Psychedelic Medicine

Association

Psychedelic assisted therapy for major depressive disorder: Recent work and clinical directions

Excerpts from the publication

Psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and ketamine may represent the future of antidepressant treatment, due to their rapid and prolonged effects on mood and cognition. The current body of psychedelic research has focused on administration and treatment within a psychiatric context. Here, instead, we put to the test the contention that it is necessary to evaluate the current state of this literature from a broader biopsychosocial perspective. Examining these arguably neglected social and psychological aspects of psychedelic treatment can provide a more holistic understanding of the interplay between the interconnected domains. This review of six major clinical trials applies a biopsychosocial model to evaluate the antidepressant effects of psilocybin and ketamine assisted therapy. We conclude that combination psychedelic treatment and psychotherapy facilitate more enduring and profound antidepressant effects than produced by ketamine or psilocybin alone. Emphasising the advantages of therapeutic intervention will encourage those who may attempt to self-medicate with psychedelics to instead seek a framework of psychological support, minimising associated risks of unregulated use.

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Ketamine as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Narrative Review

The acute effects of classic psychedelics on memory in humans

Effects of discontinuation of serotonergic antidepressants prior to psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram for major depression

Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder

Safety, effectiveness and tolerability of sublingual ketamine in depression and anxiety: A retrospective study of off-label, at-home use

Adverse experiences resulting in emergency medical treatment seeking following the use of magic mushrooms