Issue link: http://ncumarketing.uberflip.com/i/1453554
For the past ten years, there have been regular reports in the biomedical literature and the popular press about a new and apparently dramatically effective treatment for mental disorders: psychedelics. These include psilocybin (magic mushrooms), LSD, ketamine, and ayahuasca. If you are a psychologist, and especially if you are a mental health clinician, you will soon be hearing about these new treatments if you haven't already. The Food and Drug Administration has recently granted 'breakthrough therapy' status to these drugs and given special permission for two very large independent multi-site double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trials whose specific aim is to get psilocybin into the mental health clinic as soon as possible. The state of Oregon has formally legalized psychedelic treatment for depression, and more states are expected to follow in short order. After many hundreds of studies and at least a dozen rigorous meta-analyses on clinical effects of these drugs, it is generally agreed that even one or two sessions with one of these agents can dramatically reduce suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, and a host of other ailments. (Carhart-Harris et al., 2016; Davis et al., 2020; Nutt and Carhart-Harris, 2021; Andersen et al. (2020) for a reviews). The safety and tolerability of these agents compare favorably to traditional psychiatric medications, though there have not been long-term studies to my knowledge. Given the dramatically positive results associated with psychedelic medicine, many people have begun the practice of "micro-dosing" or using subclinical dosages to enhance mood and cognitive performance. It must be stressed that there is no reliable data that suggests that micro-dosing enhances anything. Experts warn, in addition, of potential "kindling effects" wherein chronic, daily dosing could lead to seizures. Hot Topic WHAT'S ALL THE HYPE ABOUT PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE? Patrick McNamara, PhD "... it is generally agreed that even one or two sessions with one of these agents can dramatically reduce suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, and a host of other ailments. " 6 Northcentral University Psychology Bulletin