Articles related to PSYCHEDELICS

This podcast tells the story of Sarah, a 32-year-old US government research scientist who was seriously injured on a bike ride in July 2001 and became completely bedridden as a result of a fractured spine, broken rib, concussion, torn tendons, and other injuries. When she moved again, she was in excruciating pain and wondered if she should even bother. A clinical trial then changed her life.

This brief editorial introduces a series of articles describing the medical use of hallucinogens, ketamine, marijuana, and other agents — including the legal and ethical perspectives — in the treatment of various neurologic and psychiatric disorders.

“Because medicine abhors a therapeutic vacuum,” the hallucinogens psilocybin and LSD are being revisited as potential candidates for treating depression. But effect size seems less than that of currently approved antidepressants.

In this phase 2 double-blind trial, adults with treatment-resistant depression were randomly assigned to receive psychological support and a single dose of a proprietary, synthetic form of psilocybin at a dose of 25 mg, 10 mg, or 1 mg (control). The Montgomery-Sberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score change from baseline to week three was the main outcome measure. Secondary endpoints included remission at week 3, response at week 3, and sustained response at 12 weeks.

This article provides a brief review of three important books on the thinking and experience around psychedelics in medicine: The Promise of Psychedelics, by Peter Silverstone, MD; Psychedelic Medicine, by Richard Louis Miller, MA, PhD; How to Change Your Mind, by Michael Pollan.

This overview and discussion highlights the learnings gleaned during practice in a ketamine service unit. Discussion points include treatment considerations for the two entities, switching from IV to intranasal, and a collection of pearls.