Is Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Right for Me?
Authors: Ryan Shinazy & Cole Butler, MACP
(5-minute read)
An individual talks with a professional to learn more about treatment options
Introduction
In previous blog posts we covered The Emerging World of Psychedelic Therapies, as well as How to find Legal Psychedelic Therapy Near You. Now you might be wondering, “Am I a good fit for psychedelic-assisted therapy?” Or even, “Who is a good fit for psychedelic-assisted therapy?” This brief timeline of highlights in the field of psychedelic research may be able to provide these answers. The timeline shows what conditions have been studied, which should help to illuminate what conditions psychedelics might be effective treatments for.
Among the revolutionary research teams pushing the field of psychedelic studies forward, two organizations stand out as leaders. The first is the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), founded by Rick Doblin Ph.D., and the other is Johns Hopkins’ Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research (CPCR). At Johns Hopkins, Dr. Roland Griffiths pioneered psychedelic research until his recent death in 2023. Together, these organizations have paved the way for psychedelic research. Researchers are still uncovering the right conditions by which psychedelic-assisted therapy can be helpful, but some of the studies we will examine start to show us who might be a good fit for psychedelic-assisted therapy!
Timeline
The following is a timeline of key developments in psychedelic-assisted therapy research:
2004: MAPS starts clinical trials led by Amy Emerson with the goal of studying the effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD patients.
2006: Roland Griffith and colleagues uncover how when psilocybin mushrooms are administered in a safe and supportive setting, psilocybin can generate an encounter similar to a mystical experience. Psilocybin’s ability to elicit such mystical experiences was seen to have substantial meaning to the individuals including spiritual significance, and sustained positive changes in their moods, attitudes, and behaviors.
2014: Johns Hopkins researchers discovered that psychedelic mushrooms, commonly known as “magic mushrooms” helped lifelong smokers finally quit the addiction.
2016: A Johns Hopkins study revealed that psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, helped ease existential anxiety in people facing life threatening terminal cancer.
2019: A Johns Hopkins online survey reported psychedelic use may lead to treatment for alcohol abuse. People with Alcohol Use Disorder self-reported abstaining from alcohol use after taking psychedelics.
2020: Johns Hopkins performed brain scans which showed the psychedelic compound psilocybin reduced participant’s sense of self or brain’s ego, leading to feelings of being connected to everything.
2020: Johns Hopkins researchers reported that two doses of the psychedelic substance psilocybin provided reductions in self-reported symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder when paired with supportive psychotherapy.
2022: Further research by Johns Hopkins CPCR showed additional support for psilocybin treatment providing antidepressant effects for people suffering from Major Depressive Disorder, with effects lasting up to one year.
2023: MAPS publishes phase 3 trials for the research on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Results showed significantly improved PTSD symptoms compared to the placebo group over 18 weeks showing high efficacy for this treatment method.
2024: MAPS, as a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), achieves a new height by submitting the first New Drug Application (NDA) for psychedelic-assisted therapy to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Future Research
Additionally, upcoming research trials by Johns Hopkins CPCR plan to determine the effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating a host of concerns ranging from mental health conditions to bodily and cognitive conditions. Specifically, their future research plans to test efficacy of psilocybin therapy as treatment for PTSD, anorexia nervosa, opioid addiction, alcohol abuse in people with major depression, and even potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (formerly known as chronic Lyme disease).
It’s important to note that the research is still developing, and has only recently surged in growth. While other research teams contribute to the literature, we will develop a deeper understanding of who psychedelic-assisted therapy is right for. Hopefully, the studies mentioned help you understand where this therapy might be helpful.
Conclusion
In summary, based on the current research from MAPS and Johns Hopkins CPCR, psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown efficacy in a broad range of treatments. Though it exists in a slightly different realm, early studies with MDMA-assisted therapy laid the groundwork for later psychedelic-assisted therapies by testing the effectiveness of PTSD. Later research evolved to show psychedelic-assisted therapy as a successful treatment option for addiction, such as in the case of smoking addiction and alcohol use disorder.
Further waves were created in the psychedelic treatment movement when it was discovered that a mystical experience brought about from a single dose of the psychedelic substance psilocybin was able to reduce the anxiety of patients facing terminal cancer diagnoses. Similarly, a single psychedelic-assisted therapy session was shown to have protective effects lasting up to a whole year for patients with previously unmanageable major depressive disorder.
So, whether you are facing the prospect of your own mortality, or need assistance facing living, psychedelic-assisted therapy may be the avenue to give you a new perspective on the landscape ahead.
Disclaimer
The intention of this blog post is strictly for informational purposes and should not be taken as medical advice. It is always best to speak with your doctor, psychiatrist, or another medical professional before considering if psychedelic-assisted therapy is truly right for you. There are specific populations of people who psychedelic medicines may not be good for, such as people with a family history of severe psychiatric disorders including a predisposition to psychosis, and schizophrenia. That is why it is best to check with your doctor before taking psychedelic medicine. The authors do not condone the illegal usage of substances, including psychedelic substances.
About the Author:
Ryan Shinazy
Ryan Shinazy is an Intern at Integrative Care Collective PBC. He is an Honors Student in Psychology at University of Northern Colorado (UNC). He is currently a Senior with a 4.0/4.0 GPA. He is currently working on developing his honors thesis under Dr. James Kole, entitled: Understanding Loneliness in the Digital Age: Implications of Social Media Use. He plans to get his Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UNC. As ICC PBC’s Intern, he is responsible for content production, including SEO-optimized blog posts and social media content.
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