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So wie die wissenschaftliche Erforschung psychedelischer Substanzen, psychedelischer Erfahrungen und medizinischer Anwendung steitg zunimmt, folgen diesbezüglich auch Veröffentlichungen in der Presse dem Trend. Daher können wir diese Auswahl nur als kurzen und vorläufigen Überblick über lesenswerte Artikel anbieten, die sich mit der Kulturgeschichte, jüngsten Änderungen des rechtlichen Status und aktuellen Trends und Entwicklungen in der psychedelischen Forschung und Industrie befassen. Angesichts des sich dynamisch entwickelnden Feldes der psychedelischen Forschung und Therapie empfehlen wir Lesenden, die folgenden Artikel als Ausgangspunkt für individuelle Erkundung des medialen Angebots im Bereich der Psychedelika zu betrachten.
The turbulent history of psychedelics and the research on their therapeutic properties, in a nutshell, is presented in this article from CNN. The reader is taken on a condensed journey starting with the synthesis of LSD in 1938, through the peak of the research and therapeutic interest in the 50s, to their falling out of grace in the 1960s’ heated socio-political environment with notorious key figures such as Dr Timothy Leary. It continues in praise of the psychedelic renaissance beginning in the late 90s in Switzerland and concludes current development with one poignant statement: “Long term, it appears research into psychedelics is here to stay.”
This is a useful introductory overview article that we can recommend with a word of caution: the reader should take the uncritical mention of a recent, not unproblematic Netflix series by Gwyneth Paltrow on the matter with more than just a grain of salt.
“Recent studies are finding that drugs such as LSD and psilocybin can help to alleviate depression, anxiety, and addiction — and may have profound things to teach us about how the mind works.”
Michael Pollan, the co-founder of Center for the Science of Psychedelics at UC Berkley and the author of “How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence,” summarizes several research results on psychedelics in the treatment of addictions and mood disorders. He selects studies with the most outstanding results and explains the most common misconceptions about hallucinogen administration. After talking to Robin Carhart-Harris, Pollan reveals the potential of psychedelic experiences not only for patients suffering from mental disorders and researchers trying to understand brain-functioning but also for anyone striving to improve their personal well-being.
Psychiatrist and MAPS monitor Julie Holland speaks with Fresh Air’s Terry Gross about the promise of pairing LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, cannabis, and ayahuasca with psychotherapy. Her 2020 book, Good Chemistry, rivals Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind as a scientific and practical look at how psychedelics help people heal, with a special emphasis on relationships with others. This is a great read for those interested in a more psychiatric, pharmacological perspective on the current development.
In 2017, it was already long-established that psychedelics cause very little harm to the users and the people around them (Nutt et al., 2010). Yet, psychedelics are still classified as Schedule I substances, a classification for substances with no accepted medical value and a high potential for abuse. This, of course, is a massive obstacle for researchers, who often need to obtain multiple licenses to work with psychedelics. Among others, this article reviews clinical studies such as by Gasser et al. (2014) in LSD-assisted treatment of anxiety and substance abuse (Krebs & Johansen, 2012, Johnson et al., 2014), and argues that the controlled substance classification of psychedelics needs to be reconsidered.
The year 2019 has opened a new chapter in the history of psychedelic research thanks to the establishment of two new research centers – the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London in April and the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine in September. Donors and private sources have financed both institutions. After interviewing several researchers and patients, the author presents a perspective on a paradigm shift in treating mental disorders through psychedelics.
This article provides an overview of the current state of affairs, in a moment when MDMA-assisted therapy stands at the cusp of FDA approval and health and wellness companies are rushing in to claim a piece of the psychedelic pie. Profiles of companies like Field Trip Health and Compass Pathways are included. Experts in the field, including Rick Doblin and Charles Grob, reflect on the journey so far and share projections about the future.
Written by Prof. Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, this piece compares the effects of psilocybin to SSRIs in treating depression. Citing the results of his recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Carhart-Harris makes a case for psilocybin-assisted therapy by explaining how the compound can “liberate thought and feeling” rather than simply taking the edge off challenging emotions.
The research on psychedelics and the demand for psychedelic-assisted therapy are growing not only in Europe in America but also in Australia, where the federal government is granting research funding. However, rescheduling of psychedelics from prohibited to controlled substances classification still seems far away. Yet, Australian therapists are signing up for training programs that will prepare them to introduce psychedelic-assisted therapy in their practices. The interviewed therapists agree that thorough preparation for the administration sessions and the following integration are crucial for developing safe and effective therapeutic frameworks.
This wide-ranging piece, published by global business journalism giant Fortune Magazine, combines a first-person narrative of the writer’s own introduction to psychedelics with his conversations with entrepreneur and psychedelic research investor Tim Ferris about the evolution and fate of the industry. It is a useful read for those interested in a breakdown of how the psychedelics industry is projected to grow in coming years and how business owners, investors, and other influencers are getting involved.
In an article that spread like wildfire in early 2021, Vice reporter Shamani Joshi detailed the results of the largest placebo-controlled psychedelics trial to date. The Imperial College London study found that microdosers were no more likely than their placebo-fueled counterparts to experience positive benefits of psychedelics, including greater mindfulness and life satisfaction. While these results may be challenged or confirmed in larger studies in the near future, the study design itself stands as an important model for how self-blinding citizen science can support inexpensive, “real life” psychedelic research.