What is particularly surprising is the stark contrast between the FDA’s decision and the conclusions reached by the Dutch State Committee on MDMA. Based on the same body of evidence, the Dutch committee (consisting of scientists, psychiatrists, legal experts, drug prevention and harm reduction specialists) arrived at a radically different conclusion: MDMA-AT is promising, effective, relatively safe and warrants more scientific research to further explore its therapeutic potential.

Average pill strength has increased in 2024, back to pre-pandemic levels (>180mg MDMA); Total pill weight can be a simple indicator of high strength pills and flag up the need for extra caution.

I wanted to put together an article and video explaining my perspective on the FDA's recent decision of not approve MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of PTSD (at least at this time).

The results from six studies demonstrate a significant association between psychedelic use and lower levels of rumination, providing evidence that rumination may serve as a key cognitive factor in psychedelic treatment.

Contrary to clinical recommendations, only 10% and 22%, respectively, of survey respondents agreed that music for psychedelic experiences should be unfamiliar and without understandable lyrics. Furthermore, our data suggest potential unique benefits of psychedelic experiences devoid of music, particularly with the shortest and longest acting substances.

The notably strong association of brief scales with full versions combined with associations with therapeutic outcomes provide initial support for the MEQ-4 and CEQ-7. These findings, combined with substantial reductions in participant/patient burden, support the use of the MEQ-4 and CEQ-7 for a wide variety of research and patient treatment settings.

Balancing the need for effective treatments against the potential for serious adverse events in those undergoing psilocybin therapy with a family history of BD, we argue for caution in psychedelic clinical trials but not outright exclusion of these individuals. Our risk stratification tool allows for more nuanced inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Fairly heart-breakingly for many people suffering from PTSD and other disorders, the US Food & Drug Agency has turned down Lykos Therapeutics new drug application for MDMA.

We offer directions for future research in minimising the risk of false and potentially harmful beliefs arising from psychedelics. Ultimately, knowing how psychedelics may facilitate false insights and beliefs is crucial if we are to optimally leverage their therapeutic potential.

Collectively, these results highlight dose, context, and serotonin receptors as crucial factors in psilocybin’s ability to facilitate fear extinction. The study provides preclinical evidence to support investigating psilocybin as a pharmacological adjunct for extinction-based therapy for PTSD.

A global survey of 68 researchers and clinicians underscores the necessity for standardized training, equitable access, and streamlined national approval processes for MDMA therapy, highlighting potential clinical benefits and challenges.

The US FDA is due to rule on licensing for MDMA next week. There are a plethora of articles about this forthcoming decision.

You can smoke changa, drink ayahuasca, or free-base or vaporizer DMT to have a DMT experience. But what are the pros and cons of each? 

The current study demonstrates across three cognitive domains, that acute responses to low doses of LSD depend on the baseline state and provides some support for LSD induced neuroadaptations that sustain beyond treatment.

Personality trait neuroticism decreased (P < 0.0001) and trait extraversion increased (P < 0.01) compared with study inclusion. Individuals attributed positive long-term effects to the psychedelic experience.  Conclusions Patients reported sustained long-term effects of LSD-assisted therapy for anxiety.

This study enhances our understanding of the LSD effect on the architecture and neural behavior of pain in healthy subjects and provides great promise for future research in the field of cognitive science and pharmacology.

As of 2024, some psychedelics have been given a legal or decriminalised foothold in: parts of Central Africa (Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Republic of the Congo), South Africa, Australia, the Bahamas, Brazil, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Samoa, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. 

In the long shadow of federal prohibition, a market for psychedelic shroom products is flourishing—and it’s rife with counterfeits and adulterants.

Psilocybin caused persistent decrease in functional connectivity between the anterior hippocampus and default mode network, lasting for weeks. Persistent reduction of hippocampal-default mode network connectivity may represent a neuroanatomical and mechanistic correlate of the proplasticity and therapeutic effects of psychedelics.

In this warm, informative podcast, our very own Dr Duncan Still is interviewed by Prof David Nutt of DrugScience (and many other ventures). Duncan talks about his own journey into medicine and particularly his passion for teaching more integrative approaches to health & healing.