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Why Doctors are Changing Their Minds About Psychedelics

Doctors are changing their minds about psychedelics due to their potential as a treatment for mental health issues. Michael Pollan, in his book “How to Change Your Mind,” says substances like MDMA and Psilocybin might help with PTSD, anxiety and depression. And every claim is backed and supported by recent scientific studies and breakthroughs.

This article discusses what psychedelics are, how they work, their historical use, and the resurgence of interest in psychedelics in recent times.

What are Psychedelics, and how do they work?

Psychedelics are a type of substance that can temporarily alter thoughts and the way human brains function, according to Peter Grinspoon’s article on health.harvard.edu. Some of the famous psychedelic drugs include LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, Ketamine, and Ayahuasca. 

Psychedelics work by changing the ways in which a human brain connects and communicates with its different parts and regions, thus resetting and releasing old thought and emotional patterns, according to Dr. Jerrold Rosenbaum, the director of the Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Psychedelics allow the brain to form new and temporary neural connections while decreasing and loosening the old neural connections. These temporary connections induce neuroplasticity in the human brain, allowing the processing of old memories, feelings, and past traumas with a new perception.

Historical use of psychedelics in medicine

Historical use of psychedelics in medicine

The historical use of psychedelics in medicine has been proven and backed by fossil evidence. Archaeologists have found fossil evidence to show the use of psychoactive plants in ritual ceremonies for the past 10,000 years, according to a dissertation by MAPS.org, a leading non-profit psychedelic research organization. Dr Ronald Siegel proposes that humans have this urge for intoxication and compares it with the urge for hunger, thirst, and sex.

Dr Werner Stoll published the results of his investigation on the psychological effects of LSD on humans in 1947. He found that LSD produced altered perception and accelerated thinking.

Dr. Max Rinkel and Dr Robert Hyde studied the effects of LSD on normal people in a clinical study in 1950. Rinkel and Hyde found that LSD could produce temporary “psychotic disturbances” in normal people.

Researchers like Humphrey Osmond, John Smythies, and Colin Smith showed that LSD and mescaline can treat chronic alcoholism. Out of 24 people in the study, 50% of people showed improvement even after 3 years of LSD therapy.

LSD psychotherapy can help in the treatment of neurotic patients, according to researchers, including Ronald Sandison, at Powick Hospital in England in 1965. They observed that many neurotic patients who never showed improvement using traditional therapy showed improvement after taking LSD therapy.

Why Doctors are Changing Their Mind About Psychedelics?

Doctors are changing their minds about psychedelics because of the promising results of recent studies that show the potential of these substances in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and the fear surrounding a terminal diagnosis.

Psychedelics can produce long-lasting changes in the brain that are relevant to treating mental health conditions. The feeling among doctors and scientists is that these chemicals allow us to reboot the brain essentially. Psychedelics are effective in treating a range of addictions and mental health disorders.

The two drugs that show the most potential and will probably be legalized for medical use soon are MDMA and psilocybin. Psychedelic drugs have the potential to become an effective treatment for crippling mental health conditions such as depression.

The future of psychedelic research seems bright, with an ever-growing number of studies exploring the therapeutic potential of these substances.

Resurgence of interest in psychedelics

The resurgence of Interest in Psychedelics started with many psychedelic research studies, including research by Harvard researcher Walter Pahnke in the 1960s. Walter studied the effects of psilocybin on 20 theology students and found that some students had some mystical experiences.

In the mid-1960s, LSD psychotherapy studies were growing in number. Researchers found that LSD can accelerate and deepen the therapeutic experience, causing patients to recall past painful experiences.

Recent scientific studies and breakthrough

There are many recent scientific studies and breakthroughs, including the clinical trial by Rick Doblin, that suggest MDMA can decrease the severity of PTSD symptoms even after 12 months. The study was done on 26 veterans, and they were divided into 3 groups.

One group of 7 veterans took 30 mg of MDMA, 2nd group of 7 veterans took 75 mg of MDMA, and 3rd group of 12 veterans took 125 mg of MDMA. 13 veterans out of 26 who took MDMA therapy experienced a decrease in PTSD symptoms severity, especially the group who took 75 mg and 125 mg of MDMA.

According to another study done by Alan K. Davis, published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2021, psilocybin-assisted therapy produced large, rapid, and sustained relief in people with major depression.

According to a study done by Robin Carhart-Harris, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021, people who took 2 doses of psilocybin to treat major depressive disorder did better than people who took a daily dosage of escitalopram over six weeks.

According to a study done by Robert H Howland on ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression, ketamine rapidly provides antidepressant effects in patients suffering from Treatment-Resistant Depression and reduces suicidal tendencies.

Use of psychedelics in modern medicine

The use of psychedelics in modern medicine includes the treatment of various mental health conditions, such as addiction, anxiety, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, produces sustained improvement in people suffering from anxiety and depressive disorders after taking one dose.

According to an analytical study of 12 studies focused on the effects of LSD, psilocybin, and Ayahuasca, psychedelics, when used as medicines, significantly improved mood and decreased depressive symptoms after short-term (1 day) and long-term (up to 60 days) after consuming medicinal psychedelics. The best results showed up between 2 to 7 days after psychedelic treatment.

Psychedelics have the best effects when used as medicine with psychotherapy under the guidance of a trained therapist. The psychedelic therapy must be taken in a safe and conducive environment, known as “set and setting,” where trained therapists can guide you through the psychedelic experience. You must visit your therapist for the integration phase to share your experience and generate meaningful insights. 

Potential benefits of psychedelics in treating mental health conditions

Potential benefits of psychedelics in treating mental health conditions

The potential benefits of psychedelics in treating mental health conditions include accelerated and intense therapeutic experience of traumatic memories, altered perception to draw insights from the old memories, neuroplasticity, rapid and sustainable relief from major depressive disorders, reduced PTSD symptoms, and improved mental well-being.

Example cases

The example use cases of psychedelics in treating mental health conditions are the following:

  • Treatment-Resistant Depression: Ketamine therapy produced rapid relief in people suffering from treatment-resistant depression, according to an analytical study published by Robert H Howland.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder: MDMA-assisted psychotherapy helped in reducing severe PTSD symptoms in 67% of participants in the group that took MDMA-assisted therapy. This result was observed after 18 weeks.
  • Addictions: Psilocybin-assisted therapy helped participants addicted to alcohol to reduce their addiction, according to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry. Participants reported a 9.7% rate of heavy drinking days, much less than their previous rate.
  • Distress in Life-Threatening Illness: Psilocybin can reduce anxiety and depression in people suffering from life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Over 70% of participants gave credit to psilocybin-assisted therapy for the positive changes in their life.
  • Eating Disorder Recovery: MDMA-assisted therapy resulted in significantly reduced eating disorder symptoms compared to placebo and traditional therapy, according to a clinical trial study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Concerns about the safety of psychedelics

There are various concerns about the safety of psychedelics, including general safety, potential psychological concerns, physical health concerns due to a specific psychedelic drug that is used, and ethical and legal concerns. Some of the potential psychological and physical health concerns are given below:

  • People are trying to self-medicate themselves without any medical supervision or trained therapists. According to HealthLine, the issue of self-medicating in people has been rising since 2020.
  • MDMA can cause short-term high blood pressure, an increase in heart rate, and increased body temperature. These effects are short-term and usually fade away.
  • Psilocybin can cause light headaches and increased blood pressure temporarily.
  • Psychedelics can increase the risk of psychosis in people who have psychotic disorders.
  • LSD can lead to HPPD (hallucinogen persisting perception disorder). HPPD refers to the condition of getting intense flashbacks and hallucinations.

What does the future hold for psychedelics in medicine?

What the future holds for psychedelics in medicine?

Psychedelics in medicine and therapeutic sessions can be legalized in the future. The United States FDA has shown its interest in studies involving psychedelic drugs and given breakthrough therapy designation to psychedelic studies focused on psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder and MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.

According to an article on psychiatrictimes.com, researchers are confirming that psychedelic medicines are safe when used under the supervision of an expert or trained therapist.

Since MDMA-assisted therapy has shown promising results in treating PTSD symptoms, MDMA-assisted therapy can become a standard procedure for treating PTSD in the future. It may require a few more clinical trials on a large sample to prove its efficacy.

Psilocybin-assisted therapy is another candidate method that can be accepted as a standard treatment for treating major depressive disorder, addictions, anxiety, and depression in patients with life-threatening mental illnesses.

FAQs

What is Health Canada’s stance on psychedelic therapy?

Health Canada recognizes the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) but acknowledges the possible risks. They require informed consent for PAP research and are working to develop a regulatory framework for its use in clinical practice while raising awareness of its potential risks and benefits for patients to make informed decisions.

Is there evidence for using psychedelics medicinally?

Yes, there is much evidence for using psychedelics medicinally, such as clinical studies focused on psilocybin-assisted therapy for treating alcohol addiction, published in JAMA Psychiatry. 

What are psychedelics used to treat?

The psychedelics are used to treat various mental health issues, including major depressive disorders, PTSD, anxiety, addiction, and treatment-resistant depression.

What is psychedelic psychiatry?

Psychedelic psychiatry refers to the use of psychedelics in psychiatry to treat mental or psychiatric issues, such as anxiety, major depressive disorders, PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, and addiction. The psychedelics are given to the patient under the supervision of a trained therapist.

Are psychedelics better than antidepressants?

Yes, psychedelics are better than antidepressants, and many studies have shown evidence that psychedelics have better efficacy than antidepressants. A study done by Robin Carhart-Harris showed that 2 doses of psilocybin produced better antidepressant effects than daily doses of escitalopram over 6 weeks.

Do psychedelics help mental health?

Yes, psychedelics help mental health, as shown by multiple clinical trial studies focused on psychedelics in therapeutic settings.

What is the future of psychedelics in psychiatry?

The future of psychedelics in psychiatry includes the legalization of various psychedelics for medicinal use and allowing psychedelics-assisted therapy for various mental health issues.

Final Thoughts

Doctors are changing their minds about psychedelics because of the positive effects produced by psychedelic drugs on people suffering from various mental health and psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, major depressive disorders, and addictions.

Recent research and psychedelic studies conducted by Johns Hopkins, including trials involving psychedelic medicine for treating addiction, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorders, have demonstrated that psychedelics are effective in addressing these psychiatric conditions.

Researchers have used five main psychedelics, including psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, ketamine, and Ayahuasca, in their research. Each has its use cases; for instance, psilocybin was used for treating major depressive disorder and addictions, and MDMA was found helpful in treating PTSD.

Sources

  • Michael C Mithoefer,Ann T Mithoefer, Allison A Feduccia, Rick Doblin. May 01, 2018. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomized, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial.
  • Grinspoon, P. (2021, June 22). Back to the future: Psychedelic drugs in psychiatry. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/back-to-the-future-psychedelic-drugs-in-psychiatry-202106222508
  • 2007. THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS. Maps.org https://maps.org/images/pdf/history_of_psychedelics.pdf
  • Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., May, D. G., Cosimano, M. P., Sepeda, N. D., Johnson, M. W., Finan, P. H., & Griffiths, R. R. (2021). Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(5), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285
  • Robin Carhart-Harris. April 15, 2021 Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression. New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032994
  • Serafini, G., Howland, R. H., Rovedi, F., Girardi, P., & Amore, M. (2014). The Role of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Systematic Review. Current Neuropharmacology, 12(5), 444-461. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X12666140619204251
  • Mitchell, J.M., Bogenschutz, M., Lilienstein, A. et al. MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nat Med 27, 1025–1033 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01336-3
  • Agin-Liebes GI, Malone T, Yalch MM, et al. Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2020. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269881119897615
Author Microdosify

By Rachel Grey

I’m Rachel Grey, a Ph.D. psychologist specializing in psychedelic therapy with psilocybin and natural plant medicines. I obtained my doctorate from the University of Toronto, where I immersed myself in the study of these transformative therapies. With over 10 years of experience, let’s embark on transformative journeys of healing, growth, and self-discovery as we explore the power of psychedelic therapy together.

Updated on October 24, 2023