PSYCHEDELICS BREAK THROUGH THE MEDICAL FIELD
The legalization of medical cannabis in 2018 paved the way for other psychedelics entering the medical field. Additionally, countries across the globe underwent a drastic shift in attitudes regarding medical marijuana. This increased tolerance was followed by a more open-minded approach towards the medical benefits of other stigmatized psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin. The clinical community explored these recreational drugs in the context of treatment for various psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, dementia, schizophrenia, as well as developmental disorders like autism. As research into the effects of psychedelic drugs for treating psychotic disorders increases, numerous people have stated various changes that they have experienced due to microdoses of LSD. A significant proportion of people have reported higher energy, more focus, increased creativity, greater productivity, empathy, intensified senses, and spiritual awareness.
In the journey of utilizing psychedelics in the medical field, MDMA has made quite some progress. Even though MDMA is not considered a traditional psychedelic as it does not prompt hallucinations, it works for psychiatric disorders by swarming the brain with high levels of serotonin, which in turn makes the individual experience euphoria. Due to these mind-blowing results, medical researchers further investigated the use of MDMA as a means to assist in psychotherapy for patients who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One of the most successful treatments for PTSD is memory reconsolidation. In this approach, patients are asked to revisit traumatic events that they have survived through so that the fear associated with the memories of these events can be removed and replaced with healthier emotions that can help the patients process these events. However, there is an issue with this treatment form. Most of the time, recalling traumatic events can be highly triggering for survivors, leading to them opting out of psychotherapy.
Interestingly, MDMA has assisted with such a problem. It quells stress and anxiety while also releasing oxytocin, called the ‘love hormone,’ which promotes feelings of trust towards the therapist and makes it easier for the patient to open up. Moreover, psychedelics that induce hallucinations may have a more significant and everlasting effect on disorders like depression and BPD.
TESTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PSYCHEDELICS AS A FORM OF TREATMENT FOR PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
Various studies and experiments have been conducted over the years to test the effectiveness of using psychedelics for treating psychiatric disorders. One of the earliest experiments was done in 2006 by Roland Griffiths, a neuroscientist, and psychiatrist working at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Griffith was able to prove that high doses of psilocybin can prompt psychedelic episodes free of any mental health issues such as self-reflection, ego dissolution, and transcendence of space and time. Griffith’s experiment consisted of a large sample of participants taking psilocybin over fourteen months, after which a majority of the participants reported elevated feelings like increased satisfaction with their life and rated the psychedelic episodes as one of the best experiences of their entire lives. After this initial experiment, Griffith assumed that such psychedelic episodes would be highly effective for people with terminal illnesses, which further encouraged other researchers to begin trials that analyzed the effectiveness of psilocybin for treating anxiety in patients with cancer. These trials showed a significant decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression, which were backed up by an associated experiment conducted at New York University, which produced a similar conclusion.
Additionally, an overview of fifteen research articles that covered the experiences of 178 patients was conducted to assess the major themes of psychedelic treatments for psychiatric disorders, along with how these themes influence the treatment process. The analyzed studies comprised a wide array of psychedelic substances like psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, ibogaine, ketamine, and various psychotic disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD, and substance abuse. Involved patients favored psychedelic treatment procedures over conventional psychotherapy, and they further highlighted the significance of non-pharmacological elements like safety, attention, trust, type of relationship with the therapist, and duration of treatment sessions. Pharmacological developments with psychedelic treatment sessions for various mental disorders included positive influence on the patient’s self-perception, heightened feelings of connectedness, increased insight, and a broader emotional spectrum.
Furthermore, Kirk Rutter, an individual living with depression for years, reported his personal experience with psychedelic treatment. Rutter stated that he felt his brain was stuck in a loop of negative thoughts, and years of talking therapy and various anti-anxiety medications did not help his condition. As traditional therapeutic techniques failed, Rutter enrolled in a trial that tested the effectiveness of psychedelics in treating mental disorders. Rutter recalls that Carhart-Harris led him to a room where he underwent an MRI scan to record a baseline of his brain activity. Afterward, Rutter was familiarized with the room he would stay in while he was on psychedelic drugs, and the researcher could neutralize the drug anytime if needed. This initial study prompted a series of clinical trials administered over the years that utilized illegal psychedelic drugs like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA to treat psychiatric disorders, usually administered under the guidance of a trained psychiatrist.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THIS APPROACH?
There are various reasons why psychedelic treatment procedures are a better alternative to conventional therapy. Firstly, existing therapies for psychiatric disorders are mostly limited to talk therapy, which is not always fully effective as each patient processes their mental health issues differently. Secondly, anti-depressants like SSRIs commonly administered to patients do not work for every person who has a mental illness. Additionally, the side effects of these drugs can be severe, which leads patients to stop taking them shortly after they are prescribed. Lastly, these drugs have a high relapse rate, making it difficult for patients to come off them and leading to uncomfortable and severe withdrawal systems.
CONCLUSION
Considering how traditional therapeutic procedures are declining in terms of success and effectiveness, it has become vital to search for new and innovative treatment methods with fewer side effects, and psychedelic therapy has proven to be a promising and patient-friendly alternative.
