Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

Question 1

Short term effects of psyliocybin

Answer 1

Acute alterations in consciousness, visual hallucinations, strange bodily sensations, wild imagination, distorted sense of space and time.

Question 2

Long term effects

Griffith’s 2006

Answer 2

Positive social effects, behavioural changes, mood changes, rated as a key life experience. Seen in self ratings and family ratings.

Question 3

Default mode network and LSD.

Answer 3

Is disintegrated during trips, alteration of remembering of the past, self and episodic memory. disintegration is positively correlated with self report of ego dissolution (loss of identity). Higher disintegration is linked to higher reintegration 2 months later. Acts as a reset button.

Question 4

Safety of LSD

Answer 4

Short acting, not addictive, no withdrawal, not toxic, LD50 1000x the ED50.

Question 5

Drug set and setting

Answer 5

Set and setting are especially important in therapeutic setting. They must be highly controlled. Set is rigourously screened before testing. 1-15 sessions only a few are drug assisted.

Question 6

Permanent cure

Answer 6

Traditional treatments like SSRIs have high relapse rates, can mask symptoms of other disorders. They can take a long time to work and patients are always on maintenance drugs. Assisted Therapy could address the root issue leading to a permanent cure.

Question 7

SSRIs

Answer 7

Increase post synaptic signalling, decrease limbic responsivity, stress, impulsivity, aggression and anxiety. Lowers depression but don’t increase wellbeing. LSD treats both.

Question 8

Drug development

Answer 8

Phase one, safety study 30-80ps
Phase two, safety study, identify side effects, measure effectiveness, 100-300ps. Currently very early in psychedelic research.

Question 9

Does psyliocybin work

Answer 9

12 ps given one dose. Depression was measured a week later. 67% showed massive decrease, 58% maintained response 3 months later. 5/12 relapsed. When it works it is very effective but only for suitable for some.

Question 10

MDMA

Answer 10

Empathogen-enactogen, it is an indirect serotonin agonista dn increases serotonin by blocking reuptake. It produces alertness, sociability and empathy. Is used to treat PTSD, anxiety and alcoholism

Question 11

Ketamin

Answer 11

Is a dissociative between a depressant and a psychedelic. It blocks glutamate and turns off the brain similarly to GABA. Used to treat OCD. Showed immediate drop followed by gradual increase back to slightly below baseline. Effect is prolonged if given saline a week later.

Question 12

MDMA/PTSD

Answer 12

PTSD has a high treatment resistance (50%) sufferers are overwhelmed by negative memories so can’t engage in trauma focused therapy. Offers short term alternative. Post use drop not seen in clinical settings. Even a low dose is effective. 12 months later all showed maintained drop in symptoms.

Question 13

Issues

Answer 13

Logistics: need schedule 1 licence, also hard to get drugs.
No RCTs: what could be an appropriate placebo.
Design issues: attracts Ps interested in psychedelics. If are nervous or confident impacts the effect. No comparison to current treatments and use very small sample sizes.