Sub-psychedelic doses of psychedelic compounds have been found to assist with certain disorders or conditions which is common practice within the psychedelic communities; however, there is only one human study in the literature which demonstrated that microdosing psilocybin had a positive effect on creativity. Additional controlled studies in this area could be of tremendous value in the field.

Another promising line of research would be into ibogaine’s ability to reverse opioid tolerance, ergo development of non-addictive chronic pain medication. It is suggested that ibogaine is able to produce a neuroadaptive effect on endogenous opioid systems likely due to its ability to reverse the effects of opiates on gene expression, returning the receptors to pre-addiction condition. Ibogaine administered together with morphine potentiates the analgesic effects of morphine as well as reduce developing tolerance. Uncovering these mechanisms would be of great value to the field of pain management.

Another area that requires further research is combination psychedelic therapy. Traditional practitioners often use psychedelics in combination and have been doing so for many generations. Barsuglia et al. propose a theory as to how 5-MeO-DMT and ibogaine used in sequential administration would be more effective in treating addiction than either one on its own. The combined neurotransmitter profile of the two compounds would likely have an augmented effect when used in combination but as this is the first study of its kind assessing combined psychedelic therapy, more research is needed to uncover poly-psychedelic pharmacology.

Psychedelics remain largely illegal in many countries; limiting human research, the research findings to date suggest that psychedelics hold therapeutic benefit to several human conditions, psychiatric through to chronic pain. There would be benefit from preclinical studies in which multimodal neuroimaging and electrophysiological recordings are taken, while within a solid research design, which manages the diversity of human behavior. Longitudinal research investigating single/multiple administration and at various doses, including microdosing, would greatly enhance our understanding.

*From the article here :

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328974974

 

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Anti-psychotics and psychedelics

SPIRIT PHARMACIST | 7 Dec 2019

Due to anti-psychotic drugs being indicated or Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, their use could be viewed as a marker of potential contraindication for psychedelic drug use. However, the genesis of anti-psychotics has begun to spill over into adjunctive treatments for depression, insomnia, or generalized anxiety. Moreover, the historical convergence of psychedelics and anti-psychotics in drug discovery and pharmacologic theory is interesting. In this post I’ll cover anti-psychotics and psychedelics from a historical neuropharmacologic perspective, discuss psychosis and spiritual emergency, as well as cover practical strategies for guiding evaluation of persons taking anti-psychotics whom may be considering psychedelic use. A summary table of anti-psychotic agents, their indications for use, dosing and time to elimination can be found here.

Anti-psychotics - yesterday and today

The first FDA approved anti-psychotic was chlorpromazine (Thorazine) in 1954. A very sedating drug, it had its anti-psychotic properties serendipitously discovered when it was being tested as part of a cocktail for anesthesia. It was noted that psychotic patients undergoing surgery had symptomatic improvements in their psychotic symptoms. Thorazine’s discovery helped to usher in the ‘biological era’ of psychiatry as it was one of the first medications discovered to noticeably improve severe mental illness. Its discovery allowed patients with severe mental illness to coexist in society and helped to bring about the end of the insane asylum era. The first anti-psychotics discovered had their therapeutic mechanism attributed to blocking dopamine 2 (D2) receptors and were termed first generation anti-psychotics (FGA) or typical anti-psychotics. While Thorazine is rarely used today, other ‘high potency’ FGAs such as haloperidol (Haldol) are still used frequently in hospital settings.

The next breakthrough in the development of anti-psychotics and treatment of schizophrenia involved the introduction of clozapine (Clozaril, Fazoclo) in 1989. This medication had a complex pharmacologic profile, although its therapeutic effects were primarily attributed to both D2 receptor blockade as well as serotonin 2A (5HT2A) receptor blockade. Clozapine was more effective than FGAs in the management of schizophrenia. Unfortunately, it was limited by a number of severe adverse effects, including hematologic toxicities such as agranulocytosis (wiping out of immune cells). The rush to discover a molecule with similar effects without the severe adverse effects brought a new wave of anti-psychotics to market. Several agents were approved over the last 30 years and collectively constitute second generation anti-psychotics (SGAs) or atypical anti-psychotics.

The vast majority of SGAs feature appreciable affinity for the D2 and 5HT2A receptor, although can also bind with several other receptors from different neurotransmitter systems. These include receptors such as alpha-1 noradrenergic receptors, muscarinic cholinergic receptors, and hisamine-1 receptors. These additional receptor bindings and subsequent affinity ratios between each paints each drug as unique, which may lead to different use profiles. Second generation anti-psychotics (SGAs) are able to reduce symptoms of bipolar disorder and are oftentimes used as mood stabilizers. Recently, a few SGAs have been approved for use in conjunction with antidepressants such as SSRIs in the management of depression. There has also been an expansion in off-label prescribing of SGAs, and are now being used in lower doses for the treatment of generalized anxiety or insomnia. Thus, anti-psychotics are no longer limited to use in psychosis, which makes them pertinent medications to discuss in the context of psychedelic healing.

Anti-psychotics as red flags

By virtue of being drugs that are primarily indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, anti-psychotic use may be seen as a ‘red flag’ for psychedelic use as it’s generally accepted that psychedelics are contraindicated in persons with these illnesses. However, given the widespread off-label use of anti-psychotics for depression, anxiety, and insomnia, it would be premature to automatically conclude that anyone using an anti-psychotic is a poor candidate and/or should be disqualified from use of psychedelics. The dose of anti-psychotic used may be a reasonable clue as to underlying indication, as doses used for depression, anxiety, or insomnia are typically much lower than doses used for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. To aid in better understanding doses and indications of anti-psychotics, I created a table summarizing both FDA approved indications and other uses of anti-psychotics as well as what may be considered a ‘low’ or ‘high’ dose. Taking a careful psychiatric history that involves screening for symptoms of psychosis or bipolar disorder is a must in general, although becomes paramount in importance when anti-psychotics are being used and psychedelics are being considered. Some common symptoms of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are linked.

Due to the subjectivity in the psychiatric diagnostic system as well as misdiagnosis of bipolar disorders, it is distinctly possible that an individual is using anti-psychotics despite not having symptoms that would meet criteria for a bipolar or psychotic disorder. There are also considerable variability in degree of severity of bipolar disorder. It’s also possible that other processes such as ‘spiritual emergency’ (discussed further below) could explain the disturbance in consciousness. Nonetheless, it may be fair to assume that persons taking these medications have more refractory types of illness or may have had mild symptoms of psychosis (e.g. anxiety bordering on paranoia) or bipolar disorder (hypomania) at one point in time. These circumstances warrant extra caution when approaching or considering psychedelic use.

Anti-psychotics as 'anti-psychedelics'

Mechanistically, stimulation of the 5HT2A receptor is critical for psychedelic phenomena to occur. This has been demonstrated pharmacologically using knock out models, in which mice lacking the 5HT2A receptor do not display typical behaviors indicative of psychedelic use. Many SGAs have inverse agonist properties at the 5HT2A receptor, meaning that they stabilize an inactive conformation of the receptor. It appears that SGAs may also be able to reduce genetic expression of the 5HT2A receptor. These actions may prohibit (or severely limit) the ability of psychedelics to stimulate the receptor or produce effects as it lays dormant in an inactive conformation or is less prevalent on neuronal membranes. With the FGA Thorazine (which also blocks 5HT2A receptors), it was noted that 50mg given two hours before psilocybin diminished the effects. Blockade of the 5HT2A receptor by the 5HT2A blocking drug ketanserin, drastically reduces or even abolishes psychedelic experiences. The SGA risperidone was even engineered to be able to completely abolish the effects of LSD on rodent drug discrimination tests. It appears safe to conclude that the opposing effects of anti-psychotics (particularly SGAs) and psychedelics at the 5HT2A receptor, creates the potential for pharmacodynamic interaction to occur, resulting in muted or abolished psychedelic experiences. This appears to not be true of FGAs that purely block dopamine receptors, as one experiment in which persons used haloperidol prior to psilocybin resulted in increased ‘psychotomimetic’ effects such as anxious ego-dissolution. Of note, anti-psychotics may have additional pharmacology that creates further potential for drug interaction. For example, the antipsychotic ziprasidone (Geodon) is able to block the serotonin reuptake pump like an antidepressant, thus carries risk of severe physical toxicity such as serotonin syndrome in combination with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)-containing psychedelics such as ayahuasca.

The psychedelic model of psychosis

The convergence of SGAs and psychedelics at the 5HT2A receptor may increase validity of neuropharmacologic models of non-ordinary states of consciousness that attempt to link psychotomimetic or hallucinogenic effects of psychedelics with pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This section is not intended to say that psychedelics cause psychotic illness, only that there appears to be common ground and interesting observations in the mechanisms that drive both types of non-ordinary states (5HT2A receptor binding).

Whilst rare, there are several documented reports of psychedelics precipitating or worsening schizophrenia or bipolar disorders. It makes sense that psychedelics could directly cause an exacerbation or episode of these illnesses as they stimulate an active conformation of the 5HT2A receptor which is mechanistically opposed to anti-psychotics. There is also data supporting that chronic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use increases ‘pro-hallucinogenic’ conformations of the 5HT2A receptor, which may explain the association between heavy cannabis use in adolescence and the development of schizophrenia. Whilst a causal relationship between cannabis use and psychosis remains controversial, it appears that a dose response relationship is present. Moreover, cannabidiol (CBD) is reported to diminish effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and is itself now being studied as an adjunctive treatment for psychosis. It appears that serotonergic psychedelics as well as THC have the ability to sensitize the 5HT2A receptor to non-ordinary consciousness phenomena, which can be pathological in persons predisposed to psychotic or bipolar illness. Beyond exogenous psychedelic administration leading to pro-psychotic brain states, some have wondered if endogenous psychedelic production could be driving psychotic illness.

After the discovery of LSD and mescaline, some hypothesized that an endogenous psychedelic (produced within the body) may be the cause of schizophrenia. The search for a ‘schizotoxin’ that resembled the phenethylamine mescaline turned up unfruitful, although the presence of tryptamines such as DMT, 5-OH-DMT (bufotenine), and 5-MeO-DMT have been detected in several types of body fluids over the years, beginning with DMT in 1955. DMT, other psychedelics, as well as agents such as amphetamine have been found to disrupt sensorimotor gating mechanisms, which are thought to exist to narrow or filter consciousness in such a way that the brain can focus attention rather than becoming disorganized by the overwhelming amount of incoming information. These mechanisms are also disrupted in illnesses such as schizophrenia and normalcy is restored by use of antipsychotic drugs. While endogenous psychedelics have been detected in a number of studies, it appears that many used questionable analytic methods and were not able to definitively link elevated production of endogenous psychedelics to illnesses like schizophrenia. Many control patients without illness also had detectable levels of psychedelic compounds. Therefore, the role for endogenous production of psychedelics remains a mystery and is not definitively linked to psychotic illness.

Psychosis or spiritual emergency?

Even in psychiatric diagnostic classification systems, there’s a recognition that the presence of psychosis or manic symptoms may not be grounds for diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. There are several other forms of psychotic illness such as “brief psychotic disorder” that is defined by psychotic symptoms for a limited period of time that resolve without recurrence. Pathophysiologic models of these phenomena are generally inadequate to explain their occurrence and other explanations have been proposed.

Stan and Christina Grof are often credited with defining different stages of deep personal transformation that are termed ‘spiritual emergence’ and ‘spiritual emergency.’ A spiritual emergence or emergency may result from a near death experience (NDE) or induced by psychedelics. Psychedelics are known to elicit mystical experiences of profound unity or other experiences that shatter our preconceived beliefs of reality so severely, that the ego is not able to fully coalesce again afterwards, leaving the user in a fragile and partially disintegrated state. Psychedelics may also result in intense feelings of derealization or depersonalization post-use, causing one to need to create an entire new sense of personhood and model for reality prior to feeling ‘normal’ again. These states involving dysfunction or distress, non-ordinary states of consciousness, overwhelming emotions, visions and other sensory changes, unusual thoughts, as well as physical manifestations are known as spiritual emergencies (Grof & Grof 1989, 1990). When these disintegrated spiritual states are adequately supported and worked through, they result in deep personal transformation, increased connection with the divine, and expanded capacities for peace and compassion. The potential for spiritual emergency to occur post psychedelic use is one rationale to consider adjunctive therapy or integration coaching, such that support is available if these states arise.

If inadequately supported or not recognized as spiritual crises, these states can be labeled as pathological and ‘treated’ with anti-psychotics or other psychotropics. The use of anti-psychotics in a person undergoing deep spiritual transformation is theorized to suppress the emergence process and result in holding the person in a type of ‘spiritual purgatory’ between stages of personal evolution, trapping the individual in a state of disintegrated dysfunction. Therefore, when psychedelic use results in phenomena post-use that creates questions as to whether illness or spiritual emergency has been precipitated, careful and cautious evaluation should be done prior to use of anti-psychotics or other psychotropics. Several evaluations from persons with different perspectives (e.g. psychiatrist, psychedelic integration specialist, spiritual emergence coach) may be necessary to gain the most complete picture and aid in optimal decision-making during this time. The Center for Spiritual Emergence is a resource for persons that suspect they may be undergoing such a process.

Anti-psychotics for ‘bad trips’

The use of any medication to influence the trajectory of a difficult, challenging, or outright ‘bad’ trip is not preferable, especially in the context of psychedelic healing where difficult emotions may be part of a necessary ongoing emotional process. Guidelines for use of hallucinogens in research suggest that non-drug emotional support be offered as the first line treatment for overwhelmingly intense experiences. If pharmacologic management is absolutely necessary (e.g. the persons is agitated, combative and presents a danger to themselves or others) then a benzodiazepine is recommended to be tried. In the event that this approach fails, the guidelines do mention that a dose of antipsychotic such as risperidone may be used, but only as an absolute last resort. There is obviously some tension and inconsistency between philosophic approaches that view temporary psychotic symptoms as signs of spiritual emergency versus a truly adverse reaction to psychedelics that requires treatment with anti-psychotics.

Antipsychotic discontinuation

Given the potent suppression of psychedelic effects predicted in combination with anti-psychotics, their widespread activity at other neurotransmitter systems, sedating effects, as well as their potential ability to retard, interfere, or suppress processes of spiritual emergence, it appears that taper and discontinuation prior to use of serotonergic psychedelics (MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, ayahuasca) is a reasonable approach. Of note, ketamine has been combined with anti-psychotics in the treatment of persons with bipolar depression without reporting loss of effects. Anti-psychotics are known to have withdrawal syndromes when discontinued abruptly. The rapid withdrawal of antipsychotic use may also increase risks of severe symptoms returning rapidly. The abrupt continuation of anti-psychotics has led to ‘supersensitivity psychosis.’ Persons that have recently discontinued anti-psychotics may be more sensitive to the effects of psychedelics due to a hypersensitive response at 5HT2A or D2 receptors as part of withdrawal. There is a wide range in times to elimination of antipsychotic drugs and times to elimination for different agents are summarized in this table. It may be reasonable to washout anti-psychotics for longer than minimum elimination times prior to psychedelic use to allow the withdrawal syndrome to fully run its course and monitor for the re-surfacing of psychotic or manic symptoms prior to engagement with psychedelics. Tapers should be completed with the aid and endorsement of the supervising prescriber and will generally require a few weeks to a few months for successful completion.

Conclusions

The relationship with 5HT2A receptors is diametrically opposed between second generation anti-psychotics (SGAs) and psychedelics, creating potential for muted or abolished psychedelic experiences when combined. The use of serotonergic psychedelics (MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, DMT, ayahuasca) is contraindicated in schizophrenia or bipolar disorders and there’s a credible neuropharmacologic rationale for why these conditions may be exacerbated with psychedelic use. Both psychedelics and anti-psychotics have historically served as interesting neurological probes into non-ordinary states of consciousness and continued research in this area is warranted. Anti-psychotics are generally red flags for psychedelic use as they may denote contraindicated illness or individuals with extreme symptoms. After careful and thoughtful evaluation, a history of antipsychotic use may not preclude the use of psychedelic therapies in persons judged to have non-contraindicated conditions amenable to psychedelic therapies such as major (unipolar) depression, anxiety disorders, or PTSD. Slow taper, discontinuation, and a period of symptom monitoring prior to engaging with psychedelics could increase the safety and effectiveness of psychedelic healing in persons using anti-psychotics.

Antipsychotics & Psychedelics: Historical Perspective & Contemporary Application — Spirit Pharmacist

Psychedelics & Antipsychotics Due to antipsychotic drugs being indicated or Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, their use could be viewed as a marker of potential contraindication for psychedelic drug use. However, the

www.spiritpharmacist.com

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[mr peabody]

Psychedelic-assisted therapy in the post-pandemic era

by Heather Mayfield, MS | Psychedelic Science Review | 28 Sep 2020

In the wake of Covid-19, psychedelic-assisted therapy is gaining attention.

Mental health issues have been on the rise globally for many years. There is no universally accepted strategy to combat the increasing depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma; in many cases stigma, shame, fear, and access remain the major hurdles faced by many. Treatment options remain few – with varying success – and broad-scale investments in novel treatments are lacking.

The consequences of keeping the status quo

Under this current climate of inadequate treatments, an era of unprecedented mental health crisis will unfold globally as the current Covid-19 pandemic sweeps across countries. Sharp increases in depression and anxiety have already been documented, and as the pandemic progresses and moves into recovery, the mental health toll will continue to increase in severity and size. This pandemic may present itself as a turning point in the current mental health strategies and treatment options. According to the World Health Organization, more investment needs to be placed into expanding access to current treatment options and strategies while also investing in novel and alternative treatment options.

Psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research not only offer a new path for treating and managing treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and complex PTSD, but may also provide treatment options for the long-lasting mental toll stemming directly from social isolation, grief, and fear.

The current mental health treatment situation

As of 2017, over 792 million people suffered from at least one mental health disorder, including substance/alcohol abuse. Disparity in the available treatment access across the globe presents the first problem to overcome. Expanding access globally provides a vital helpline in areas where it may be needed most; but as access increases, the efficacy of treatments comes under the lens of scrutiny.

Medications to treat both depression and anxiety are prescribed at alarming rates, often as long term treatments with little significant improvement in patient health overall. With high rates of non-responders to classical treatments and little treatment efficacy in the long term, researchers have recently begun to question the current models of strategy and treatment. Not only do these statistics paint a bleak picture of what the outlook for mental health was prior to the current pandemic, but they also provide insight as to why new treatment strategies and management is vital.

As the current Covid-19 pandemic unfolds, all signs point to an upcoming crisis in mental health globally. This crisis will have long-lasting effects compounded not only by the direct effects on mental health by the pandemic but also by the indirect creeping effects of economic downturn and despair. The road to recovery presents a choice to either continue with the status-quo or embark on a new path which may revolutionize mental health treatment strategies.

Studies are showing the effectiveness of psychedelics

Psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy have recently re-entered the realm of research in novel treatment options for a variety of mental health issues. Since a pivotal clinical study in 2016 – which saw dramatic effects of a psychedelic in reducing the symptoms of PTSD – the research world and the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) have begun rethinking psychedelics as a legitimate form of treatment.

From depression to PTSD, alcoholism, and end of life anxiety, pilot and small scale clinical trials have investigated the effectiveness of psychedelic substances in treating and managing the symptoms of these disorders. The safety and tolerability of these substances have been established in these studies, and promising results in the effectiveness in treating and lowering rates of remission have been reported.

Psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy present the opportunity to provide relief to individuals who respond poorly to classical treatments and may be able to replace long-term pharmaceutical interventions that have not shown significant symptom relief for patients. As of 2020, over eighty new clinical trials investigating the efficacy of multiple psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapies on treating various mental health disorders are now recruiting patients, showing a continued and sustained interest in the field.

Avoiding a bigger crisis

This current pandemic can serve as the impetus of change. If the status quo in mental health strategies is maintained, the world will face an unprecedented crisis with long-lasting repercussions, according to experts. By proactively integrating new and novel psychedelic-assisted therapies and treatments, the challenges faced in the future may be mitigated.

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Post-Pandemic Era

In the wake of Covid-19, psychedelic-assisted therapy is gaining attention.

psychedelicreview.com

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[mr peabody]

A mind-altering path to healing*

by Katherine Hobson | U.S. News | 30 Sep 2020

Jon Kostakopoulos had been trying to stop drinking since his late teens. Nothing – not inpatient programs, outpatient programs, Alcoholics Anonymous or pharmaceutical treatments – seemed to help. So when his concerned mother heard from her new doctor at NYU Langone Health about a small trial of something totally different, she passed on the information. That’s how he found himself, at age 25, undergoing a succession of three therapist-supported experiences with psilocybin, a psychedelic component of magic mushrooms that is now being tested for conditions including addiction, cancer-related anxiety and depression.

Kostakopoulos didn’t have the kind of 3D, multicolored, reality-distorting head trips that some report – and the 1960s stereotype would suggest. “I pretty much knew where I was the whole time,” he says. In one session, he had a kind of death-and-rebirth experience, with the sense of starting over with a clean slate. “Parts of it were great, full of optimism and hope,” he says. "And parts of it were upsetting, full of guilt and embarrassment for what I’d put my friends and family through,” he says. He felt flooded by the need to recalibrate his priorities, and was able to look at himself – and his alcohol problem – more objectively. Kostakopoulos says his last drink was 11 days before his first supervised experience with the drug. That was five years ago.

The potential

But you shouldn’t take Kostakopoulos’ story as proof that psilocybin is the next great wonder drug for treating addiction, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or anything else. The larger trials that the Food and Drug Administration requires before considering new treatments are ongoing or in the planning stages.
“We don’t know if it works for any of these things,” says Stephen Ross, an associate professor of psychiatry and director of the Addictive Disorders and Experimental Therapeutics Research Laboratory at NYU Langone Health. What researchers do have is a collection of promising small studies evaluating just a few doses of psychedelics – including MDMA, also known as ecstasy – in conjunction with therapy in carefully selected patients, for specific conditions. And these scientists seem to have the wind at their backs in terms of popular and institutional interest in their work. In 2019, Johns Hopkins Medicine – with $17 million in promised funding from individuals including podcaster and “The Four-Hour Workweek” author Tim Ferriss – launched the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research to study the therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds. Imperial College London launched its own center earlier that year. Researchers at NYU Langone, the University of California-San Francisco and UCLA are also studying the medical potential of psychedelics.

Psilocybin and MDMA are the two drugs that have gotten the most research attention, says Charles Grob, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Both now have breakthrough status from the FDA – psilocybin for major depression and treatment-resistant depression, and MDMA for PTSD. That means the agency recognizes the potential based on early studies and promises an expedited review. The drugs have different chemistry and effects, but they have the potential to be used in a similar way: a small number of doses paired with psychotherapy for long-term change, says Josh Woolley, an associate professor of psychiatry at UCSF.

The backstory

As journalist Michael Pollan describes in his 2018 bestseller “How to Change Your Mind,” psychedelic substances were used in certain rituals by other cultures (including in South and Central America) for centuries. In the U.S., psilocybin and its lab-synthesized cousin LSD were embraced as “miracle drugs” in the 1950s and early 1960s by the psychiatric establishment, notably for alcoholism and cancer-related distress, before becoming inextricably linked to the 1960s youth counterculture movement. “The dark side of psychedelics began to receive tremendous amounts of publicity – bad trips, psychotic breaks, flashbacks, suicides – and beginning in 1965 the exuberance surrounding these new drugs gave way to moral panic,” Pollan writes. “As quickly as the culture and scientific establishment had embraced psychedelics, they now turned sharply against them.” The drugs were criminalized. “In all of my training, the only things I ever heard about psychedelics was that they’re dangerous and that they cause problems,” Ross says.

But in the past few decades, some researchers – backed by nonprofits such as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS, and the Heffter Research Institute – found their own way to the promising early science and decided to take a fresh look at the drugs. Roland Griffiths, director of the new Johns Hopkins center and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, got “deeply curious about non-ordinary states of consciousness” after developing a meditation practice about 25 years ago. He did some research on comparative religions and various meditative and contemplative practices, and came across the old medical studies on psychedelics. “I was kind of a skeptic going into it,” he says, referring to the potential of the drugs. But in 2006 he and his colleagues published a double-blinded study showing that administering a high dose of psilocybin under “comfortable, supportive conditions” reliably produced mystical experiences in healthy, religiously or spiritually oriented adults. Griffiths was stunned to find that about two-thirds of the volunteers rated the experience to be “either the single most meaningful experience of his or her life, or among the top five most meaningful experiences of his or her life” – on par with the birth of a first child or death of a parent. Participants also reported enduring positive changes in moods, attitudes and behavior, suggesting a potential therapeutic role.

Psiloscybin may affect people differently. But often, Griffiths says, the drug produces transcendent or mystical-type feelings characterized by a sense of unity and interconnectedness. People often report feeling a sense of mystery and wonder at the very fact of being alive, and a sense of freedom to choose their own path, he says. "That can be helpful for those who are caught in habitual patterns of behavior or thinking, whether it’s the fixation on an addictive substance, ruminative anxiety or depressive thoughts," he says. Experts aren’t sure precisely how psilocybin works, but it seems to temporarily produce a widespread reorganization of brain activity and communication, says Frederick Barrett, an assistant professor of psychiatry and director of neurophysiological mechanism and biomarker assessment at Johns Hopkins’ new center.

Most research on psilocybin has focused on addiction and cancer-related distress. Ross and Griffiths published research in 2016 showing that a single dose along with support from therapists helped participants achieve a 60% to 80% reduction in depression and anxiety that endured six months after the session. Sherry Marcy, now 77, was one of the volunteers. She was diagnosed with stage 3 endometrial cancer in 2010 and underwent surgery and months of grueling chemotherapy and radiation. The treatment worked, but the experience left her depressed and traumatized. She read about the Hopkins study and, after consulting with her wife, signed up. “I’m a child of the 60s, so I wasn’t appalled at the idea,” she says. Marcy took a dose of psilocybin in a special room with a couch, while wearing an eyeshade and headphones. She was monitored by two therapists. (She had two sessions, one with psilocybin and one with a placebo, and was only told which was which afterwards – though she had a pretty good idea based on what she felt.) Her primary experience was a sense of connectedness to her family. “That got me grounded,” she says. “Once I got connected to Nancy and the kids, I knew which way was up and how much I had ahead of me.”

MDMA is also in phase three trials – of three doses accompanied by therapy – following promising results for use in people with PTSD. It’s “quite different” from the classic psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD, though in this context it’s delivered in a similar way (over many hours, with therapists, in a supportive environment), says Michael Mithoefer, a psychiatrist who practices in Charleston, South Carolina, and leads MAPS-sponsored trials of the drug.

The primary treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy that revisits the traumatic events. But some patients get so overwhelmed that they “can’t talk about the trauma without getting upset and anxious,” he says. Others may numb their feelings, which can reduce emotional connection and render therapy ineffective. MDMA seems to help people reach a sweet spot. “They’re activated and engaged enough to do meaningful work, but not overwhelmed,” Mithoefer says. That may be in part because the drug decreases activity in the amygdala, the part of the brain associated with fear, though the mechanism isn’t fully understood. The drug also increases trust and interpersonal connection, which can help build a therapeutic relationship. As with psilocybin, a therapeutically successful or meaningful experience isn’t necessarily a fun one. “The name ‘ecstasy’ is misleading,” Mithoefer says. “You’re not ecstatic when you’re processing trauma, but it’s bearable and productive when it wasn’t before.”

MDMA-assisted therapy helped Jonathan Lubecky, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and was officially diagnosed with PTSD in 2007. “Within 60 days of coming home, I had my first suicide attempt,” says Lubecky, now 43 and living in Charleston. More attempts followed, and he tried medication and various forms of therapy, to no avail. After hearing about one of the trials Mithoefer was leading and enrolling, he had three therapist-supported sessions with MDMA. “I would purposely stay away from trauma in therapy, because it would trigger panic,” he says. “The medication allows you to not have that occur. You can talk about it like you’re not going to die of a panic attack.” He says the experiences helped him look at things more objectively, without self-judgment. It helped him, although he says he worries that other veterans will hear his story and think they should just go get ecstasy on the street and that they’ll be fine.

*From the article here :

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/mind/articles/psychedelics-for-mental-health

 

[mr peabody]

Psychedelics and mental health: A population study

by Sonja Henrikssen | Reality Sandwich | 10 Oct 2020

Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology published a population study on psychedelic use and mental health.

People throughout the Americas and around the world have used psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin for centuries. But despite countless positive accounts from experienced psychedelic users, some still question whether psychedelics could be hazardous to mental health. General panic relating to the use of “illicit” drugs stigmatizes all substances. It also lumps psychedelics in with opioids, cocaine, and alcohol abuse.

The idea of linking psychedelics to psychosis has become a popular one among the uninitiated and uninformed. This, despite the fact that there’s little to no evidence to associate mental health problems with psychedelic drug use.

Researchers from the Department of Neuroscience at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim surveyed more than 130,000 participants in order to collect data regarding lifetime psychedelic use and mental health. They published this population study as a result of their research. Of the surveyed participants, a little more than 13%, or around 21,967 participants, reported having used psychedelics at some point in their lifetime.

Those individuals who self-reported psychedelic drug use did not have a higher incidence of mental health problems. Nor did they report seeking help for their mental health at a higher rate than those that did not report lifetime psychedelic use. To corroborate these findings, another study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology further assessed the original population study. It examined how higher incidents of childhood trauma and additional substance use could impact the overall results. The final conclusions of both studies were the same.​

“The study shows, in agreement with previous studies, that we probably have exaggerated the danger of the use of psychedelics in general, and LSD in particular, at least if we are to judge on the basis of drug laws.”
—Jørgen Bramness​

Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study | Reality Sandwich

Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology published a population study on psychedelic use and mental health.

realitysandwich.com

 

[mr peabody]

New app will help people with serious mental illness develop a crisis plan

by Glenn O'neal | American Psychiatric Association | Medical Xpress | 8 Oct 2020

A new mobile app, My Mental Health Crisis Plan, allows individuals who have serious mental illness to create a plan to guide their treatment during a mental health crisis. The app was developed by SMI Adviser, an initiative administered by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The app provides an easy step-by-step process for individuals to create and share a psychiatric advance directive (PAD). A PAD is a legal document that includes a list of instructions and preferences that the individual wishes to be followed in case of a mental health crisis. My Mental Health Crisis Plan allows individuals with serious mental illness to:​

• Clearly state treatment preferences, including treatments, such as medications, to use and those not to use; preferences for hospitals; and preferences for doctors and other mental health professionals.​
• Decide who can act on their behalf by designating a trusted person (sometimes referred to as "health care agent," "proxy," or "health care power of attorney") as a decisionmaker on their behalf. Some states require appointment of a decisionmaker to carry out the PAD instructions.​
• Identify who should be notified in the event of a mental health crisis.​
• Share the plan with others, including doctors, other members of the care team, and family and friends.​

The app includes state-specific requirements for completing the PAD (such as signatures, witnesses, notary public), and allows it to be shared via PDF or QR code with whomever an individual chooses.

"A psychiatric advance directive is an important tool for individuals with serious mental illness to be able to plan ahead and have some control over their treatment at a time when they may not be able to make decisions," said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. "The My Mental Health Crisis Plan app provides a simple, convenient and effective way to create and share a psychiatric advance directive. We are pleased to partner with SAMHSA in creating this important technological tool for people with serious mental illness."

New app will help people with serious mental illness develop a crisis plan

A new mobile app, My Mental Health Crisis Plan, allows individuals who have serious mental illness to create a plan to guide their treatment during a mental health crisis. The app was developed by SMI Adviser, an initiative administered by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and funded by...

medicalxpress.com

 

[mr peabody]

The case for funding psychedelics to treat mental health

by Sigal Samuel | VOX | 9 Oct 2020

Scientists are developing psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, into a treatment for depression.

Around the world, people’s mental health is in trouble. Even before the pandemic hit, rates of depression and anxiety were rising globally. Now that we also have Covid-19 to contend with, the problem is even more glaring.

Studies show that all the virus-induced losses — of life, of jobs, of social connection — have come with serious upticks in mental illness worldwide. In the US, for example, the prevalence of depression is four times as high as it was in the second quarter of 2019.

The pandemic has highlighted the inadequacy of our existing tools for coping with these problems. It’s not just that a health crisis can easily disrupt access to mental health services, though we’ve definitely seen that to be true. It’s also that drugs like traditional antidepressants are, at best, only a partial solution. While their effectiveness has been hotly contested over the past decade, the evidence now shows that they are more effective than a placebo, but not that much more effective. (Once we account for the placebo response, the effect size of the drugs themselves is modest.) And for some folks who have treatment-resistant depression, the drugs don’t work at all.

So if you want to invest in the mental health of people around the world, making us all more resilient to future crises, what can you do?

The promise of psychedelics to treat depression and PTSD, explained

Believe it or not, your best bet might be to fund drug development for psychedelic-assisted mental health treatments. At least that’s the upshot of a new in-depth report by Founders Pledge, an organization that guides entrepreneurs committed to donating a portion of their proceeds to effective charities.

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is being investigated as a potential treatment for depression. Over the past decade, a few studies have investigated the effectiveness of psilocybin for treating depression and end-of-life anxiety in cancer patients, and found that the psychedelic had a surprisingly large effect.

Meanwhile, the drug MDMA (also known as ecstasy) is being studied for use in people with post-traumatic stress disorder. MDMA, which affects serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels, is best known as a party drug. But research suggests it can also relieve depression and help users access and process memories of emotional trauma. The users in studies participate in psychotherapy sessions where a therapist helps them integrate what they experienced while taking MDMA — which often includes increased feelings of empathy and bonding — into daily life.

There’s some evidence to suggest that ingesting these substances, in a safe setting and under the supervision of trained therapists, can be more helpful with depression and PTSD than traditional drugs; in some studies, the reported effect sizes for psilocybin, say, are greater than the effect sizes of the current best treatments for depression (though these studies have limitations, so we would need more data to establish this with certainty). Psychedelics might also be helpful for anxiety, addiction, and other issues.

If this seems surprising, it’s worth noting that medical research into psychedelics has been going on since the late 1800s. In the 1940s and 1950s, psychiatrists used LSD to treat pain, anxiety, and depression. (There are promising preliminary results from studies of LSD for anxiety, though larger controlled studies are needed.) And in the 1970s and 1980s, psychotherapists and psychiatrists administered MDMA to thousands of patients. As psychedelics became popular for recreational use, though, MDMA was banned in 1985 in the US, and the research slowed in many countries.

As Michael Pollan detailed in How to Change Your Mind, research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs has been undergoing a renaissance over the past decade. These therapies are now gaining traction in some quarters. In Oregon, Measure 109 is on the ballot in November, and if passed, the state will be the first in the US to allow psilocybin therapy to be administered by licensed facilitators.

We still need a lot more research on these treatments, though — and one of the benefits of funding the drug development process is that that process will involve doing high-quality studies to prove efficacy and safety. We also need organizations willing to do the hard work of getting a drug approved for medical use nationwide.

The Usona Institute is one such organization that the Founders Pledge report highlights. It’s currently working on drug development for psilocybin as a depression treatment in the US, and it’s already got a preliminary Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA. That’s an acknowledgment that the FDA thinks the early evidence shows psilocybin may have an advantage over available therapy, and it means the FDA offers Usona intensive guidance on its drug development so that it may gain expedited approval. Founders Pledge thinks Usona will put your dollars to better use than any other organization in this space. If interested, you can donate here.

A close runner-up is the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, which is carrying out drug development for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in the US, Canada, Israel, and soon Europe. If interested, you can donate here. This treatment is already in phase 3 trials, which means approval of MDMA as a therapy could be granted in these countries in a few years.

But the large-scale rollout of new drugs takes a long time. Founders Pledge estimates that for MDMA, it’ll take six to nine years, while for psilocybin the timeline will be more like eight to 11 years.

What if you want to improve mental health right now, during the pandemic?

Investing in causes that may have a big positive impact in the long term is a wise thing to do. But during a pandemic, some people will want to relieve the suffering they see happening right now.

“The psychedelics drug development won’t be done for years. So in terms of having an impact now, that’s not the way to go,” Aidan Goth, who co-wrote the Founders Pledge report, told me.

He emphasized, though, that investing in global mental health during the pandemic is a worthy cause. Mental illness can feed into physical illness, and in itself may cause as much suffering as physical illness in some cases. It can also harm people’s ability to hold a job or care for their dependents. Plus, we should not fall prey to the misconception that mental health is a so-called first-world problem.

“We’ve looked at the burden of mental health globally, and it is a really, really big problem in lower- and middle-income countries as well. It’s not true that it’s just affecting people in high-income countries,” Goth said.

If you’re itching to improve people’s mental health while the pandemic is in full swing, you’d do well to invest in a project that gives you an immediate return on your investment. For that purpose, Founders Pledge recommends a couple of organizations: StrongMinds and Action for Happiness.

There’s a serious lack of mental health professionals in many developing countries in Africa. StrongMinds, a Uganda-based organization, understood that in order to treat the millions of African women suffering from depression, it would have to train laypeople.

Since its founding in 2013, it’s scaled up pretty quickly. Lay facilitators have led group talk therapy sessions reaching a total of 70,000 women. Over a 12-week period, the women learn to identify the triggers of their depression and devise strategies to overcome them.

As demonstrated in two randomized controlled trials, this is a powerful and cost-effective intervention, Founders Pledge researchers say. They estimate that StrongMinds prevents the equivalent of one year of severe major depressive disorder for a woman at a cost of around $248 — a pretty good deal, especially when you consider this helps the woman as well as her dependents.

StrongMinds says it is “uniquely positioned” to meet the demand for depression treatment in sub-Saharan Africa during the pandemic. It’s offering teletherapy, a chatbot, and other treatment approaches in line with social distancing requirements.

Like StrongMinds, Action for Happiness brings people together in small groups and it’s run by volunteers in each local community. But this one is a UK-based organization that mostly operates in Europe, though it’s also reached countries like the US and Australia.

Action for Happiness provides eight-week courses, called Exploring What Matters, where participants talk through strategies for crafting a happier life, such as developing a mindfulness practice. The course has been shown to improve subjective well-being, with reductions in depression and anxiety and increases in happiness and life satisfaction. Based on a randomized controlled trial, Founders Pledge found this program to be extremely cost-effective, with high potential for scale-up.

During the pandemic, Action for Happiness has gone from in-person courses to virtual ones, launching a free online coaching program to improve wellbeing.

Given that Founders Pledge evaluated StrongMinds and Action for Happiness before the pandemic, you might wonder whether these organizations are still helping people cost-effectively now that they’ve had to shift from an in-person to an online methodology.

Goth explained that when Founders Pledge researchers evaluate an organization, they examine not only the specific programs it’s running but also the organization as a whole — whether its leadership is strong and whether its management can be trusted to competently carry out its mission. So the researchers still believe in StrongMinds’ and Action for Happiness’s ability to serve people effectively now.

“We trust that they’re well-run and we think they’re doing good work given the circumstances,” Goth said. “They’re the best we’re aware of.”

If this cause speaks to you, you can donate to StrongMinds here or donate to Action for Happiness here.

The case for funding psychedelics to treat mental health

Scientists are developing psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, into a treatment for depression.

www.vox.com

 

[Hylight]

Thank you ! @mr peabody

I am sure all of your research will be out there as a frontier!! And help so much to save many lives as a great progress and education to advancement of the future and times ahead !!

Sincerely so glad !!

 

[mr peabody]

Psilocybin could work as a mental health treatment*

by Katie Hunt | CNN | 7 Nov 2020

While magic mushrooms are known for their psychedelic effects, they may also have a role to play in the treatment of some mental health problems.

Or they might, if they weren't illegal in most states.

Oregon has become the first US state to make psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, legal for mental health treatment in supervised settings.

They have more evidence for their case with a new small study of 24 adults with major depression that published this week in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, which found that two doses of psilocybin led to a large reduction in depressive symptoms.

"The magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market," said Alan Davis, an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in a news statement.

"Because most other depression treatments take weeks or months to work and may have undesirable effects, this could be a game changer if these findings hold up in future 'gold-standard' placebo-controlled clinical trials."

While not without limitations, the study is the latest research to explore how psilocybin could help ease mental health problems. Other studies have suggested that the compound may help in the treatment of anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and addictions.

The participants in the John Hopkins study had experienced depression for around two years before being recruited and had to give up existing antidepressants. Thirteen participants received the psilocybin treatment immediately after being enrolled, and 11 participants were put on a waiting list and received the same treatment after an eight-week delay.

The study offered more evidence of psilocybin's "rapid and powerful effect," said David Nutt, a professor and director of the neuropsychopharmacology unit in the division of brain sciences at Imperial College London. The results could have been skewed by the fact that patients knew they were going to get the drug, with expectations potentially increasing the size of the effect, said Nutt, who wasn't involved with the research.

A 2016 study conducted by some of the same John Hopkins researchers found that psilocybin could ease depression and anxiety in patients who had life-threatening cancer.

"Because there are several types of major depressive disorders that may result in variation in how people respond to treatment, I was surprised that most of our study participants found the psilocybin treatment to be effective," said Roland Griffiths, an author of the new study and the 2016 paper, and a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

Psilocybin can produce visual and auditory effects and profound changes in consciousness over a few hours after ingestion, the study said.

In the United States, possession of the compound is a felony, as they are classified as a Schedule I substance.

The vote in Oregon requires the Oregon Health Authority to allow licensed, regulated production and possession of psilocybin, exclusively for administration by licensed facilitators to clients.

How psilocybin might affect the brain

How psilocybin affects the brain still isn't completely understood, but Nutt at Imperial College said that it appeared the compound disrupted negative thinking circuits through the 5HT2Z receptor in the brain.

"Standard anti-depressants protect against the stressors that lead to and perpetuate depression but don't directly access and remedy underlying biopsychosocial causes," he wrote in a paper he coauthored and published earlier this year.

"In contrast, psychedelic therapy harnesses a therapeutic window opened up by the brain via the effects of drugs to facilitate insight and emotional release."

He said that the substance tended to work with "internalizing disorders" like depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder whereby individuals ruminate on failings or intrusive thoughts.

Another explanation could be more straighforwardly pharmacological, said Guy Goodwin, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Oxford -- that psilocybin "is just a kick up the backside" of the serotonin system. Serotonin is a chemical and neurotransmitter in the digestive system, brain and blood system that regulates mood, social behavior, appetite, sleep, memory and sexual function.

Goodwin, who wasn't involved with the research, said the main limitation of the John Hopkins study was the absence of longer-term follow-up -- the team followed up with the participants only four weeks after the treatment. Depression for many people is a long-term condition, and determining if the treatment had lasting effects is a key missing factor.

"What's more, with studies like these, it can be hard to tease out the effects of the drug from the process of administering it," Goodwin said.

The study participants received about 11 hours of psychotherapy and received the drug under the care of trained professionals and in a setting designed to put the patient at ease.

"You get an effect irrespective of whether the treatment works because everyone is caring for you and looking out for you and measuring things. People like that and feel better for that. In a real comparison you'd do everything the same but the actual drugs."

However, he said that larger studies were underway that should address the questions raised by early proof of concept studies like this one.

"This is a nice, small preliminary study with a lot of weaknesses but equally the positive results promise better things."

*From the article here:

'Magic mushroom' ingredient could work as mental health treatment

As Oregon has become the first US state to make psilocybin -- the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms -- legal for mental health treatment in supervised settings, a new study finds it works to address depression sympto.

www.cnn.com

 

[mr peabody]

Study claims 18% of Covid patients later diagnosed with mental illness

Nearly one in five Covid patients later diagnosed with mental illness, study finds

Natalie Grover Science | The Guardian | 10 Nov 2020

US data shows nearly twice as many diagnoses over three months among those testing positive.

Nearly one in five people who have had Covid-19 are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder such as anxiety, depression or insomnia within three months of testing positive for the virus, according to a study that suggests action is needed to mitigate the mental health toll of the pandemic.

The analysis – conducted by researchers from the University of Oxford and NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre – also found that people with a pre-existing mental health diagnosis were 65% more likely to be diagnosed with Covid-19 than those without, even accounting for known risk factors such as age, sex, race, and underlying physical conditions.

“This finding was unexpected and needs investigation. In the meantime, having a psychiatric disorder should be added to the list of risk factors for Covid-19,” said Dr Max Taquet, an NIHR academic clinical fellow and one of the authors of the analysis.

The calculations were made on the basis of roughly 70m US health records, including more than 62,000 cases of Covid-19 that did not require a hospital stay or an emergency department visit. The incidence of any diagnosis of mental ill-health in the 14 to 90 days after a Covid-19 diagnosis was 18.1%, including 5.8% that were a first diagnosis.

In order to examine whether the excess risk was directly associated with Covid-19, the researchers compared data with six other conditions over the same period: influenza; other respiratory tract infections; a skin infection; gallstones; urinary tract stones; and the fracture of a large bone.

In the three months after Covid-19 diagnosis, 5.8% of patients had their first recorded diagnosis of psychiatric illness, compared with 2.5% to 3.4% of patients in the comparison cohorts – almost a doubling in risk, according to the paper published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry.

Paul Harrison, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Oxford, said more research was needed to establish whether a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder could be directly linked to getting coronavirus. General factors that influence physical health were not captured in the records analysed, such as socio-economic background, smoking, or use of drugs. There was also potential that the general stressful environment of the pandemic is playing a role, he noted.

Research suggests that people from poorer socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to suffer mental ill-health. Poverty also increases exposure to coronavirus, owing to factors like crowded housing and unsafe working conditions.

“Equally, it’s not at all implausible that Covid-19 might have some direct effect on your brain and your mental health. But I think that, again, remains to be positively demonstrated,” said Harrison.

A particularly concerning finding was the doubling of the diagnosis of dementia – which is typically irreversible – three months after testing positive for Covid-19, versus the other health conditions.

It may be that coming to a hospital or to see your doctor to get diagnosed with Covid-19 allows for other pre-existing conditions – such as dementia – to be diagnosed, noted Harrison.

“Having said that … it’s not at all unlikely that there may also be a brain effect of the virus in certain people that is going to cause certain more neurological symptoms and difficulties,” he said. “So, we’re particularly careful in not over-interpreting that association.”

Studies researching the impact of the virus on the brain and the central nervous system are under way, including one by scientists in the UK who have formed a partnership to explore the neurological and neuropsychiatric complications of Covid-19. In July, neurologists published details of more than 40 UK Covid-19 patients whose complications ranged from brain inflammation and delirium to nerve damage and stroke.

"Only time will tell whether the incidence of psychiatric illness post-Covid-19 continue to rise or persist beyond the three-month period," the researchers added.

“It’s difficult to judge the importance of these findings … it may be unsurprising that this happens a bit more often in people with Covid-19, who may understandably have been worried that they might become seriously unwell and who will also have had to endure a period of isolation,” said David Curtis, an honorary professor at University College London and Queen Mary University of London, who was not involved in the study.

“Overall, the results reported seem broadly plausible, but I’m not sure that they have specific implications for patients or health services.”

Nearly one in five Covid patients later diagnosed with mental illness – study

US data shows nearly twice as many diagnoses over three months among those testing positive

www.theguardian.com

 

[mr peabody]

Minding mental health to birth a better world

by Benjamin Malcolm | Spirit Pharmacist | 10 Dec 2020

Discussions of mental health are often limited to discussing the psyche as if it existed as an autonomous entity, totally distinct in the way it experiences the world and devoid of influence from the events or minds around it. While there are certainly different degrees in reactions amongst persons to commonly perceived worldly stimuli, this notion is observably and absurdly false as it is evident events commonly experienced amongst humans often have similar effects on the psyche. For example, “cataclysmic events that shatter the basic fabric of society” such as war, mass violence, genocide, and pandemics are collectively traumatic experiences that have the ability to shape the psyche, culture, and structure of society itself. Throughout history there have been many periods defined by intense struggles, resulting in trauma-forged human bonds that ultimately lead to revolutionary upheaval, re-invention of identity, and a new way of being. I believe we are in one of these periods.

The infectious pandemic virus known as COVID-19 appears to have been a catalyst for a global chain of events that is still unfolding, is likely far from ‘over’, and has potential for escalation. Physical illness and deaths from the pandemic plough through society leaving wakes of grief, bereavement, and missing persons in the web of humanity. Drastic shifts in operations are disruptive to well-being. Psychological stress of illness threat is magnified by the generally uncertain and evolving scientific picture. Sensationalist media outlets latch onto scientific controversy, at best leaving readers confused and at worst intentionally using the opportunity to exacerbate baseline ‘infodemic’ conditions – The psychic habitat of the pandemic is fertile ground for fear and anxiety to run high as well as paranoid conspiracy to thrive.

It is apparent that in election years, particularly nasty forces are at play among channels persons frequently consume information from and it seems deliberate efforts are being made to politically weaponize infectious precautions such as wearing a mask or whether to ‘re-open’. Conversation that should be sensible and bipartisan into how we can collectively move forward, maximally preserve human life, and foster living conditions society can recover in has been hijacked by polarized arguments intended to paint absolute pictures of political opponents. These inflammatory tactics are not unique to pandemic issues as we have now witnessed an exacerbation or racial tensions resulting in our countries’ leaders encouraging use of military resources and force against its own citizens.

The economic fallout suffered due to responses to the pandemic have not been fully realized and will likely accumulate in the near future as stimulus measures run out and back rent, mortgage, and loan payments are reinstated. Economic disparity has become a hallmark issue of our times as the middle class shrinks, more persons live paycheck to paycheck, and wealth concentrates amongst an ever tightening inner circle of tech, retail, pharma, and food giants. Naturally, temperatures boil, desperation increases, and crowd psychology creates explosive and unpredictable scenarios.

All of this is happening on the backdrop of widespread ecologic destruction, massive losses in biodiversity, and unprecedented climate conditions in modern history. Scientific consensus around the ever-mounting environmental toll of humanity on the climate gives plausibility to wondering if COVID-19 is just the canary in the coalmine and how much longer we have until our cumulative climactic tab is due.

In short, it is difficult to imagine humanity ‘going back to the way it was’ before COVID-19 and if we did, it would likely be an illusory and unsustainable normal that will quickly give way to the next domino falling.

Perhaps this perspective is overly dramatic and reflective of the pandemonium running my own psyche, although am unconvinced it is grossly distorted or excessive. While much anxiety experienced as part of the anxiety disorders defined in psychiatry is in excess to what the stressors of the situation should evoke, the stressors of the current situation seem to match an appropriate level of concern. Fear and anxiety in and of themselves are not enemies, in fact they can be met as friends with an important message to deliver. Fear responses to threat are likely some of the most anciently evolved systems of life as it is a required response to avoid threat in a dynamic environment. Essentially, they are adaptive emotions that can motivate appropriate behavioral change and avoid looming threat.

So how do you cope? How do we cope? I suggest that a foundational psychological re-framing of the situation may offer hope. I invite you to adequately mourn, then completely let go of the idea we are ‘going back to who we were’ and embracing the idea of ‘growing into who we are becoming’. This process may need done both individually and collectively.

At a basic and personal level this looks like establishing a new normalcy to life’s routine. It is difficult to move forward when you are still moving through the motions of the past. It’s advisable this new normal attempt to prioritize habits that foster resilience and mental clarity in times of adversity: taking breaks and being judicious in news stories we consume, incorporating exercise, healthy eating as well as connecting with those we truly care about as much and in whatever capacities are reasonable.

Mindfulness has become a hot topic in conversations of mental health as a method of de-stressing or relaxation, although can also be a powerful tool for cultivating awareness, which is what is perhaps what is needed most. Rather than anxious catastrophizing, paranoid round-abouts, ignorant apathy, fantastical dissociation, or frozen despair, a steadfast vigilance to the changing circumstances and what new responses may be required of us in each moment is needed.

These changes being asked of us are not small demands. We are being tasked with transformation, which is an inherently arduous and messy process. As the former versions of ourselves burn in the metamorphic societal pressures of the times we are at risk for either crumbling into dust or rising from the ashes a Phoenix. We will need to help each other for the latter to occur and we return to awareness as a tool. How are others responding? Has anyone had sudden changes to their mood, become unreliable, or seems more impulsive, moody, or reckless? Have they started leaning on substances more heavily? Are they withdrawn, expressing feelings of hopelessness, or talking about death? These all are good reasons to check in with someone by simply expressing concern and asking if they want to talk. Listening to concerns without judgement, avoiding dismissing concerns as trivial, reassuring them and helping to arrange support – professional or otherwise – are appropriate responses.

Perhaps this is just new age spiritual bypassing and actually callous to the real struggles individuals experience, but have found no better way: For myself, there has been some comfort in the understanding that impermanence is an inherent feature of life itself. From moment to moment our consciousness shifts like clouds rolling across the sky. We are weathering stormy conditions. Cyclicality in life’s patterns as well as faith that stormy weather is a natural prerequisite for real positive change reserves a piece of mental space for hope and envisioning the new day: What does it look like?

Are we kinder and spending more time with loved ones or at each other’s throats over which divisive political trickster to vote for?

Do we meet tension with diffusive understanding or attempt to quell it with force?

Are our poor, downtrodden, and discriminated sections of society supported or has societies’ oligarchs looted the treasury again?

Is humanity flourishing in their rightful place in the natural order as stewards of symbiotic harmony on the planet or are we plundering alpha-predators bent on creating a boom and bust world?

Our current collective psyche is ill. COVID-19 has affected us all in some way shape or form. None of our lives look like they did before and nor will they look that way again ever. It is time to band together in our common suffering to create our vastly improved and critically needed society. If there is one thing that is certain, it is that collectively, the human psyche is indomitable. Let us mentally vaccinate each other and create psychic herd immunity, we do not need to wait on anyone to discover or invent this - it is the deepest knowing we have. We are each other’s medicine and together we will survive, recover, thrive, and look back at our former childish version of humanity, saddened by the loss yet supremely glad we grew up.

The pandemic has given us a license to reinvent ourselves, let us work together to utilize it optimally in this challenging rite of passage we must endure to birth a better world.

*From the article here :

Pandemic Pandemonium: Minding Mental Health to Birth a Better World — Spirit Pharmacist

Discussions of mental health are often limited to discussing the psyche as if it existed as an autonomous entity, totally distinct in the way it experiences the world and devoid of influence from the events or minds around it. While there are certainly different degrees in reactions amongst persons

www.spiritpharmacist.com

 

[mr peabody]

Psychedelics and mental health: A population study

by Sonja Henrikssen | Reality Sandwish | 10 Oct 2020

People throughout the Americas and around the world have used psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin for centuries. But despite countless positive accounts from experienced psychedelic users, some still question whether psychedelics could be hazardous to mental health. General panic relating to the use of “illicit” drugs stigmatizes all substances. It also lumps psychedelics in with opioids, cocaine, and alcohol abuse.

The idea of linking psychedelics to psychosis has become a popular one among the uninitiated and uninformed. This, despite the fact that there’s little to no evidence to associate mental health problems with psychedelic drug use.

Researchers from the Department of Neuroscience at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim surveyed more than 130,000 participants in order to collect data regarding lifetime psychedelic use and mental health. They published this population study as a result of their research. Of the surveyed participants, a little more than 13%, or around 21,967 participants, reported having used psychedelics at some point in their lifetime.

Those individuals who self-reported psychedelic drug use did not have a higher incidence of mental health problems. Nor did they report seeking help for their mental health at a higher rate than those that did not report lifetime psychedelic use. To corroborate these findings, another study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology further assessed the original population study. It examined how higher incidents of childhood trauma and additional substance use could impact the overall results. The final conclusions of both studies were the same.
​

“The study shows, in agreement with previous studies, that we probably have exaggerated the danger of the use of psychedelics in general, and LSD in particular, at least if we are to judge on the basis of drug laws.”
—Jørgen Bramness​

Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study | Reality Sandwich

Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology published a population study on psychedelic use and mental health.

realitysandwich.com

 

[mr peabody]

79% of those who microdose report improvements in their mental health*

by Beth Ellwood | PsyPost | 28 Oct 2020

A study published in Psychopharmacology suggests that people may turn to microdosing with psychedelics in an attempt to improve their mental health. According to most self-reports, these attempts may be effective.

Interest in psychedelic drugs as a potential treatment option for mental health disorders has been steadily increasing. One reason for the upsurge in interest might be the lack of effective treatments for certain psychiatric disorders, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Study authors Toby Lea and his team were motivated to examine a particular gap in the research by focusing on something called “microdosing”. The practice of microdosing refers to the consumption of very small, routine doses of a psychedelic drug, such as LSD or psilocybin, for reasons other than achieving hallucinogenic side effects.

“To date, most quantitative microdosing studies have excluded people with a history of mental illness, have not reported microdosing motivations, and no study has examined the sociodemographic and other correlates of microdosing as mental health and substance use therapies, nor the sociodemographic and other correlates of perceived improvements in mental health that people attribute to microdosing,” Lea and colleagues say.

An international, online survey questioned 1,102 individuals who were either currently microdosing, or had tried microdosing in the past. The average age of respondents was 33, and 57 percent had at some point been diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

When questioned about their motivations for microdosing, 39 percent indicated that improving their mental health was their main motivation. Of these, 21 percent were microdosing to improve their depression, 7 percent for their anxiety, 9 percent for other mental disorders including PTSD, and 2 percent for drug or alcohol use.

Importantly, 85 percent of those practicing microdosing to improve their mental health had previously received either medication or counselling therapy. Moreover, among those who had received prescriptions for medication, “half (51 percent) reported having ceased antidepressants and 40 percent reported having ceased other psychiatric medications.” This suggests that respondents may have been microdosing as a way to replace traditional forms of therapy.

“Respondents who had been microdosing for a longer duration were also more likely to be motivated to microdose for mental health. This may suggest that microdosing is working for these people, and that they are continuing to microdose as an ongoing therapy to replace or supplement psychiatric medications, some with the knowledge of their doctor and/or psychotherapist,” Lea and associates note.

The results indicated that, at least from the perspective of respondents, the practice of microdosing elicited positive mental health effects. As the researchers report, “Forty-four percent of all respondents perceived that their mental health was much better and 36 percent perceived that it was somewhat better because of microdosing. Nineteen percent of respondents perceived no changes to their mental health.”

Lea and colleagues acknowledge that several key limitations limit the inferences from their findings. It is not possible to discern from their study whether the reported mental health improvements were due to microdosing, or rather the result of a placebo effect or other factors like lifestyle changes.

The authors stress the importance of continued study into the effects of microdosing. “While we await the findings of clinical trials, which could take some years, people will continue to self-manage their health with microdosing. It is therefore important to monitor people’s microdosing practices and experiences in the long term in order to provide appropriate harm reduction resources and other support.”

The study, “Perceived outcomes of psychedelic microdosing as self-managed therapies for mental and substance use disorders”, was authored by Toby Lea, Nicole Amada, Henrik Jungaberle, Henrike Schecke, Norbert Scherbaum, and Michael Klein.

*From the article here:

International study finds 79% of individuals who microdose with psychedelics report improvements in their mental health

A study published in Psychopharmacology suggests that people may turn to microdosing with psychedelics in an attempt to improve their mental health. ...

www.psypost.org

 

[mr peabody]

Psychedelic Therapy: Age-old remedy in today’s fight against mental illness*

by Psychedelic Times Staff | Oct 9, 2020

“For me, I feel it really saved my life,” says Numinus CEO, Payton Nyquvest, in a recent interview with CityNews TV. What Nyquvest is referring to is psilocybin, a psychoactive compound found in several species of mushrooms and believed by many to be effective in treating mental health issues including anxiety and depression.

After experiencing what he felt was a cure to his chronic pain, Nyquvest chose to dedicate his life to making psychedelics accessible to treat the pain and suffering caused by mental illness. This dedication resulted in the formation of Numinus, a Vancouver-based health care company supporting the universal desire to heal and be well through an ecosystem of health solutions centered around the evidence-based, accessible use of psychedelic-assisted therapies.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 264 million people are affected by depression worldwide. Barriers to accessing proper treatment including lack of resources, trained professionals, and diagnosis, result in roughly 85% of those affected being left untreated. Numinus informs that in Canada alone, an estimated $51B in annual economic burden results from mental illness with 1 in 2 Canadians affected by mental health issues by the age of 40.

Statistics like these are the reason medical professionals and governments alike are coming together to research, develop, and expand access to wider modalities of treatment to enhance existing options.

The revelation that psychedelics can be used to manage and treat mental illness is not a new one. Such approaches were catalyzed by chemist Albert Hofmann’s discovery of lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD or colloquially as acid, in 1943, which sparked the widespread discovery of and research on other psychedelics and their impact on human psychology through the 1950s and 1960s, using human subjects. The results of these studies were published in hundreds of academic papers.

However, this burgeoning research came to an end when the black market became as interested in the substances as professional institutions were, resulting in the manufacturing and distribution of uncontrolled substances that caused a number of “bad trips” and inevitable catastrophes. Such catastrophes, including hallucinations, anxiety, panic attacks, aggression, depression, and (albeit infrequent) homicide cases, received widespread negative publicity.

What is it they say about the path to hell? In this case, it really was paved with good intentions; however, these good intentions did not get to see the light of day as the United States passed the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, placing LSD, psilocybin, and other psychedelic substances in the restricted drug category. President Nixon’s War on Drugs successfully dampened (if not terminated) government funding for the research of new projects in the psychedelic realm.

Despite lack of government funding, a handful of prominent scientists, including Albert Hofmann, continued their research discreetly while non-profit organizations came forward to advocate for such research beginning in the 1980s. This resurgence continued into the 1990s and 2000s, leading to the present day. Today, scientists and researchers are once again studying psychedelics for their potential use in treating mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Unlike the studies of the 1940s-60s, such research is now conducted in highly controlled environments.

A 2011 study focused on the effects of psilocybin therapy on patients with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety, finding that patients demonstrated reduced stress and anxiety as well as improved moods 2 weeks after treatment. A more recent study conducted by NYU on cancer patients revealed that after six and a half months, 60% – 80% of patients “…showed clinically significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and existential distress and improved attitudes towards death.”

These current advances beg the question, where would we be today if the War on Drugs hadn’t impacted psychedelic research of the past? Would we now be experiencing this global epidemic of mental health issues if psychedelic research had continued and these treatments had been incorporated into our health care system?

Companies such as Numinus are now striving to provide safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies in conjunction with existing solutions to help people heal and to unburden the world of the pain and consequences of mental health and addictions. Despite psilocybin being popularly referred to as “magic mushrooms”, Numinus CEO Nyquvest comments that “these are not magic pills; it takes a lot of work and a lot of therapy around it, but we believe there is a very big opportunity to make a huge impact in mental health.”

Legalizing the use of psychedelics such as psilocybin therapy in safe, controlled, therapeutic environments to treat mental health conditions opens the door to revolutionary advancements in healing potential for countless individuals around the world who suffer from mental illness. Though psychedelics R&D underwent a few dark decades of prohibition, Numinus, amongst others, is now part of a rapidly growing industry that is shaping the way forward – towards a world where safe treatments, open dialogue, and education can be made accessible to the general public to help people heal and be well.

*From the article here:

Psilocybin Therapy: An Age-Old Remedy Making Its Comeback In Today’s Fight Against Mental Illness - Psychedelic Times

Psilocybin therapy is poised to revolutionize the field of mental health, particularly for releiving chronic depression.

psychedelictimes.com

 

[mr peabody]

Study shows Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy four times more effective for Major Depression

by Sam Woolfe | LUCID News | 17 Nov 2020

One of the primary aims of research into psychedelic-assisted therapies is exploring how compounds such as psilocybin compare to more traditional mental health treatments. Promising studies conducted by investigators at institutions such as the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London indicate that psilocybin can effectively decrease symptoms of treatment-resistant depression.

A new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that psilocybin-assisted therapy may help more people with depression than previously thought.

Published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, this new study, which included 24 participants, reveals that psilocybin, given alongside supportive psychotherapy, leads to rapid and large antidepressant effects in people with major depressive disorder.

After two experiences with psilocybin, most participants in the study experienced these benefits, with half of them free from depression throughout the following month. The researchers will now be monitoring the patients for a year to see if the antidepressant effects are sustained.

Previous research conducted in 2016 at Johns Hopkins found that psilocybin-assisted therapy can effectively relieve existential anxiety and depression in patients with a terminal cancer diagnosis. This new research suggests that psilocybin can benefit a wider population of patients struggling with major depression, which includes more than 264 million people worldwide.

“The magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market,” said Alan K. Davis Ph.D., the lead author of the study in a statement released by Johns Hopkins. Davis, an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, believes there are a number of reasons why this new therapy is so effective.

First, Davis says this treatment combines psilocybin with psychotherapy, whereas clinical trials with antidepressants do not usually combine the medication with therapy. Davis told Lucid News that “it is possible that psilocybin affects a broader range of neurological and psychological areas which account for its efficacy.”

For example, while antidepressants only affect specific neurotransmitters, Davis highlights the unique neurological effects generated by psilocybin-assisted therapy.

According to Davis, "psilocybin produces changes in default mode network function, connecting a variety of brain regions, and downregulating the hyperactivity of the amygdala’s response to negative emotional stimuli.” Psychological effects include mystical experiences and psychological insight which Davis says “may provide for a more rich therapeutic process.”

Davis notes that antidepressants also differ from psilocybin therapy in that they can take weeks or even months to start working and can carry a host of unwanted side effects.

Davis says "the study showed that psilocybin is not without its own side effects, the most common being mild to moderate headache that typically occurs in the day or night after a psilocybin session.”

"Some patients also experience mild to moderate transient anxiety…during the acute effects of psilocybin,” says Davis, "but neither [the headaches or anxiety] seem to interfere with the psychotherapeutic benefit of the therapy.”

"The results of the recent Johns Hopkins study could be a game changer if these findings hold up in future ‘gold standard’ placebo-controlled clinical trials,” says Davis in a statement.

The entrepreneur, philanthropist, and psychedelic therapy advocate Tim Ferriss supported the study as a key donor. In a statement released by Johns Hopkins, Ferriss said "the research was a critically important proof of concept for the medical approval of psilocybin for treatment of depression, a condition I have personally struggled with for decades.”

Charles Reynolds, a geriatric psychiatrist and the author of an editorial on the new research, told NPR that "continuing research on psychedelic therapies should be funded by mainstream institutions like the National Institutes of Health.” This latest Johns Hopkins study depended on a crowdsourced funding campaign and philanthropic donations. Reynolds said "NIH support would help bolster the credibility of the new research and help accelerate the development of psilocybin-assisted therapies for patients who could benefit."

“The quality of the data is such that the investigators might be able to compete successfully for NIH sponsorship,” says Davis. “If so, they could take their science to the next level, for example, by proposing and doing a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. The NIH funding might be of sufficient magnitude to enable a larger, more rigorous study, including the collection of biomarkers, such as changes in brain activity while under psilocybin.”

Study Shows Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Four Times More Effective For Major Depression - Lucid News

The results of a recent John Hopkins study could be a “game changer” for treating depression.

www.lucid.news

 

[mr peabody]

Psychedelic drugs could treat depression, and other mental illnesses

by David E. Olson | The Conversation | 20 June 2018https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-e-olson-495815

Strictly speaking, a psychedelic is a “mind-manifesting” drug – a definition that’s open to interpretation. They tend to produce perceptual distortions or hallucinations by activating 5-HT2A receptors. Our research group has found that compounds typically regarded as psychedelics, like LSD and DMT, as well as those that are sometimes called psychedelics, like MDMA, and those that are not usually called psychedelics, like ketamine, are all capable of profoundly impacting neuronal structure.

Psychedelics vs. Psychoplastogens

Our group has coined the term “psychoplastogen” to refer to such compounds, and we believe that these molecules may hold the key to treating a wide variety of brain diseases.

Our studies on neurons grown in dishes, as well as experiments performed using fruit flies and rodents, have demonstrated that several psychoplastogens, including psychedelics and ketamine, encourage neurons to grow more branches and spines. It seems that all of these compounds work by activating mTOR – a key protein involved in cell growth.

The biochemical machinery that regulates mTOR activity is intricate. As we tease apart how psychedelics and other psychoplastogens turn on mTOR signaling, we might be able to engineer compounds that only produce the therapeutic effects on neuronal growth while bypassing pathways that lead to undesired hallucinations.

The field has known for some time now that psychedelics can produce lasting positive effects on brain function, and it’s possible that these long-lasting changes result from the psychoplastogenic effects of these drugs. If true, this would suggest that psychoplastogens might be used to repair circuits that are damaged in mood and anxiety disorders.
Panacea or poison?

Many diseases, such as depression and anxiety disorders, are characterized by atrophy of dendritic branches and spines. Therefore, compounds capable of rapidly promoting dendritic growth, like psychedelics, have broad therapeutic potential. The number of papers demonstrating that psychedelics can produce therapeutic effects continues to grow every year.

Panacea or poison?

However, we should temper our enthusiasm because we do not yet know all of the risks associated with using these drugs. For example, it’s possible that promoting neuronal growth during development could have negative consequences by interfering with the normal processes by which neural circuits are refined. We just don’t know, yet.

Similarly, it is unclear what effects psychoplastogens will have on the aging brain. It’s important to keep in mind that excessive mTOR activation is also associated with a number of diseases including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Alzheimer’s disease.

We need to understand how these powerful compounds affect the brain, in both positive and negative ways, if we hope to fully comprehend the fundamental laws governing how the nervous system works and how to fix it when it doesn’t.

Psychedelic drugs could treat depression, and other mental illnesses

Psychedelics have shown promise in the clinic for treating neuropsychiatric diseases.

www.universityofcalifornia.edu

 

[mr peabody]

Psychotria viridis, a natural source of DMT.

Could DMT-assisted therapy help treat mental health disorders?

by Ruairi MacKenzie | Technology Networks | 16 Nov 2020

The role that psychedelic therapeutics could play in tackling many intractable mental health conditions has finally been recognized by mainstream medicine. This has resulted in an explosion of work that aims to find the most effective therapeutic compounds for different conditions.

One company involved in this work is neuropharmaceutical Small Pharma, which specializes in adapting drugs with known mechanisms to develop innovative therapeutics for mental health disorders. Its current focus is on the naturally occurring psychedelic DMT. To find out more about their work, we spoke to Carol Routledge, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at Small Pharma.

Ruairi Mackenzie (RM): What is DMT?

Carol Routledge (CR): DMT is the abbreviation for dimethyltryptamine, it is a chemical substance that occurs in many plants and animals (including humans), one which is a derivative and structural analogue of tryptamine. DMT is a serotonergic psychedelic which basically means that it is a psychedelic that exerts its effects through serotonergic receptors in the brain including 5-HT2A, 5-HT1A, 5-HT2C and 5-HT7 receptors amongst others.

RM: How does DMT-assisted therapy work?

CR: Psychedelics have shown therapeutic benefit in disorders that have rumination, habits and bias as key symptoms, such as depression, substance abuse, and PTSD. These are internalizing disorders, in which negative thoughts are reiterated over and over again. The theory of how psychedelics work is by increasing disorder within brain networks (as shown in brain imaging studies) and activating particular serotonin receptors all over the cortex, which disrupts the way that the brain normally processes information.

Simultaneously, pathways that involve inward-focused thinking, like the default mode network (where hyperactivity in this region has previously been shown to correlate with excessive rumination), decrease their activity levels acutely and normalize post treatments. This process serves to disintegrate and subsequently reintegrate pathways acting as a 'reset' mechanism.

To the brain, a high-dose psychedelic experience is like shaking up a snow globe, disrupting unhealthy patterns of thought and providing an opportunity for them to resettle differently. This helps the patient to receive and benefit much more from the psychotherapy that wraps around the administration of DMT.

RM: What is the evidence that DMT-assisted approaches can help people with intractable mental health disorders?

CR: There is clinical and non-clinical data that support this. Findings from nonclinical studies have shown DMT reduces behavioral despair in the forced-swim test, which is a well-recognized animal model of depression. In addition, in vitro structural plasticity studies have provided nonclinical evidence for the mechanism of action of DMT, with the data showing positive effects on synaptic plasticity and expansion of neuronal connections in the brain. Clinical research studies have demonstrated that DMT increases connectivity between different brain networks and increases synaptic plasticity. This is similar to that shown for LSD and psilocybin. Finally, ayahuasca (which contains DMT as an active component) has shown efficacy in treating patients with depression. The downside of ayahuasca is that it contains a bit of a cocktail of active components and so has a much poorer safety profile and is a significantly longer psychedelic experience compared to DMT.

RM: Many different psychedelic compounds are being trialed in the search for effective therapies for mental health disorders. Why have Small Pharma backed DMT in this project?

CR: This is correct, a number of psychedelics are already in clinical trials, they include, but are not limited to, psilocybin (Phase IIb) and LSD (Phase II), MDMA (Phase III). Small Pharma believes that DMT has distinct advantages in that the psychedelic experience is short in comparison to that induced by other psychedelics but based on the intensity of the experience, and on the psychotherapy provided with DMT, the therapeutic benefit is likely to be significant.

RM: Does Small Pharma see an expedited path ahead for this approach?

CR: Based on prior human experience both from research clinical experience but also experience from non-research administration there is significant evidence for the safety of DMT in humans, and on that basis, there is an expedited route to the clinic. Based on seeking scientific advice from regulators, Small Pharma can progress this molecule to the clinic without additional non-clinical studies and toxicological studies. We are very excited, pending regulatory approval of our clinical trial, to be preparing to initiate dosing of our Phase I/II in Jan 2021.

Carol Routledge was speaking to Ruairi J Mackenzie, Science Writer for Technology Networks

Could DMT-Assisted Therapy Help Treat Mental Health Disorders?

The role that psychedelic therapeutics could play in tackling many intractable mental health conditions has finally been recognized by mainstream medicine. To find out more, we spoke to Carol Routledge, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at Small Pharma.

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Plant medicines aren’t one-size-fits-all for mental health treatment

by Kelli Foulkrod, MS, LPA, LPC, RYT | Psychedelic Support | 23 Dec 2020

Psychedelics have the potential to heal many mental health ailments, but each plant medicine has its own strengths. Join Kelli Foulkrod, MS, LPA, LPC, RYT in learning more about the different properties of healing plants.

Indigenous healers understand that nature is the original pharmacy. Traditional folk healers and shamans can identify over 80,000 species of plants and trees in the rainforest, and have knowledge that each plant has medicinal, energetic, and healing properties. The industrial revolution and capitalism created a massive disconnection in Westerners from Nature, and we as a culture have forgotten that The Earth is here to help us heal.

Through working in the mental health industry in America for 19 years, I have learned that the approach for healing is based on a medical model, which uses synthetic band-aids for symptom management. In having the privilege to study with other cultures, I learned that the American mental health system is not healing or curing, but rather compartmentalizing treatments only focused on the brain and ego. Other cultures understand that to truly transform and heal from trauma, an integration of the body, spirit, and soul must accompany any treatment addressing the mind.

Over my career, I have learned as many tools and modalities to heal trauma and PTSD as possible. This is because when traumatic energy is stuck within the nervous system, it is not a one size fits all approach in moving the energy out. Many variables influence how trauma is digested; such as early childhood trauma, attachment and relationship trauma, chronic trauma, sexual trauma, a catastrophic event in nature, or unexpected death. Some psychotherapeutic modalities do not go deep enough to work with trauma from a body and psyche level. Luckily, because the Earth loves us, nature provides us with many different plant medicines to put the ego in the back seat in order to radically shift traumatic experiences.

Plant medicines for mental health

This article offers an overview of the specific functions of plant medicines in regards to common mental health concerns. Another article will need to address synthetic psychedelics. Please understand that these plants described below are not legal to use in America; however there are safe and legal ways to access these medicines by traveling to locations where these medicines are legal.

Mescaline Cacti

San Pedro is a cactus that grows in the Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico and Southern States in America. It is traditionally brewed and drank as a tea in a group ceremonial context during the daytime. It is a gentle medicine with masculine energy, often referred to as grandfather energy. The active psychedelic compound is mescaline, which is a phenethylamine, with receptor binding primarily at the serotonin 1A and 2B receptors, and dopamine receptors.

Mental health benefits include empathogenic or heart opening properties, gently taking down the walls around the heart to help with self-acceptance, compassion (to yourself and others), and healing of old wounds in relationships. It is my opinion that San Pedro is less popular because it has subtler effects; however the mental health benefits of addressing the psychological defenses around the heart center are very beneficial to common mental health concerns and traumatic memories.

Psilocybin mushrooms

Psilocybe cubensis is an entheogenic mushroom that grows naturally in some areas of the U.S., throughout Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Psilocybe cubensis is a species of psychedelic mushrooms with active compounds of psilocybin and psilocin. Art as far back as 5,000 B.C. depicts cultures across all continents utilizing the mystical and healing properties of mushrooms.

The energetic properties of mushrooms are believed to work at opening the pineal gland, or third eye center, as well as re-wiring circuitry of the brain altered by traumatic experiences. Also known as “los niños”, mushrooms seem to activate the inner child dynamic to offer healing through levity and play. Psilocybin is a tryptamine that targets the the serotonin 2A receptor, and works by activating the same serotonergic system as SSRI antidepressants.

Mental health benefits demonstrated by current scientific research studies and clinical trials show dramatic improvements in treatment of trauma and PTSD, resistant depression, anxiety and OCD, addictive behaviors, eating disorders, and existential anxiety in cancer patients at the end of life stage.

Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is a tea derived from a combination of the vine Banisteriopsis caapi and the leaves of the plant psychotria viridis. The vine contains a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, while the shrub known as chacruna (psychotria viridis) contains DMT. As a nighttime medicine, ceremonies are held at night in the dark and this is symbolic to the powerful effects the medicine has on activating the Shadow of the unconscious mind.

Often referred to as “la purga” (the purge), due to vomiting and diarrhea being a common experience during an Ayahuasca ceremony. This plant medicine is referred to as The Grandmother. A dieta, or cleansing diet eliminating inflammatory foods such as alcohol, red meat, coffee, and salt is required for the ceremony. Energetically, purging is seen as a positive and healing aspect of the plant, and it is believed that it can cleanse you on all levels; physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Neuroscience brain scans have shown that Ayahuasca increases the neural activity in the brain’s visual cortex, and the emotional center, the limbic system, while also quieting the Ego, or default mode network and rewiring traumatic memories. Research has shown that it is an effective treatment for depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and addictive behaviors.

Careful considerations for plant medicines

Just like there is not one model in psychotherapy that works for everyone, there is not one type of plant medicine that is a magic bullet for mental health concerns. It is my opinion that plant medicines and synthetic psychedelics are not suitable treatments for everyone. These medicines should be carefully considered, and the type of medicine matters.

It has been my experience that some individuals with dissociative symptoms in complex PTSD, specific personality traits, and certain cases of psychosis can actually have harmful experiences with psychedelics if too much of the psyche is dissolved, without adequate levels of integration. Proper preparation and integration is the foundational key to healing and transformation with plant medicines.

It’s my opinion that integrating the experience of the expanded state of consciousness is more important than the peak experience. While plant medicine ceremonies have become popular in the West, emphasis and focus is also necessary around emotional processing and articulating what insights and wisdom was earned with the expanded state. Please reach out if you have questions about how plants may assist in mental health treatments.

Plant Medicines Aren’t One Size Fits All for Mental Health Treatments

Psychedelic plant medicines aren't a one size fits all. Learn more about the different properties of healing plants.

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