Category: Uncategorized

Dr. Rachel Yehuda, a trauma specialist extraordinaire, is at the forefront of groundbreaking research that might just make you question if we’re living in a sci-fi movie. She’s diving deep into the world of MDMA-assisted therapy, which, for those not in the know, is essentially giving veterans with PTSD a prescription for a clinically controlled rave. Her mission? To help these brave souls dance away their trauma with the assistance of what was once just a party drug. Dr. Yehuda’s work is shining a glittery spotlight on a potentially revolutionary treatment, bringing hope and a touch of sparkle to the field of mental health. If her research pans out, the future of PTSD treatment could look a lot more like Coachella with lab coats.

Reference: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/gma3/video/effort-make-mdma-veterans-suffering-ptsd-symptoms-113812121

Published Date: None

Psychedelics are having their glow-up as the next big thing in therapy, offering groovy solutions for mental and physical health issues. Leading the charge in the UK is the Psychedelic Industry UK (PsyIndUK), the nation’s first official club for all things trippy and therapeutic. Strap in, because this industry is about to take us on an enlightening ride!

Reference: https://psyinduk.squarespace.com/

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Psychedelics in psychiatry are like a rollercoaster ride—promising highs and frustrating lows. Studies show potential for treating psychiatric disorders with psychedelics, but the FDA isn’t quite ready to party, especially with MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Enter John Krystal, MD, the ketamine king, who’s all about its antidepressant magic. He co-founded Freedom Biosciences to supercharge ketamine’s benefits and cook up non-hallucinatory treatments, because who needs a trip when you just want to feel better?

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) patients have a new hope: esketamine, which is basically ketamine’s cooler sibling. Forget the old-school electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) that’s harder to get than a unicorn sighting; esketamine is making waves in “Interventional Psychiatry,” boosting prescriptions and easing accessibility.

Psilocybin and MDMA are the underdogs waiting for FDA’s nod. Psilocybin might soon get the green light for major depression, and MDMA is eyeing PTSD with fingers crossed. Researchers are also diving into psychedelics for PTSD, migraines, and substance use disorders, all aiming for effective depression and TRD treatments. However, these psychedelic adventures can sometimes turn into a bad trip. MDMA, the empathetic party-goer of the bunch, is still gathering data to impress the FDA.

So, the world of psychedelics in psychiatry is full of hope, innovation, and a dash of trippy experiences, but with a cautious eye on safety and efficacy. Stay tuned for more twists and turns on this psychedelic ride!

Reference: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/john-krystal-md-exploring-the-future-of-ketamine-and-psychedelic-treatment

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Portland’s got a new mission: let the mushroom lovers be! Advocates are cooking up a 2026 ballot initiative to protect folks dabbling in non-toxic, non-addictive plant- or mushroom-based psychedelics from getting cuffed. The plan is to remind everyone that psychedelics have deep roots in healing and personal growth—sort of like how your grandma swears by her secret soup recipe. This initiative aims to make cops chill out about these substances and stop using city resources to bust users. It’s clear, though—no shroom-selling allowed! A Psychedelics Advisory Commission would also be born from this initiative, probably to keep things groovy and orderly. The Portland Psychedelic Society is gearing up to unveil this brainchild at a symposium and will kick off the signature hunt next year. So, get ready, Portland, the psychedelic revolution might just be coming to a ballot near you!

Reference: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2024/09/psychedelics-group-wants-to-protect-portland-users-of-mushrooms-other-drugs-from-cops.html

Published Date: 2024-09-18

The FDA told Lykos Therapeutics to take a hike after rejecting their MDMA-based PTSD treatment, mainly because it wasn’t effective enough and had too many risks. This decision came after looking at data from the MAPP1 and MAPP2 trials, which studied 221 PTSD patients. Though the trials hit their main goals, the FDA committee wanted better risk details and suggested beefing up trial staff and data collection.

Lykos’s troubles didn’t end there: study blinding issues led to their MDMA being nixed, prompting the FDA to demand another Phase III trial. This blow resulted in Lykos cutting 75% of its workforce and several execs jumping ship. Despite this, experts still see potential in MDMA and psychedelics for therapy, with companies like Emyria, AWAKN, and Transcend in Phase II trials.

Amid these woes, MindMed’s CMO, Dr. Dan Karlin, is upbeat. He believes their approach, focusing on drug treatment without the trippy therapy sessions, will dodge the pitfalls that snared Lykos. MindMed’s MM-402 drug aims to keep things neutral and reliable, with Karlin eyeing FDA approval and noting increasing interest from veterans’ groups.

Meanwhile, Dr. Aron Tendler of GrayMatters Health is optimistic about teaming up with psychedelics to boost PTSD treatment, stressing the urgent need for new solutions due to the mental health crisis in the West. So, while Lykos is licking its wounds, the psychedelic therapy field is still buzzing with hope and potential breakthroughs.

Reference: https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/after-the-lykos-debacle-whats-next-for-psychedelic-therapies/

Published Date: 2024-09-16

Aldous Huxley, the legendary author of “Brave New World,” decided to go out with a bang—or rather, a trip—by requesting LSD on his deathbed on November 22, 1963. Talk about a far-out farewell! Huxley’s psychedelic send-off helped him embrace the great beyond with a serene smile. Groovy, right?

Turns out, Huxley might’ve been onto something. Research is now showing that psychedelics like magic mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA aren’t just party favors—they could actually be therapeutic lifesavers. Christopher Boehlke from University Hospital Basel is leading the charge, reviewing studies that indicate these mind-bending substances can significantly reduce anxiety, depression, and existential dread in terminally ill patients.

So, while Huxley took his final voyage on a wave of LSD, modern science is exploring how these trippy treatments could help others find peace when facing the end. Groovy and groundbreaking!

Reference: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/pyschedelics-can-help-the-dying-to-deal-with-existential-dread-jrqc80fzt

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Endpoints subscribers can ditch their password post-it notes and opt for a one-time use magic link by entering their email. This abracadabra login method is quick, easy, and perfect for those with a chronic case of password amnesia. But be warned, the magic fizzles out after 24 hours, so don’t let your inbox become the Bermuda Triangle!

Reference: https://endpts.com/bad-trip-how-culture-conflict-and-a-need-for-cash-nearly-broke-lykos/

Published Date: None

Drug Science and University College London (UCL) are joining forces to dive into the mysterious world of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, aiming to decode the “psychotherapeutic component” that’s as elusive as a cat in a magician’s hat. The duo is set to start their magical journey in 2025, tinkering with therapeutic techniques to pinpoint what makes MDMA-assisted therapy tick.

Despite MDMA-assisted therapy showing up to clinical trials with shiny results and even getting a breakthrough therapy shoutout from the FDA, the FDA recently swiped left. Their reasons? A combo of regulation woes, issues with blinding, fears of MDMA being misused, therapist training headaches, and a big question mark over long-term benefits.

Drug Science, an independent UK charity that’s like Sherlock Holmes for unbiased drug research, is running experiments to see what happens when psychotherapists take MDMA. They’re hoping to crack the psychological code of MDMA and polish its therapeutic charm to meet those pesky regulatory standards.

UCL, the Hogwarts of universities with its vast and diverse student body, is bringing its multidisciplinary magic to the table. Together, they’re gearing up to turn MDMA-assisted therapy from a controversial cocktail into a finely-tuned potion of healing.

For more details, you can summon James Bunn (no invisibility cloak required).

Reference: https://www.drugscience.org.uk/uclmdma

Published Date: 2024-09-02