View Video Transcript [Music] I'm a researcher and I work out of a laboratory at the University of British Columbia in Canada. We focus on drugs like cannabis and some psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms. I've been really curious how people use these substances to improve their health, so over the past three years, I've teamed up with an international team of scientists to launch the largest study of microdosing. I'm really pumped to be here to tell you what microdosing is, why people are doing it, and a little bit about if it works. Before I jump into that, I want to acknowledge that my University and home, where most of this research has been conducted, is located on the unseated territory of the Silk Okanagan people. If we're talking about using psychedelics as a tool for healing, it's important that we recognize the indigenous people have been the knowledge keepers of these traditions for thousands of years and are the true pioneers in the field. In the timeline of psychedelics, it's only been a pretty small amount of time that Western culture has been around for, but that said, a lot has happened in the past 70 something years. The mind-altering effects of psychedelics helped to shape the counterculture movement of the 1960s, and now scientists are exploring the use of large doses of psychedelics as a tool for curing some really hard-to-treat disorders like post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety. If there's one word that characterizes all these different uses of psychedelics, it's big. Big doses are used to create big effects—for a patient going through psychedelic treatment or even your friend on their way to a Grateful Dead concert. Doses are usually big enough to create some sort of trip—you know, colors looking richer, a mystical connection with the universe, or maybe a sprinkling of colors behind closed eyelids. But what I'm here to talk to you about today is not big. In fact, for most psychedelic microdosers, the ideal effects wouldn't create any sort of trip. They'd actually be small enough that they could go about their day doing whatever needs to be done. But even without the trip, psychedelic microdoses appear to be making a real difference in the lives of people taking them. The press is picking up on stories of microdosers who say that the practice has helped with the management of illness or has saved their marriage. Tech gurus in Silicon Valley testify to the productivity boost they get from microdosing, and comedians, musicians, and artists use the practice as part of their creative ritual. True believers are eager to share the wonder of microdosing with the world, but they recognize that the average person wants a scientific stamp of approval before popping LSD on a workday. That said, the microdosing community has gone above and beyond to bring attention to the topic, including roping researchers like myself into it. We've now published two papers that collectively have been downloaded over six hundred thousand times, and it's all thanks to the microdosing community that called out for research and volunteered their time to push science forward. With all the enthusiasm, it's hard not to get swept up into the excitement of microdosing. But still, I like to wade into these topics with some genuine curiosity because there's a lot we don't know. So let's start with what we do know. Our study recruited over 12,000 microdosing participants and thousands more that weren't microdosing so that we could compare the two groups to find out who is microdosing, what they're doing, why they're doing it, and how it's working out for them. Microdosers joined in from across the world, but the majority came from North America, Europe, and Australia. In general, they didn't look all that different from the people that weren't microdosing, except for maybe being a little bit older and from urban areas. As for what it is, people in our study were microdosing with a few different things, including what are sometimes lovingly referred to as magic mushrooms, which contain the psychedelic ingredient psilocybin, and some other psychedelics like LSD, MDMA, ketamine, and MDMA. But for the most part, people were using either LSD or psilocybin mushrooms. Microdosers have a few different ways of going about their practice, but most commonly, people are taking these psychedelic substances in small doses. Now, even from what I told you, you could tell that the way people are using these substances is very different from what we normally think of as drug use and really better fits with how someone might take a vitamin or a supplement. In our study, microdosers mostly said they started the practice for health reasons, like to reduce stress or to improve cognition, like the computer programmer that takes a dose at the start of the day to improve their focus. Interestingly, the number one reason our participants said they got into the practice was for mindfulness, which really helps to point to this kind of shared wellness intention across all microdoses. For many, this practice is used as an aid for managing mental health. In fact, one study found that some microdosers reported that it was even more effective than conventional treatments for things like depression and anxiety. So when we designed our study, it was really important that we build in a focus on mental health. And microdosing is a practice that happens over weeks, not days, so we tracked things like depression, anxiety, and stress over the span of a month. So how do microdoses mental health change over the course of our study? To answer this question, we took a look at just the people that were microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms. What we found is that over the span of a month, microdosers were in a better mood, were less depressed, less anxious, and less stressed than the people that weren't engaging in the practice. Now, with so many people microdosing for cognitive enhancement and brain health, we felt it's important that we took a look at this area as well. So what we did is we included some measures of cognitive ability, one of which is called the fingertap test. And yes, it's exactly what it sounds like—we asked participants to tap their fingers onto their phone. As simple as it is, this test makes a pretty good proxy for brain health and has been used to spot diseases like Parkinson's. We gave this tap test to everyone in our study, but our brains really change as we get older, so we are sure to look at younger and older people separately. What we found is the same pattern as with mental health—microdosers' tap scores grew more over the course of the study than people that weren't microdosing. But interestingly, this was especially true for the people that were over the age of 55, which really helps to point to the potential of microdosing to be making its biggest impact as we age. I mentioned earlier that microdosers tend to have a few different ways of going about their practice. Well, one thing that we picked up on in our study is that more than half of our microdosing participants said that they were combining their psychedelic substances with other non-psychedelic substances in a process called stacking. So what were people mixing together? Well, mostly it was natural products with corresponding health benefits, like cacao (the raw version of chocolate), which is mixed in for mood and mental health, or Lion's Mane mushrooms that are often put into the mix because they've been suggested to help protect our brains. With all these different combinations appearing, how do we know that what we found is related to the psychedelics and not due to these additional stack substances? So what we did is we compared our microdosers that were using only psilocybin mushrooms to the ones that stacked with the popular combination consisting of Lion's Mane mushrooms and niacin. And although all microdoses, stacked and non, were related to more improvement than doing nothing, the stack combination came out on top for top score improvement over the month of our study. So from what it looks like here, the stack combination may have actually been helping to boost some of these microdosing benefits. These are just the first things to come out of our study, but many questions remain. At the forefront of these is how expectations might be playing into our findings. Our studies show that microdosers were doing better over time, but is that mostly due to the fact that they thought they were going to get better when they started the study? We didn't tell anyone in the study to start microdosing or to not, so anyone that did probably started because they thought it was going to work. So how much of this mental health and cognition boost that we found is really related to microdosing, and how much of it is due to a placebo effect, where our participants started doing better because they expected to? Future studies are on their way to unpacking these questions, and the ones that are emerging are working closely with the microdosing community to develop new ways to approach the placebo effect in this context. For me, as a clinical scientist, it's not my job to say whether microdosing is good or bad but rather to find ways to walk alongside this group as they find their path to wellness. Our study asked the question: why are you microdosing? The resounding response from participants was to be more mindful, and I think the same applies here. Every day, people are becoming increasingly more mindful of their health decisions. Those of you that are empowered to be more thoughtful about your wellness and your approach to scientific information are bridging the gap that separates science from the public. That will hopefully bring us into a future where researchers and the public can work alongside each other to identify and solve problems. Thank you. [Applause] At a Glance Thousands of people around the world have begun to the practice of microdosing psychedelics, like LSD and psilocybin, for its proposed health benefits. Clinical Scientist, Joseph Rootman, collaborated with an international team of researchers to deploy the largest study of psychedelic microdosing to date. He will guide listeners through the findings of this study and introduce them to the who, what, and why of this new and interesting practice. Joseph Rootman is a PhD candidate in the clinical Psychology program at the University of British Columbia. He works under the supervision of Dr. Zach Walsh as part of the Therapeutic, Recreational, and Problematic Substance use lab with a research focus in the therapeutic potential of cannabis and psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD and Ketamine. Joseph is lead author on two recent publications in Nature: Scientific Reports which highlight the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic microdosing on mood, mental health, and cognition. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. TEDxLimassol TEDxLimassol hosted a talk highlighting the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treating mental health conditions, emphasizing their ability to induce profound and lasting changes in patients. These discussions are crucial as they challenge traditional views on mental health treatment and pave the way for innovative approaches that offer hope to those who have found little relief from conventional therapies. TEDxLimassol's platform amplifies research findings and personal testimonies, fostering broader awareness and acceptance of psychedelics as a viable option in modern medicine.

View Video Transcript [Music] [Applause] When I say things like ayahuasca, LSD, or magic mushrooms, what comes to your mind? You might think about vibrant neon colors, visual distortions, wild partying, and if you're my age—I see a few people in the audience who are—you might think of flower power, the '60s, and you might even remember the song "White Rabbit." "One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small." I actually wanted to sing that but I don't want to ruin your afternoon, so I'll just say it out loud. You may have heard stories about people jumping out of buildings or running around naked in the streets, but maybe at the end of the day, I can convince you that psychedelics have a way more important role to play. They may actually hold the key to helping a lot of people who are suffering from mental health conditions. We are living in an era of a mental health crisis. I think, like you, you see it all around you—I see it all around me in my friends, my family, my colleagues, and increasingly at the university where I work. I see it in my students as well. They have great difficulty in coping with the demands and expectations that are put onto them. A recent report from the World Health Organization stated that 1.3 billion people in the world are suffering from mental health conditions. Research at the World Economic Forum has calculated that the total cost of mental health, nowadays, by 2030 is estimated to rise to $6 trillion. To put it in perspective, that is more than the cost for cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses combined. So, it's clearly a huge problem in our society. Take my friend Sam, for example, who I've known since he was a child. Ever since adolescence, he has been suffering from depression, which basically means that every day is a struggle for him to get through life. He has difficulty sleeping, trouble waking up, he hardly ever eats, and when he does, it's usually not very healthy. Basically, his whole life revolves around the depression—he hardly has any joy, and everything he does feels like a chore. In a way, you could say he looks at the world through a glass darkly. He told me one of his biggest problems is what he calls his inner critic—a voice in his head that he has known since childhood and continuously criticizes and puts him down. He said the only way he can deal with that is by avoiding anything that is remotely challenging or out of the ordinary, just trying to get on with the day. You probably have such people in your environment as well, in your family or friends. So, why is it that mental health conditions put such a burden on patients, their loved ones, and society as a whole? Well, one of the main reasons is that we have not very good tools to help those patients and to treat them. Sam, for example, has been treated with all kinds of different antidepressants for at least 10 years, and it doesn't really help him much. Sam is not alone; conservative estimates suggest that about 30 to 40% of all patients do not respond properly to antidepressant treatment. For those who do, we know that it takes 6 to 8 weeks when you start therapy before you see any meaningful improvement. When you do, you will have to take the medication basically for the rest of your life—if you don't, then in most patients, the depression will come back with a vengeance once you stop taking the medication. Okay, so why do we think that psychedelics may make any meaningful improvement, and what are psychedelics anyway? Well, the word psychedelic comes from the Greek word psyche, meaning soul or mind, and deloun, which means to manifest. The idea is, and it implies, that psychedelics can manifest or unfold hitherto unexpected potential of your mind. In a way, you could say it might allow you to see the world through a glass less darkly, more transparent. Now, psychedelics have been around for a long period of time, probably since thousands of years. Psychedelic plants like psychedelic mushrooms and peyote cactuses have been used in ceremonial settings. But research into the effect of psychedelics in the Western world started in the 1950s, the last century. Unfortunately, due to a number of different reasons that we don't have time to go into, in the 1960s, the political climate changed, and as a result, in 1968, the possession of psilocybin and psychedelics in general was made illegal, and all research came to a screeching halt. That is until about 15 years ago when several different groups of researchers started to become interested in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics again. Typically, what those procedures are, it is a combination of one or maybe two doses of a psychedelic drug, typically psilocybin but sometimes LSD, together with psychological support. Psychological support before you take the drug, while you're taking the drug, and after it—a concept that we call psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. The results so far have been intriguing and, I dare to say, baffling. For example, a very famous study that was done at Imperial College in London where they took 20 patients who, like Sam, were what we call therapy-resistant—so they had been given three or four different antidepressant drugs and nothing helped. They were given two doses of psilocybin, one with a one-week interval between them, and their depressive symptoms were evaluated throughout the study. What the study showed was that within a week, the symptoms were dramatically reduced. Both the clinicians and the patients themselves said the symptoms were dramatically reduced. But more impressive, at least for me, was that the study lasted for 6 months. After 6 months, at the end of the study, the symptoms were still dramatically reduced—6 months after the drug was taken. So, how is it possible that symptoms can have such a long-term beneficial effect long after the drug has disappeared from the body? But before we can answer that question, we first have to make sure that is actually replicable. It could be just a one-off. So, let me show you one more study. This was a study done at New York University in New York City, and what they did here was they looked at depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with life-threatening illnesses. Many were suffering from terminal cancer. The format was very simple, very similar to the previous study, except that they only got one dose of psilocybin, and they followed those patients. Within a day, depression and actually anxiety symptoms were dramatically reduced, and again, it lasted for 6 months. Actually, it lasted longer; the same patients were followed up several years later, and as you can see here, 4 and a half years later, after this one dose of psilocybin, the patients still had a 60% reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms. How is that possible? Well, the short answer is we don't know. Sorry, but I'll try and make it a little longer. It's not so surprising, you know, how complicated the brain is. But what we have learned about the brain in the last 10 or 15 years has been quite amazing, and it's very has changed our view of the brain. What we now know is that the brain is way more dynamic than we ever thought it to be. Actually, by the time you go home today, your brain will be different from what it was this morning. Your heart, your liver, your lung will all be the same, but your brain will be different. That's easy to explain because let's say next week, for instance, you might see me on the street, and hopefully, you'll recognize me. That's because your brain cells are now making new connections, and with a bit of luck, you might even remember something about psychedelics and how interesting they can be. Because that means they did a good job. So, your brain cells are continuously changing and continuously changing the way they talk with each other. And that has led to the idea that our behavior is determined by functional connections between different brain regions that we call networks—functional connections within the network and between those networks. And we have a number of different networks. One of them that I am very interested in is what is called the salience network. That's basically the network that allows you to direct your attention to what is important. And again, you can imagine that that must be very flexible because now, hopefully, you will pay attention to me because I'm important—well, a little bit. But in an hour's time, you'll get hungry, and you'll be paying much more attention to the restaurants around you. So, you see how these cells continuously have to change their connectivity and the way they talk with each other. Now, the most intriguing of those networks is what we call the default mode network. That's the network that's active when we are awake but at rest—so, we're not doing anything. And we think that that network allows us to think about ourselves and reflect upon ourselves and our world. So, how do psychedelics influence that? I'll try to explain that with a diagram. The different colors here are the different networks, so we have a number of different networks, and the thickness of the line tells you how well those cells within the network communicate with each other. Under normal conditions, you see a lot of activity within networks, but not so much activity between networks. Now, if you give psilocybin, you see a completely different picture. First of all, the connections within the network become weaker, but the connections between the networks become a lot stronger. Interestingly, especially within the default mode network, that network becomes much less active. The salience network and the visual network—those networks become more active, and the communication between those networks becomes much stronger. So, we think that the drug actually shifts the connectivity between different networks and thereby allows you to see the world in a different way, through a glass less darkly and more transparent. And it's not only our idea; the patients who have gone through this therapy say exactly the same. They say, "I don't know what happened to me, but I have the feeling I'm not stuck anymore in my old way of thinking. I have the feeling I can look at the world in a different way and move on." And that brings me back to Sam. Sam is in the process of getting a different kind of therapy now, a trial, a clinical trial with psychedelics. And he told me, "You know, for the first time in years, I have the feeling there is light at the end of the tunnel. For the first time in years, I can actually imagine how my life could be different. I don't have the feeling anymore that I'm completely on my own with this problem, but I have the feeling that together, we can solve it." And that, for me, is a very powerful testimony of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Thank you. [Applause] At a Glance In a world where mental health problems are on the rise, Dr. Bart Ellenbroek is exploring how psychedelic drugs may revolutionise the way we think about mental disorders and the brain. In this talk at TEDxMount Victoria (https://www.tedxmountvictoria.com), he shares the results of various studies and why psychedelic drugs is a promising area of research. Born in the Netherlands and having lived and worked in Saudi Arabia and Germany, Dr. Ellenbroek is a neuroscientist and Professor at Victoria University of Wellington. Fascinated by the brain and its flexibility, he has been working in behavioural neuroscience for over 35 years. His research primarily focuses on the development of mental health problems and how genes, adverse childhood experiences, and drugs shape both our brains and behaviours. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. TEDxMount Victoria TEDxMount Victoria is significant in exploring the potential of psychedelics in medicine, emphasizing their transformative effects on mental health and personal growth. This platform fosters dialogue on novel treatment approaches, highlighting promising research from leading institutions. It aims to challenge stigma and accelerate understanding of psychedelics' therapeutic potential, shaping future healthcare paradigms.

View Video Transcript Do you wonder what treatments physicians use and prescribe today that will one day be perceived as outdated with the lens and perspective of the future? Who here has heard of Ignaz Semmelweis? Semmelweis was a German-Hungarian scientist and physician in the 1840s who maintained some pretty controversial theories and ideas for his era. His wild idea? That microscopic organisms, unseen by the naked eye, could serve as the source of spreading infection. He was committed to an insane asylum by his colleagues for his radical ideas, where he was beaten and ultimately died before Louis Pasteur was able to confirm germ theory shortly thereafter. Now, we are all well aware how hand-washing and sterilization techniques can limit the spread of infection. It begs the question: what sorts of treatments and medical discoveries exist today that are being dismissed and overlooked? What sorts of treatments do we currently accept as appropriate that will one day be rendered ineffective or even harmful? With current and modern perspective, many medical treatments of the past seem primitive and, in some cases, even barbaric. From the Neolithic era, trepanation was an act of drilling a hole in the skull, exposing the brain to air so that evil spirits could escape. Five centuries ago, barbers were serving as surgeons, performing bloodletting, for which the well-recognized red and white barber pole that we see today derives its symbolism, representing blood and bandages. As recent as the 1940s, lobotomies were considered cutting-edge treatment for mental illness, in which the founding physician earned a Nobel Prize. This was a procedure in which an ice pick was inserted into the eye socket with the aid of a hammer to separate connections in the brain. Early in my career as a neurologist, I was struck by how common it is for patients to present with functional symptoms of disease without any clear underlying cause to suggest a diagnosis. I would consult with patients complaining of weakness, numbness, vision changes, difficulty walking, and complex pain syndromes. Yet the batteries of testing, dedicated neuroimaging, and even spinal taps all result as normal. There is a phenomenon well-published in the medical literature called conversion, in which, if a patient suffers and then suppresses emotional, sexual, or otherwise mental trauma, real physical symptoms can manifest out of the control of the affected individual. Often, these patients' symptoms will improve with talk therapy and antidepressant medication, rather than providing them antibiotics or subjecting them to unnecessary surgeries. Thoughts are powerful. They can serve as the seed and root of many of our problems and, ironically, may have the potential to serve as the cure. Is electroconvulsive therapy, essentially electrocution, really the best option we have at our disposal for tough-to-treat depression? Is there any other instance in medicine, outside of the psychiatry realm, where we invite the patient to commit to months and years of a particular treatment plan, with only some having complete resolution and healing from that trauma? That standard isn't acceptable when we think about treating and promoting healing for a physical wound or injury, and yet, we expect psychiatric patients to commit to years of cognitive behavioral therapy in the hopes that benefit is obtained. Talk therapy has been proven to break bad patterns of thought that lead to problems and to learn new ways of thinking to solve problems and promote healing. But progress is slow. Imagine if we could harness the power of cognitive behavioral therapy but accelerate the process and expedite results. As a doctor, I find it puzzling that modern medicine separates neurology and psychiatry into separate disciplines, as if the brain is not one organ. We’ve learned so much about the body and other organ systems, and yet the brain serves as the final frontier. What will it take for society to consider mental health as a part of whole health? There’s a new treatment avenue currently gaining a lot of attention, with tons of novel dedicated research starting to enter the mainstream. Some perceive this medicine as controversial, while others regard it as pioneering. Regardless of where you stand with your initial impressions or preconceived notions, there is mounting evidence to support this group of therapeutics as having profound and long-lasting benefits for our mental health. Let’s talk about psychedelics. It was during World War II in Basel, Switzerland, when Alfred Hofmann, the chemist who synthesized LSD in his lab, imbibed a dose to experience the first proverbial acid trip. LSD is chemically very similar to the serotonin molecule, the feel-good hormone. In the coming years, scientists would discover similar compounds that exist within nature, such as mescaline in the peyote cactus and DMT, found within tropical plants used in the psychoactive drink ayahuasca. It was ten years from Hofmann’s discovery that R. Gordon Wasson identified strains of psilocybin in the mountains of Mexico that would be recognized as the active chemical in magic mushrooms. These compounds, when ingested, can have effects on our brain for anywhere between 3 to 12 hours, depending on the drug and dose. It wouldn’t be until the 1960s that psychology researchers at Harvard, Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, would establish the foundation for psychedelics as potential treatment for mental health disease states. With the backdrop of the Vietnam War and widespread anti-war protests, Richard Nixon deemed psychedelics to be part of a counterculture movement that was a threat to his administration. That forced all research investigating psychedelics to shut down, rendering mescaline, psilocybin, DMT, and LSD as illegal Schedule I drugs. It wasn’t until 2006 that Roland Griffiths and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins University penned the seminal paper titled "Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance." That is quite a provocative title for medical literature standards and re-ignited an entire field of study devoted to investigating a group of restricted therapeutics in the psychedelics class. From this point forward, what was once considered taboo may now serve as one of the most promising and impactful methods of treatment for mental health disease states. Novel safety data has demonstrated that psychedelics, contrary to 1960s reports, do not carry toxicity nor lead to physical dependence. In Griffiths' study, he and his colleagues recruited a group of healthy volunteers to ingest one dose of psilocybin. From this study, the majority of participants enrolled rated their experience a year later as being among one of the most spiritually significant or personally meaningful experiences in their entire lifetime. People were able to change their perceptions and create powerful new ways of thinking. An important and interesting discovery was regarding intention. In the psychedelic experience, the journey is heavily influenced by set and setting, that is, one’s mindset and the physical setting that they are in. For this reason, it is often that there is a shaman or a guide to assist with the curation of the psychedelic experience. Ground control, so to speak. Guides will often provide music and encourage the use of blindfolds to minimize external stimuli and allow the patient to turn their focus inward. Since the Hopkins study, researchers at some of the most preeminent academic institutions in the world are now researching and studying psychedelics. Oxford, NYU, Harvard Mass General, Baylor, UCSF, and Johns Hopkins are just some of these institutions looking at MDMA, the active component in ecstasy, as well as psilocybin, DMT, and LSD as potential treatments for states of anxiety, addiction, depression, and PTSD. Quite dissimilar from the way in which these drugs were used in the '60s and '70s, there is now a more targeted approach and a way in which to offer these medications in a controlled clinical setting. In one study, psilocybin helped two-thirds of smokers enrolled quit smoking cigarettes for at least a year. That is the most successful smoking cessation treatment ever studied. In 2014, a network was identified in the brain as the default mode network. These regions make up what psychologists refer to as the ego or sense of self. These interconnected areas are very active in states of anxiety and depression, yet temporarily are inhibited when under the influence of psychedelics. A dedicated meditation practice can also tap into and inhibit the default mode network, in which mindfulness allows for personal discovery and promotes growth. Think of your mind as a snow-covered hill in which your thoughts are sleds. Over time, the grooves are dug deeper and deeper, making it difficult to escape the paths that are created. These paths are representative of our internal dialogue, which then become ingrained. Psychedelics allow for a fresh round of snow, so to speak, to be laid so that new paths, thoughts, connections, and interpretations can be made. Perhaps this is the reason why psychedelics are so effective at treating the ruminating thoughts that are commonly seen in states of anxiety, addiction, and depression. Imagine if we could harness the power of our thoughts to promote healing, rather than allowing them to instill harm. Please, join me in raising your hand if you have suffered anxiety or depression in your own life. Integration is a critical component to maximizing the potential benefit garnered by the psychedelic experience. Once consciousness returns to its baseline state, the patient must work to understand and interpret what was encountered on the journey. The real homework starts then to try to apply what was learned and discovered to day-to-day life. The preliminary results from these drugs are fascinating and that the effects from just one dose can be so profound and long-lasting. Patients are given an opportunity to have an experience in which their mind is open to possibility. The chance to work through a prior trauma or see something with new light. That is very different from the current standard of care for treating mental health, which implements daily medication regimens and necessitates years of intense cognitive behavioral therapy. There is still much work to be done. These medications are not without risk and are not for everyone. Certain screening measures should be put into place to identify those who may be at risk of developing psychosis or other adverse reactions when taking these drugs. While the field of research is promising, it is still early, and so for this reason, we need more high-quality randomized controlled trials. If the early and preliminary results are indicative of the potential impact that these medications have, we need to accelerate the process and offer treatment to those who are suffering from states of mental health. So, I leave you with this: if given the opportunity, would you ever try psychedelics for any reason? Why or why not? At a Glance "Psychedelics as medicine to treat mental health disease has had a recent resurgence of attention and dedicated research, with encouraging results. Could this class of drugs serve as a paradigm shift in the way mindfulness therapy and mental health is approached? Compounds like LSD, DMT, psilocybin, and MDMA are investigated as treatments for states of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and addiction. Listeners are challenged to question their preconceived notions and judgements as it pertains to this group of restricted therapeutics in the psychedelic class. Burton J. Tabaac, MD FAHABurton is an associate professor of neurology at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, dedicated to the cutting-edge treatment and prevention of cerebrovascular diseases. He is a graduate of the fellowship program in vascular neurology at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, MD (2019). After graduating from AUC School of Medicine, where he earned his MD (2014), Tabaac completed a neurology residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick, NJ. There, he was humbled to have been selected as a three-time recipient of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award (2016, 2017, and 2018). This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community." TEDxUCLA TEDxUCLA is an independently organized TED event hosted by the University of California, Los Angeles, featuring a diverse range of speakers and topics. It is important to psychedelic medicine as it provides a platform for experts to share groundbreaking research and insights into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, helping to foster public awareness and acceptance. By highlighting scientific advancements and personal stories, TEDxUCLA contributes to the growing discourse on integrating psychedelic therapies into mainstream healthcare.

View Video Transcript Seven thousand years ago, a painter entered a cave in the Sahara Desert in the southern part of Algeria and painted a shaman with a bee head and mushrooms growing out of the body. Those mushrooms are psilocybin mushrooms, or what we call magic mushrooms. This painting is early evidence of the use of that medicine, starting in the Sahara Desert. Amazingly, as archaeologists continue to look throughout Asia, Africa, and southern Europe, they saw similar versions of that painting throughout those parts of the world. I bring this up not because this is old history and interesting, but because we owe a great debt of gratitude going back seven millennia to those early healers whose inheritance we were given. Today, as we explore the potential use of psychedelic or natural medicines for mental health care, three streams of reality are coming together, bringing us to a place where this investigation can be raised up as it has been in the last decade or so. One stream is the increasing mental health crisis. Several reasons contribute to this crisis. One is inequitable access to care, which is a social policy issue that has not yet been addressed. Additionally, there are few treatment options that significantly transform a person struggling with mental illness, so their suffering and struggle can dissolve in a meaningful way. Due to the intractable number of mental health conditions, such as depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and other struggles, there is motivation to look for other ways to provide help and support to people in this situation. The second stream is the fact that, over the last decade, a new wave of interest in how psychedelic medicines could serve a role in creating a healing environment for struggling people has emerged. This interest grew due to the persistence of a few researchers and scientists, which has now expanded to a significantly larger number. The third stream of activity is the incredibly quick move toward legalizing the use of these psychedelic medicines in various ways. Psilocybin, used to treat depression, will be legal in Oregon starting January 2024 and in Colorado about a year after that. MDMA, known to many as ecstasy, is now in its phase three clinical trials around the world. These trials, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, showed great promise in working with PTSD. Two visionary researchers at the Veterans Administration in the Bronx, New York, convinced the FDA to allow these trials to address PTSD, something traditional therapies were not effectively addressing. Due to the VA's influence, these trials were undertaken. However, there are 20 million people in the United States with a PTSD diagnosis, most of whom did not serve in the military, highlighting the significant need for support for this population. This is not a miracle without risk or uncertainty, but the promise of the impact of these medicines is significant. A high percentage of people who used MDMA in these clinical trials, as opposed to those who used a placebo, do not have diagnosable PTSD symptoms following the trial therapy. This is a remarkable result worth investigating further. This is a complex topic with much controversy, concern, and fear. We must get it right this time. Sixty-five years ago, when Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (known as Ram Dass) at Harvard were working with LSD, there was great promise. However, Dr. Leary went too far in evangelizing the use of LSD, and his phrase "tune in, turn on, drop out" was not the best way to discuss serious scientific study. Now, we are working with substances like psilocybin and MDMA, and for many millions of people, these substances are either a joke or something to be feared due to past difficult reactions or observations of others' experiences. In this ecosystem of research, we must treat the research as seriously as possible, with clear science and metrics. While the move toward legalization and acceptance is quick, we must be deliberate. One way to be deliberate is to ensure a level of humility surrounds the research, recognizing that our ancestors began exploring the impact of these medicines 7,000 years ago. We must be open to learning from the oral traditions of indigenous communities worldwide. Historically, it was common for medical practitioners and spiritual healers to be the same person. Only in the last 200 years have the sciences of medicine and the mystery of the spiritual experience separated. Now, there is an opportunity for these to come back together. Researchers are doing traditional science research, adjusting molecules, and hoping to create substances with a particular impact. However, we are also talking about a healing journey, much like a spiritual journey, requiring set and setting. Set refers to the mindset, where clinicians work with patients well before the medicine journey to set expectations and prepare for the experience. Setting refers to the physical space, which should be nurturing and calming, not like a typical exam room. Clinicians must be present, dropping preconceptions and entering the situation with an open mind. Patients may have varied experiences during the medicine journey, and clinicians must be able to hold the space and support the patient. With the success of MDMA trials, it's likely that MDMA will be federally approved for use across the country within a year. The state-by-state legalization of psilocybin is progressing slowly. Once MDMA can be prescribed, we will have an opportunity to create an ecosystem of healing. However, this requires equitable access to medicine, sufficient training opportunities for clinical practitioners, and a distributed model of care. We must also respect and learn from the wisdom of indigenous communities, ensuring we are allies and not appropriators. There is tremendous risk and opportunity in this new frontier. Everyone can share in this work, whether directly in the healing process, policy process, or ensuring the sacred and science come together again. In Colorado, we are at the epicenter of this work, making mistakes and having successes, providing an opportunity for all of us to take advantage of this new frontier. Thank you. At a Glance "Charles Lief's TEDxBoulder talk delves into the historical roots of psychedelic medicine, tracing back 7,000 years to ancient healers depicted in cave paintings using substances like psilocybin mushrooms. He emphasizes the convergence of three contemporary factors: a growing mental health crisis, a resurgence in psychedelic medicine research, and the movement towards legalization. Lief discusses promising results from clinical trials, especially with MDMA in treating PTSD, and highlights the need for a balanced and cautious approach, drawing on the wisdom of indigenous communities and ensuring equitable access. Charles Lief became the 7th president of Naropa University in 2012, and has been an active member of the Naropa Community since its founding in 1974 – as lawyer, member, and chair of the Board of Trustees. He has led some of the country’s most innovative and successful organizations providing integrated social enterprises and social services, including the Greyston Foundation, the AIDS HMO Amida Care, and the Hartland Group, which together provided essential housing, health care, and employment to thousands of low-income people in the Northeast. He has served in leadership capacities on the boards of the Social Enterprise Alliance, Lion’s Roar Magazine, Bridge House, the Intervale Center, the Vermont Community Loan Fund, the New York State Governor’s task force on AIDS, and many others. He earned a BA from Brandeis University and a JD from the University of Colorado School of Law. Under his leadership Naropa University, established on a model that infuses contemplative pedagogy and compassion training across the curriculum, has developed strategic partnerships to deepen its impact on its students and on the world by offering bachelor and master degrees. Naropa’s Graduate School of Counseling Psychology matriculates more Master’s level counseling psychologists than any other university in Colorado. Naropa also offers certificates and professional development credentials including Mindfulness Instructor training, compassion training, chaplaincy, and most recently through the creation of the Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies. Chuck’s TEDxBoulder talk focuses on the emerging ecosystem of natural medicines (psychedelics) as increasingly proven vehicles to address the mental health crisis, and the intersection of therapeutic use with the millennia of sacred uses by indigenous societies around the globe. His wife Judy Lief is an internationally known Buddhist teacher and author. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community." TEDxBoulder TEDxBoulder is an independently organized TED event held in Boulder, Colorado, featuring a diverse array of speakers who share innovative ideas across various fields. The event is important to psychedelic medicine because it provides a platform for researchers and advocates to present groundbreaking studies and developments in the use of psychedelics for mental health treatment. These presentations help raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote informed discussions about the potential benefits of psychedelic therapies.

This video is from the ABC News YouTube Channel, posted February 21st, 2024. For more videos from this channel, click here: https://www.youtube.com/@ABCNe... Description: "The Therapeutic Goods Administration made a ground-breaking medical decision when Australia became the first country in the world to allow the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs. But the decision has so far had little practical effect in our health system. Peter McCutcheon reports." For more in depth news videos from ABC News, visit the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ABCNe...

Video is from the UC Davis YouTube Channel, from the Psychedelic Summit in 2023 which can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDav... Description: Dr. David Lubarsky, UC Davis Health's CEO and chancellor of Human Health Sciences, kicks off the 2023 Psychedelic Summit by discussing the promise of psychedelics in medicine. The UC Davis Psychedelic Summit brought together national experts to explore what the rapidly evolving field of psychedelics and neurotherapeutics may mean for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. These new treatment types may hold promise for anxiety, depression, substance use, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others. The event was hosted by the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, and the UC Davis Behavioral Health Center for Excellence. To watch more recordings from this conference, visit the UC Davis Psychedelic Summit playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playli...

Video is from the UC Davis YouTube Channel, from the Psychedelic Summit in 2023 which can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDav... Description: Fred Barrett, Ph.D., Associate Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, discusses "The Cognitive Neuroscience of Psychedelic Drugs." The lecture was recorded March 23, 2023, at the Psychedelic Summit on the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento, California. The UC Davis Psychedelic Summit brought together national experts to explore what the rapidly evolving field of psychedelics and neurotherapeutics may mean for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. These new treatment types may hold promise for anxiety, depression, substance use, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others. The event was hosted by the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, and the UC Davis Behavioral Health Center for Excellence.To watch more recordings from this conference, visit the UC Davis Psychedelic Summit playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playli...

Video is from the nature video YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... Description:  "In a recent study, volunteers were given psychedelic drugs and had their brains scanned in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. The scientists conducting the research wanted to gain a better understanding of consciousness and find out what the brain is actually doing when it experiences consciousness.By disrupting the way the brain perceives and models the world while we're awake with psychedelic drugs such as DMT, researchers can try to understand how the conscious brain works.Studying the effects of psychedelics might be key not only to understand how consciousness works, but also to treat some of the problems that can affect our waking lives, with psychedelics being proposed as treatments for depression, anxiety and addiction."For more videos from this creator, visit the nature video YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@Natur...

Description from the Psychedelic Support YouTube Channel: "Psychedelic Support hosted this conversation on May 13th, 2022 with integrative mental health professional and psychedelic facilitator, Dr. Erica Zelfand. We explored the the interplay between antidepressant medications and psilocybin. We reviewed the pharmacology of these substances and consider new research on how clinicians can understand and utilize modern psychedelic research to assist clients."

Description from the Psychedelic Support YouTube Channel: "Psychedelic Support hosted this conversation on May 13th, 2022 with integrative mental health professional and psychedelic facilitator, Dr. Erica Zelfand. We explored the the interplay between antidepressant medications and psilocybin. We reviewed the pharmacology of these substances and consider new research on how clinicians can understand and utilize modern psychedelic research to assist clients."

This video is from the UC Davis Psychedelic Summit in 2023. Description from the UC Davis Health YouTube channel: "Dhakshin Ramanathan, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in residency for psychiatry at @UCSanDiego, discusses "Beyond Psychedelics: Augmenting Mood Enhancing Effects with Personalized Plasticity-Based Interventions." The lecture was recorded March 23, 2023, at the Psychedelic Summit on the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento, California. The UC Davis Psychedelic Summit brought together national experts to explore what the rapidly evolving field of psychedelics and neurotherapeutics may mean for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. These new treatment types may hold promise for anxiety, depression, substance use, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others. The event was hosted by the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, and the UC Davis Behavioral Health Center for Excellence." Click Here for the Full Series of Recordings

This video is from the UC Davis Psychedelic Summit in 2023. Description from the UC Davis Health YouTube channel: "Harriet De Wit, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago (@UChicago), discusses "Microdosing: Fact or Fiction." The lecture was recorded March 23, 2023, at the Psychedelic Summit on the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento, California. The UC Davis Psychedelic Summit brought together national experts to explore what the rapidly evolving field of psychedelics and neurotherapeutics may mean for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. These new treatment types may hold promise for anxiety, depression, substance use, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others. The event was hosted by the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, and the UC Davis Behavioral Health Center for Excellence."Click Here for the Full Series of Recordings

This video is from the UC Davis Psychedelic Summit in 2023. Description from the UC Davis Health YouTube channel: "Josh Woolley, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at UC San Francisco (@ucsf), discusses the topic "Researching Psilocybin Therapy: Current Challenges and Future Prospects." The lecture was recorded March 23, 2023, at the Psychedelic Summit on the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento, California. The UC Davis Psychedelic Summit brought together national experts to explore what the rapidly evolving field of psychedelics and neurotherapeutics may mean for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. These new treatment types may hold promise for anxiety, depression, substance use, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others. The event was hosted by the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, and the UC Davis Behavioral Health Center for Excellence." Click Here for the Full Series of Recordings

This video is from the UC Davis Psychedelic Summit in 2023. Description from the UC Davis Health YouTube channel: "Mark Geyer, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences Emeritus at @UCSanDiego, discusses the topic "Neuropsychedelia: From Psychotomimetic to Psychotherapeutics." The lecture was recorded March 23, 2023, at the Psychedelic Summit on the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento, California. The UC Davis Psychedelic Summit brought together national experts to explore what the rapidly evolving field of psychedelics and neurotherapeutics may mean for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. These new treatment types may hold promise for anxiety, depression, substance use, obsessive compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others. The event was hosted by the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, and the UC Davis Behavioral Health Center for Excellence."Click Here for the Full Series of Recordings

This video is from the UC Davis Psychedelic Summit in 2023. Description from the UC Davis Health YouTube channel: "David Olson, Ph.D., Director of the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, discusses "Psychedelics and Plasticity-Promoting Neurotherapeutics." The lecture was recorded March 23, 2023, at the Psychedelic Summit on the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento, California. The UC Davis Psychedelic Summit brought together national experts to explore what the rapidly evolving field of psychedelics and neurotherapeutics may mean for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. These new treatment types may hold promise for anxiety, depression, substance use, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others. The event was hosted by the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, and the UC Davis Behavioral Health Center for Excellence."Click Here for the Full Series of Recordings

Video description from CBS News: The National YouTube channel: "A handful of Canadians have legally used magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, to treat mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression and cope with dying. Advocates say it could revolutionize mental health treatment, but researchers want to find out whether a psychedelic trip is needed to see benefits from the treatment."

Description from the Harvard Law School YouTube Channel: "In "Psychedelics Legislation and Regulation," panelists discussed emerging state and federal psychedelics legislation, drug policy reform, and the oversight of psychedelics research and development by administrative agencies. Dr. Mason Marks, senior fellow and project lead of POPLAR at the Petrie-Flom Center, moderated the panel which included; Senator Scott Wiener, California Senate District 11; David Shurtleff, deputy director and acting scientific director, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Institutes of Health (NIH); Sharan Sidhu, science officer and general manager, Numinous Inc.; and Graham Boyd, co-founder and executive director, Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative. The panel was part of an Oct. 6 conference commemorating the launch of a new research initiative, the Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation (POPLAR), at the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School."

Video and description from the Psychedelica Lex: "Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church."

Video and description from the Psychedelica Lex: "Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church."

Description from the Psychedelica Lex YouTube channel: "Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church."

Description from the SXSW Youtube Channel: "Modern research on psychedelics is turning the "turn-on, tune-in, and drop-out" culture of the 1960's upside down. What was once considered a recreational activity is now an evidence-based treatment for psychiatric disease. But how can psychedelics be widely used to alleviate human suffering through clinician-guided treatment of illnesses such as depression, PTSD, and addiction? Do mystical-type and insightful-type experiences associated with these substances improve overall well-being in patients and in healthy individuals? How can investors make psychedelic medicine accessible by financing academic research and for-profit companies and clinics? What is next for the 21st century renaissance of psychedelic medicine as it becomes an established treatment and wellness aid? Learn more in this panel discussion organized by the New York Academy of Sciences for SXSW 2022."

" "Jaden Smith brings an underground topic to the Table: magic mushrooms! What was once done in secret and thought of as a dangerous drug, top doctors now say may be the miracle treatment for mental health. Jada reveals how plant medicine helped her overcome debilitating depression, GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons shares his "life changing" psychedelic journey, investigative journalist Lisa Ling and her husband, oncologist Paul Song, tell how psychedelics helped their marriage, and best-selling author Harvard Professor, Michael Pollan, breaks down the risks and benefits of these mystical plants."

" "Jaden Smith brings an underground topic to the Table: magic mushrooms! What was once done in secret and thought of as a dangerous drug, top doctors now say may be the miracle treatment for mental health. Jada reveals how plant medicine helped her overcome debilitating depression, GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons shares his "life changing" psychedelic journey, investigative journalist Lisa Ling and her husband, oncologist Paul Song, tell how psychedelics helped their marriage, and best-selling author Harvard Professor, Michael Pollan, breaks down the risks and benefits of these mystical plants."

""Jaden Smith brings an underground topic to the Table: magic mushrooms! What was once done in secret and thought of as a dangerous drug, top doctors now say may be the miracle treatment for mental health. Jada reveals how plant medicine helped her overcome debilitating depression, GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons shares his "life changing" psychedelic journey, investigative journalist Lisa Ling and her husband, oncologist Paul Song, tell how psychedelics helped their marriage, and best-selling author Harvard Professor, Michael Pollan, breaks down the risks and benefits of these mystical plants."

This is a video from a livestream on February 28, 2023. The description is from Medical Secrets YouTube channel: "What is ketamine and how can it heal anxiety? Can ketamine reduce the need for anxiety meds? Learn how ketamine infusion therapy can give you more control over your health and mood - and hear the answers to your questions LIVE!"

This is a video from a livestream on February 28, 2023. The description is from Medical Secrets YouTube channel: "What is ketamine and how can it heal anxiety? Can ketamine reduce the need for anxiety meds? Learn how ketamine infusion therapy can give you more control over your health and mood - and hear the answers to your questions LIVE!"

From the Wall Street Journal, "Hundreds of clinics specializing in ketamine treatment for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder have popped up in the U.S. in recent years. Some investors are even throwing hundreds of millions of dollars into ketamine startups. How big could the market for psychedelic treatment get?"

This video of a workshop from the MAPS Youtube channel, provides an overview of Psychedelic Medicines, including Iboga, Ketamine, Psilocybin, Ayahuasca, and MDMA

Cost Effective, MAPS, MDMA, Psychotherapy, PTSD, Trauma

This video from MAPS, reviews the research article "The cost-effectiveness of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD" published on October 14, 2020 by: Elliott Marseille James G. Kahn Berra Yazar-Klosinski Rick Doblin Click Here to Read the Article

PTSD, Trauma

"Some service members and others suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have had little relief from traditional anti-depressants used in conjunction with psychotherapy. Now, a recent FDA-approved trial using a psychedelic drug called MDMA - better known by its street name, ecstasy - has shown promising results. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin talks with a former Marine whose two tours in Iraq presaged twelve years of nightmares, panic attacks and failed relationships - and who now finds hope."

MDMA, MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy, MDMA-Assisted Therapy, PTSD

Video and description from ALPS Awareness Lectures on Psychedelic Science  Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), explores how potential FDA, EMA, and global regulatory approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD may contribute to a post-prohibition future.

MDMA, PTSD, Trauma

Video and description from the YouTube channel of ABC10"A retired first responder at a mass shooting 20 years ago says the psychedelic drug MDMA "cured" his PTSD."

EMDR, MDMA, Trauma

Video and description from the How To Academy Mindset YouTube Channel"Bessel van der Kolk is a one of the world's foremost experts on traumatic stress - his global bestseller The Body Keeps The Score showed us that the terror and isolation at the core of trauma literally reshape both brain and body, and demonstrated a new approach to recovery, moving away from standard talking and drug therapies to heal mind, brain and body. In this exclusive conversation with psychotherapist and author of The Invisible Lion, Benjamin Fry, Bessel fuses insights from the cutting-edge of neuroscience with the weight of decades of experience as an active therapist, and discusses how both adults and children can reclaim ownership of their bodies and their lives."

CBT, depression, ketermine

Video from the Ketamine & Related Compounds International Journal Club & Ketamine 2021 - Virtual Conference March 25th-26th 2021 Click Here to Visit this YouTube Channel

adolescents, depression, Ketamine

Ketamine & Related Compounds International Journal Club & Ketamine2021 - Virtual Conference March 25th-26th 2021. Click Here to Visit this YouTube Channel

depression, Ketamine, suicidality, suicide

Video from Ketamine & Related Compounds International Journal Club & Ketamine2021 - Virtual Conference March 25th-26th 2021. Click Here to Visit this YouTube Channel

addiction, MDMA, MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy, MDMA-Assisted Therapy

Video and description from the Charles River Labs YouTube Channel "The mental health epidemic, including substance use disorders and addictions, is a global issue. Innovations in the range of medicines currently used in conjunction with psychotherapy have had little to no progress over the last two decades, however, the use of psychedelic therapy changed this paradigm. With increased preclinical research and clinical trials illustrating the beneficial effects of first-generation psychedelics, a wave of second-generation therapeutics is now emerging. This video features Alisson Feduccia, PhD, neuropharmacologist, psychedelic researcher and educator, and Co-founder of Psychedelic Support and Project New Day."

addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, KAP, Ketamine

From a video by F. Perry Wilson, MD, "Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, has been used recreationally since the 70s. But since 2000, it's therapeutic value in psychiatric illness has been increasingly noted. A new study appearing in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests ketamine may have a role to play in alcohol use disorder."

 Video from Ketamine & Related Compounds International Journal Club & Ketamine2021 - Virtual Conference March 25th-26th 2021.

Cost Effective, MAPS, MDMA, Psychotherapy, PTSD, Study, Trauma

This video, from MAPS, reviews the research article "The cost-effectiveness of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD" published on October 14, 2020 by: Elliott Marseille James G. Kahn Berra Yazar-Klosinski Rick Doblin Click Here to Read the Article

MDMA, MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy, MDMA-Assisted Therapy, PTSD, Trauma

Video and description from ALPS Awareness Lectures on Psychedelic Science Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), explores how potential FDA, EMA, and global regulatory approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD may contribute to a post-prohibition future.

addiction, MDMA, MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy, MDMA-Assisted Therapy

Video and description from the Charles River Labs YouTube Channel"The mental health epidemic, including substance use disorders and addictions, is a global issue. Innovations in the range of medicines currently used in conjunction with psychotherapy have had little to no progress over the last two decades, however, the use of psychedelic therapy changed this paradigm. With increased preclinical research and clinical trials illustrating the beneficial effects of first-generation psychedelics, a wave of second-generation therapeutics is now emerging. This video features Alisson Feduccia, PhD, neuropharmacologist, psychedelic researcher and educator, and Co-founder of Psychedelic Support and Project New Day."

MDMA, MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy, MDMA-Assisted Therapy

Video and description from the Psychotherapy Networker YouTube channel"Psychedelic-assisted therapy is changing the landscape of our field and as more clients experience profound breakthroughs with this unique form of treatment, demand only continues to grow, leaving many scrambling to find the right program for the latest insight and guidance...Join Networker's Clinical Director, Anna Lock, in conversation with Michael Mithoefer, MD, researcher and Senior Medical Director for the world's leading organization on psychedelic research and education on Thursday, January 26 at 3 PM CST!Anna and Dr. Mithoefer will chat about MDMA and psychedelic therapy, their accessibility challenges, as well as what you can expect from his new online course with Networker."

MDMA, MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy, MDMA-Assisted Therapy

Video and description from the Psychotherapy Networker YouTube channel"In the following interview with Networker Senior Writer Lauren Dockett, licensed professional counselor Marcela Ot'alora G. discusses her work in MDMA-assisted therapy."

MDMA, PTSD, Trauma

Video and description from the YouTube channel of ABC10"A retired first responder at a mass shooting 20 years ago says the psychedelic drug MDMA "cured" his PTSD."

Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, TED

Video and description from the TED YouTube Channel"Could psychedelics help us heal from trauma and mental illnesses? Researcher Rick Doblin has spent the past three decades investigating this question, and the results are promising. In this fascinating dive into the science of psychedelics, he explains how drugs like LSD, psilocybin and MDMA affect your brain -- and shows how, when paired with psychotherapy, they could change the way we treat PTSD, depression, substance abuse and more."

Ketamine

"TW: Today we're exploring a topic that may be triggering to some listeners. While ketamine-assisted therapy can be a great option for treating depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and even postpartum depression, this discussion may be triggering if you've struggled with substance use in the past. I want to make sure that everyone is prepared before we dive in -- if there's even a chance that this topic could trigger you, skip it, and we'll reconnect on the next episode.Is ketamine-assisted therapy safe? Can everyone benefit from ketamine treatments? In this episode, Lana talks with Dr. Kate Daly, the Medical Director of Plus by APN. They discuss the combat origins of ketamine therapy, how ketamine has evolved to treat depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, pain, trauma, and more, plus possible side effects and common misconceptions. They clarify the differences between ketamine as a drug of misuse versus therapeutic applications in a clinical environment and share more about the treatment options and what to expect from ketamine-assisted therapy."

Ketamine, Psychiatric

Video from Ketamine & Related Compounds International Journal Club & Ketamine2021 - Virtual Conference March 25th-26th 2021:

Video and description from the VICE News YouTube Channel"PTSD affects millions of Americans, including 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and up to 30% of first responders. Despite this, available treatment is limited, resulting in long-term suffering and, in many cases, suicide. But a new set of trials using MDMA-assisted therapy has achieved remarkable results. VICE's Ben Anderson, who has been covering conflict for almost two decades and was diagnosed himself over a year ago, decided to try the treatment himself."

Video and description from the VICE News YouTube Channel"PTSD affects millions of Americans, including 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and up to 30% of first responders. Despite this, available treatment is limited, resulting in long-term suffering and, in many cases, suicide. But a new set of trials using MDMA-assisted therapy has achieved remarkable results. VICE's Ben Anderson, who has been covering conflict for almost two decades and was diagnosed himself over a year ago, decided to try the treatment himself."

Video from the Medscape YouTube Channel

Video from the Medscape YouTube Channel

This video, from the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology YouTube channel, features Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA. 

This video, from the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology YouTube channel, features Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA. 

Video and description by Medscape, from the Medscape YouTube Channel Three psychiatrists discuss the data and what role the drug has in psychiatry

Video and description by Medscape, from the Medscape YouTube ChannelThree psychiatrists discuss the data and what role the drug has in psychiatry

Video and description from the MedCircle YouTube channelHow does ketamine actually work? In this interview, Dr. Dom explains what you need to know:1. How ketamine works in the brain2. How ketamine works for depression3. Why ketamine has been looked down upon4. Why ketamine is so fast-acting5. Why ketamine works for other mental health disorders

Description and Video by PBS News, from PBS.orgNew uses for psychedelic drugs offer potential breakthroughs for patients with post-traumatic stress, working with trained therapists to guide the experience and open perspectives into a patient's state of mind.

Video and description from the LastWeekTonight YouTube channel"John Oliver discusses psychedelic assisted therapy: its history, its potential, and what it has to do with A$AP Rocky's relationship to rainbows."

Video and description from the GBH News YouTube Channel"The cities of Cambridge and Somerville have taken steps this year toward decriminalizing psychedelics, as some medical experts point to evidence that such substances may provide relief from certain mental health conditions when used under medical direction. Where does the science stand on this? In for Jim Braude, Adam Reilly was joined by Dr. Jerry Rosenbaum, the director of both the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital and the hospital's new Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics; and Bertha Madras, professor of psychobiology at Harvard University, director of McLean Hospital's Laboratory of Addiction Neurobiology, and a former deputy drug czar in the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy."

MDMA, Psychotherapy, PTSD, TEDx Talk, Trauma

"Rethinking the role of psychedelic drugs and how they can help to improve the lives of our country's military personnel and others suffering from PTSD." Description and Video from TEDx Talks

MDMA, Psychotherapy, PTSD, TEDxTalk

"Rethinking the role of psychedelic drugs and how they can help to improve the lives of our country's military personnel and others suffering from PTSD."Description and Video from TEDx Talks

MAPS, MDMA, psilocybin

"Abstract: Highlighting the results of two fMRI studies and one MEG study with psilocybin and an fMRI study with MDMA, Carhart-Harris will report the effects of both drugs on regional brain activity and brain network organization. Additionally, he will report the effects of both drugs on brain and subjective responses to personal autobiographical memory cues. A general theory will be presented on how psychedelics alter brain activity to alter consciousness and the implications of these brain imaging results for therapeutic applications of psychedelics will be discussed.A general theory will be presented on how psychedelics alter brain activity to alter consciousness and the implications of these brain imaging results for therapeutic applications of psychedelics will be discussed.Robin Carhart-Harris completed his doctorate in psychopharmacology at the University of Bristol in 2009 after which he moved to Imperial College London to continue his fMRI research with the classic psychedelic drug psilocybin. In the last few years, Carhart-Harris & Professor David Nutt have built up a programme of research with psychedelics that includes fMRI and MEG imaging with psilocybin, fMRI with MDMA and soon an MRC-sponsored clinical trial to assess the efficacy of psilocybin as a treatment for major depression. Carhart-Harris has a review article published in Brain on the neurobiology of Freudian constructs and his work with psilocybin is now published in PNAS, the British Journal of Psychiatry, and Schizophrenia Bulletin. Carhart-Harris has been supported by the Beckley Foundation, the Neuropsychoanalysis Foundation, the Heffter Foundation, and MAPS." Video and description from MAPS Youtube Channel. Video from the 2013 Psychedelic Science Conference 

MAPS, MDMA, psilocybin

"Abstract: Highlighting the results of two fMRI studies and one MEG study with psilocybin and an fMRI study with MDMA, Carhart-Harris will report the effects of both drugs on regional brain activity and brain network organization. Additionally, he will report the effects of both drugs on brain and subjective responses to personal autobiographical memory cues. A general theory will be presented on how psychedelics alter brain activity to alter consciousness and the implications of these brain imaging results for therapeutic applications of psychedelics will be discussed.A general theory will be presented on how psychedelics alter brain activity to alter consciousness and the implications of these brain imaging results for therapeutic applications of psychedelics will be discussed.Robin Carhart-Harris completed his doctorate in psychopharmacology at the University of Bristol in 2009 after which he moved to Imperial College London to continue his fMRI research with the classic psychedelic drug psilocybin. In the last few years, Carhart-Harris & Professor David Nutt have built up a programme of research with psychedelics that includes fMRI and MEG imaging with psilocybin, fMRI with MDMA and soon an MRC-sponsored clinical trial to assess the efficacy of psilocybin as a treatment for major depression. Carhart-Harris has a review article published in Brain on the neurobiology of Freudian constructs and his work with psilocybin is now published in PNAS, the British Journal of Psychiatry, and Schizophrenia Bulletin. Carhart-Harris has been supported by the Beckley Foundation, the Neuropsychoanalysis Foundation, the Heffter Foundation, and MAPS." Video and description from MAPS Youtube Channel. Video from the 2013 Psychedelic Science Conference 

Description and Video From MAPS, from the Psychedelic Science Summit: Austin, Texas (November 1-3, 2019)Speakers: Andrea Turnipseed, LCSW-S, and Brent Turnipseed, M.D."Ketamine is a controversial yet effective treatment in psychiatry, and it arrives at a much needed time as depression and suicide rates have reached crisis levels in the United States. Learn about the origins of ketamine in medicine and how it has become one of the hottest topics today in mental health. Andrea Turnipseed, LCSW-S, has training and background in adult mental health. She has worked with clients in acute inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings, facilitating both group and individual therapy. She has a particular interest in working with individuals who experience mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. She also helps clients through various life challenges such as grief and loss, relationship issues, parenting, and school and career stress. Andrea assesses each individual to guide the direction of therapy. Andrea has been formally trained in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and she also utilizes techniques from psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral (CBT), acceptance and commitment (ACT), solution-focused, and strengths-based therapy models to help identify the resources within the client to move past negative thoughts and behaviors. Andrea provides a non-judgmental space for clients to share events and difficulties. She asks questions and makes observations to help elicit positive change and growth. As Executive Director, Andrea is responsible for the overall health and well-being of Roots Behavioral Health. Brent Turnipseed, M.D., is a co-founder and the Medical Director of Roots Behavioral Health. He is an affiliate member of the Center for Transformational Psychotherapy, and a trainer for the Ketamine Training Center. He lectures, researches, and teaches frequently on therapeutic uses of ketamine."

depression, mushrooms, psilobybin

"A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that psychedelic mushrooms could be used to help treat depression symptoms. Dr. Scott Aaronson, one of the study's authors, and the chief science officer at the Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics at Sheppard Pratt, joined Weijia Jiang to discuss the results."

depression, mushrooms, psilocybin

"A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that psychedelic mushrooms could be used to help treat depression symptoms. Dr. Scott Aaronson, one of the study's authors, and the chief science officer at the Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics at Sheppard Pratt, joined Weijia Jiang to discuss the results."

addiction

Two doses of psilocybin pills, along with psychotherapy, helped people with alcohol use disorder reduce drinking for at least eight months after their first treatments, results from the largest clinical trial of its kind show. The theory is that psilocybin makes the brain more malleable. NBC News' Harry Smith spoke with a few people who participated in the study about their experience.