We need more research on the parameters of psychedelic therapy as my lab discussed in this paper: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00187 . How are sessions best conducted (music, amount of prep, how much talking during session if any), what is the “afterglow” and if it is a time of increased flexibility how can we use it to maximize learning? Optimal number of sessions? Optimal doses? Combinations of compounds both within and across sessions? Combinations with empirically validated behavioral therapies? Which behavioral therapy combo works best for what disorder? New psychiatric disorders to be explored, whether currently recognized by the DSM or not. And we have hundreds of psychedelic compounds that all need to be explored in clinical research. Do the multiplication regarding the interaction among these domains and there are likely more directions for research than there are stars in the universe.
As mentioned earlier, training up facilitators is key. I also think we need more basic science to understand the brain mechanisms involved. Most research is focused on treating new disorders, which is important, but there’s not much on HOW psychedelics work—neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, anti-inflammatory effects, potential to re-open critical periods of development, etc. This work will lead to new treatment for new indications eventually. It will also shed light on what consciousness is. There is a young generation of neuroscientists eager to do this work, but as yet, traditional funding sources are not available to study psychedelics, which is why private philanthropy can have an outsized effect here.
Within the field of psychedelics, where do you think additional action is most urgent, and why?
We need more research on the parameters of psychedelic therapy as my lab discussed in this paper: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00187 . How are sessions best conducted (music, amount of prep, how much talking during session if any), what is the “afterglow” and if it is a time of increased flexibility how can we use it to maximize learning? Optimal number of sessions? Optimal doses? Combinations of compounds both within and across sessions? Combinations with empirically validated behavioral therapies? Which behavioral therapy combo works best for what disorder? New psychiatric disorders to be explored, whether currently recognized by the DSM or not. And we have hundreds of psychedelic compounds that all need to be explored in clinical research. Do the multiplication regarding the interaction among these domains and there are likely more directions for research than there are stars in the universe.
As mentioned earlier, training up facilitators is key. I also think we need more basic science to understand the brain mechanisms involved. Most research is focused on treating new disorders, which is important, but there’s not much on HOW psychedelics work—neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, anti-inflammatory effects, potential to re-open critical periods of development, etc. This work will lead to new treatment for new indications eventually. It will also shed light on what consciousness is. There is a young generation of neuroscientists eager to do this work, but as yet, traditional funding sources are not available to study psychedelics, which is why private philanthropy can have an outsized effect here.