Tech and Science Daily | The Standard REPLAY: The Psychedelic Renaissance with David Nutt (Brave New World preview)
Feb 18, 2025
David Nutt, a top researcher in neuropsychopharmacology, and Lara Parker, a BuzzFeed journalist who experienced ketamine-assisted therapy for depression, dive into the potential of psychedelics in mental health. They discuss how psychedelics might transform treatment for depression and addiction, detailing their effects on brain chemistry. Lara shares her personal journey with ketamine therapy, revealing emotional breakthroughs. The conversation also highlights the regulatory hurdles facing psychedelic therapy and the promising future of this burgeoning field.
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Psychedelic Mechanisms
- Psychedelics primarily target the serotonin 2A receptor, causing similar brain changes and altered consciousness.
- Ketamine, targeting different receptors, is also used therapeutically alongside classic psychedelics.
Ketamine for Depression
- Lara Parker, a BuzzFeed journalist, used ketamine-assisted therapy to treat her depression after traditional methods failed.
- She experienced powerful visions and a sense of hope, finding the experience difficult but ultimately worthwhile.
Disrupting Negative Thoughts
- Psychedelics disrupt negative thought loops in depression and addiction by creating an entropic brain state.
- This disruption, coupled with post-drug neuroplasticity, allows new connections and thinking patterns to form.