The therapeutic protocols for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy were created through meticulous development and it is crucial to prioritize accessibility and not compromise therapy quality for faster turnaround.
Performing brain scans before a psychedelic experience to identify trauma biomarkers may lead to long-term savings and advancements in neuroscience and clinical work.
Integration frameworks in psychedelic therapy should be individualized to cater to each person's unique needs and therapeutic approaches should be embraced to promote effective treatment.
Deep dives
Psychedelic Medicine Conference in Las Vegas
The Remind Psychedelics Business Forum is a two-day conference and networking event happening in Las Vegas. It brings together entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, policy makers, and healthcare professionals in the psychedelics industry. The forum aims to explore the rapidly evolving industry and its potential. Registration includes various activities such as presentations, networking, and meals.
Upcoming class in Denver on navigating psychedelics
Psychedelics Today is organizing a class on navigating psychedelics in Denver. The class will focus on providing in-person education and understanding of the psychedelic experience. Topics covered include two days of material, along with an immersive breathwork experience to enhance understanding. The class aims to provide participants with tools and knowledge for navigating psychedelics safely and effectively. To learn more and register, visit the Psychedelics Today website.
Empathogens and the potential of Kana Extract
Empathogens are natural or synthetic agents that induce empathy and emotional connection. Kana Extract Company offers a plant-derived empathogen called Kana, which has cultural significance in South African heritage. Kana has been found to foster empathy and understanding and is derived from high alkaloid Kana. The company ensures sustainable cultivation methods and works with local communities in Africa. To try Kana Extract, listeners can visit their website and use the code PT10 for a 10% discount.
Importance of Integration in Psychedelic Therapy
Integration therapy plays a crucial role in the success of psychedelic therapy. After an MDMA-assisted session, individuals may experience difficult emotions and thoughts, believing that their progress is slipping away. It is imperative to provide proper support and human connection during the integration phase to help individuals process their trauma and make connections to their MDMA session. This process can be challenging, and it is important to prepare people for potential worsening of symptoms before feeling better. Integration therapy involves making sense of the experience and operationalizing new ways of looking at things in one's life. Integration is particularly vital in addiction treatment, where sustained improvement and change in perception of the world and oneself are crucial for lasting recovery.
Exploring Mechanisms and Questions in Psychedelic Research
While significant progress has been made in psychedelic research, numerous unanswered questions remain. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of psychedelics are still not well understood. Researchers are evaluating various hypotheses, including molecular changes on the receptor level and alterations in brain connectivity and activity. The potential transdiagnostic implications of psychedelics and their shared effects across different substances are also being investigated. However, long-term studies are limited, and more research is needed to understand how these acute effects translate into sustained symptom improvement. Comparative studies and investigating the critical window for plasticity may enhance therapeutic approaches. Understanding mechanisms and finding transdiagnostic mechanisms of action would be invaluable for advancing psychiatry.
In this episode, David interviews psychiatrist, main researcher behind the first US Phase II trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, and Senior Medical Director at MAPS Public Benefit Corporation: Dr. Michael Mithoefer; and Research Group Lead at the University of Zurich, and Principal Clinical Biomarker Lead at Boehringer Ingelheim, Katrin Preller, Ph.D.
Mithoefer, Preller (and David) are speakers at the upcoming Psychedelic Medicine – Israel, which will now take place July 28 - 31, 2024, in Tel Aviv. They discuss the conference and their current research: Preller's neuroimaging and work with psilocybin for alcohol use disorder, and Mithoefer (likely) being extremely close to seeing the FDA approve MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. He talks about how the therapeutic protocols for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy were created, what it's like to be so close to legalization, and how the next challenges will be accessibility and not minimizing therapy in favor of faster turnover.
They discuss neuroplasticity and whether or not it actually translates into something in humans; the concept of performing brain scans before a psychedelic experience to look for trauma biomarkers (and how this could actually result in savings over time); the excitement of seeing clinical work and neuroscience progressing in parallel; why integration frameworks need to be individualized; and the importance of embracing different therapeutic approaches. Click here to head to the show notes page.
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