Psilocybin as a therapeutic adjunct for PTSD

“Objectives: *identify types of suffering of psychological, emotional, social, spiritual, or existential nature that are potential indications for supervised therapy involving psychedelic medications, as well as important contraindications to this class of drugs.*critically evaluate published findings from the expanding evidence base of clinical research into psychedelic-assisted treatment of patients with depression, anxiety, demoralization, and existential and spiritual suffering. people with advanced medical illness often experience anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and loss of meaning and value of life. some conclude that their life is not worth living and desire to hasten their deaths. currently available treatments for depression, anxiety, and spiritual distress often fail to alleviate suffering among people who are seriously ill. research involving psilocybin and related compounds have shown significant benefit suggesting that this class of drugs may offer therapeutic potential in treating persistent, non-physical suffering. during the 2018 aahpm-hpna assembly meeting a concurrent session on psychedelic therapy drew approximately 600 participants, indicating substantial interest among palliative care providers in the research, cautions, and potential clinical application of these medications. the 2019 session will build on this interest and the content of the previous session to begin defining priorities for research and clinical use of psychedelics within palliative care practice. recent and ongoing clinical studies pertaining to psychedelic-assisted therapies in care of seriously ill patients will be reviewed. session faculty will present results of key informant interviews conducted with palliative care clinicians and researchers regarding their priorities for future studies and therapeutic application of these medications. survey items will include considerations of: a) patient selection and screening, b) frequency and duration of treatment sessions with specific drugs, c) selection of medications (entheogens and empathogens) in treating syndromes of depression, anxiety, demoralization and ptsd, d) necessary levels of supervision, e) safety and therapeutic influence of different settings. these results will inform discussion among session participants. a distillation of this interactive discussion will inform priorities for a developing special interest group on psychedelic therapies.copyright © 2018”

“© georg thieme verlag kg stuttgart, new york. background recently, scientific interest in the therapeutic potential of serotonergic and psilocybin hallucinogens (psychedelics) such as lysergic acid diethylamide (lsd) and entactogens like 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (mdma) within the framework of psychotherapy has resumed. the present article provides an overview on the current evidence on substance-assisted psychotherapy with these substances. method a selective search was carried out in the pubmed and cochrane library including studies investigating the clinical use of serotonergic psychoactive substances since 2000. results studies were found investigating the following indications: alcohol (lsd and psilocybin) and tobacco addiction (psilocybin), anxiety and depression in patients suffering from life-threatening somatic illness (lsd and psilocybin), obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) (psilocybin), treatment-resistant major depression (psilocybin), and posttraumatic stress disorder (ptsd) (mdma). discussion substance use disorders, ptsd and anxiety and depression in patients suffering from life-threatening somatic illness belong to the indications with the best evidence for substance-assisted psychotherapy with serotonergic psychoactive agents. to date, studies indicate efficacy and relatively good tolerability. further studies are needed to determine whether these substances may represent suitable and effective treatment options for some treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders in the future.”

“Using psychelicis for treating ptsd and other disorders. pilot study published in january 2011 archives of general psychiatry (vol. 68 no. 1), ucla led by charles grob, md. using psilocybin.”

“Reviews the books, psychedelic medicine: new evidence for hallucinogenic substances and treatments (vol 1) by michael j. winkelman & thomas b. roberts (see record 2007-11120-000); psychedelic medicine: new evidence for hallucinogenic substances and treatments (vol 2) by michael j. winkelman & thomas b. roberts (see record 2007-11123-000) and psychedelic horizons by thomas b. roberts (see record 2006-03196-000). volume 1 of this two-volume series explores the social and clinical context of psychedelic medicines, various medical/healing applications such as the use of psilocybin, lsd (lysergic acid diethylamide), marijuana and/or mdma in the treatment of cluster headaches, ocd, ptsd, with people with aids and for those with advanced cancer. volume 2 has a distinct psychotherapeutic and shamanic feel about it. it opens with a section on treating substance abuse with chapters on the use of hallucinogenics in the treatment of alcoholism, the use of ketamine and general psychedelic psychotherapy for addictions, and the use of peyote, ayahuasca and ibugaine in a variety of situations. psychedelic horizons is a book that is perhaps very difficult to categorize. part autobiographical, part scientific, part visionary, imaginative and wishful thinking, part class notes write-up, it is clear that this is an accomplished text written by an insightful ‘multistate’ polymath. the textual style is relaxed, and takes you on a journey through what i have interpreted as an essentially grofian-based book. this book is very different from the first two volumes reviewed here, and could be read almost recreationally. (psycinfo database record (c) 2012 apa, all rights reserved)”

“The article reports that researchers are once again focusing therapeutic potential psychedelic agents which are likely to help in treating mental heal issues like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd), obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) and addiction. it also focuses on the impact of restrictive government policies regarding psychedelic agents like lsd, psilocybin and cannabis, on the research.”

“Background: there is a long history of research interest in the therapeutic benefits of ‘psychedelic’ drugs including d-lysergic acid diethylamide (lsd), psilocybin (the active component in ’magic mushrooms’) and mdma (ecstasy). studies in psychiatry during the 1950s and 1960s reported benefits from their use in the treatment of a variety of disorders including schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and alcoholism. however, inconsistent and adverse findings along with the widespread abuse of psychedelic drugs resulted in a ban on their use in clinical practice. renewed research interest emerged with the landmark johns hopkins study on psilocybin in 2008. further studies since then have examined the effectiveness of psilocybin in helping people to quit smoking and the effectiveness of psilocybin/lsd-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of anxiety associated with end-stage cancer. the multidisciplinary association for psychedelic science (maps) has been a source of funding for international trials of psychedelic drugs, particularly trials that have focused on the use of mdma in war veterans suffering from treatment resistant post-traumatic stress disorder. objectives: to increase awareness of the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs and to encourage further research within australia. methods: a review of the current literature on psychedelic drug research. findings: there is a growing body of evidence showing that psychedelic drugs can make a major contribution to effective treatment in psychiatry. conclusions: many arguments against the use of psychedelic drugs are moral rather than medical. further research and investigation is needed to lift the taboo on these drugs and reveal their potential benefits.”