Psychedelics News January 2021

Studies with psychedelics are continuing into this new year. A trend seen this month is the further cooperation between the ‘big’ corporates and research centers and universities. From Field Trip and MAPS, to MindMed and Maastricht University, the ties continue to grow stronger. A positive of this is, of course, the increased funding for psychedelic research. Valid concerns can be made around publication bias, the direction of the research, and integrity of the research. Time will tell how things will turn out.

NGOs also kept advancing the decriminalization efforts with the Oregon law going into effect as of February 1, 2021. In Florida, Somerville, and other places, laws are being proposed and passed that will hopefully help psychedelics become more accepted and destigmatized.

First Week of January

Research

A randomized control trial finds that repeated infusions of ketamine can be an effective treatment for PTSD. The study, as many others with ketamine, did find that the response faded (on average) within a month. Ketamine is proving to be effective (and safe), but currently not with months-long effects.

Several different measures of the psychedelic experience are out there. The most famous of them being the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ). A new study by Alan Davis and colleagues presents and validates a new metric, the Psychological Insight Questionnaire (PIQ). The PIQ consists of two subscales, that identify both negative (avoidance and maladaptive) and positive (goals and adaptive) patterns of thought.

NGOs and Advocacy

MAPS has partnered with Field Trip and will use its location in a trial (Phase II) for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for eating disorders (ED). This marks another moment where NGOs and for-profit companies (start-ups) are working together to advance science.

Corporate Corner

A similar trend is being followed by Compass Pathways which has partnered with the non-profit Sheppard Pratt (care services). Together they will establish a ‘Centre of Excellence’ where they will research the best way to administer their patented version of psilocybin-assisted therapy.

More News/Links

• Big pharma is about to tune in to the potential of psychedelics (WIRED)
  • Predictions about the coming embrace of psychedelics by big pharma
  • Imperial College London will develop a harm-reduction app called MyDelica
  • By Robin Carhart-Harris
• Will psychedelic mushroom vacations come to the U. S.? (Washington Post)
  • Expose on psychedelic tourism (Jamaica, The Netherlands) with some background info on the therapeutic potential
• The Rise of Psychedelic Capitalism (YouTube/Rebel Wisdom)
  • Documentary with interviews with Rosalind Watts and others

Second & Third Week of January

Research

A meta-analytical review (our analysis) by Nicole Galvão-Coelho and colleagues looked at 12 RCT-studies that used psychedelics for mood disorders. The study found that in both the short (6h to 1d) and long term (up to 60d) they had a positive effect on those suffering from mood disorders.

Kim Kuypers (Maastricht University) will partner with MindMed on probably the most rigorous evaluation of LSD microdosing. The study will combine both self-report measures and a variety more objective data points like cognitive tests and sleep markers.

A prospective survey study (n=81, our analysis) by Laura Kaertner and colleagues at Imperial College London, found that expectancy effects were predictive of microdosing outcomes on reductions in state anxiety, depressive symptoms (at 4-week endpoint), and positive outcomes (e.g. psychological resilience, -connectedness, -flexibility).

An open-label study (n=23, our analysis) found that a long (96 hours (4 days)) infusion of ketamine (10mg/70kg/h up to 42mg/70kg/h) significantly improved depressive symptoms (MADRS) for those suffering from treatment-resistant depression. This effect held up to two weeks later, something not usually seen with ketamine studies for depression.

NGOs and Advocacy

The decriminalization of psychedelics keeps gathering steam. A Florida state lawmaker plans to introduce a bill that will follow the framework (Measure 109) that passed in Oregon. This would allow therapists to use psychedelics as a tool in treating mental health conditions.

On the city-level there was also good news with the decriminalization of psychedelics in Somerville.

Corporate Corner

The first psychedelic stock basket (ETF – Exchange-traded fund) of psychedelic stocks is expected to go live on the 26th of January 2021. The service is provided by Horizons (not the conference) which provides many other ETFs in Canada.

More News/Links

• Reaction to Thematic journal Psychedelics (Dutch, Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie)
  • Reaction to recent thematic journal, some very valid critiques (corporate interests, placebo effects)
• Psychedelic Illusions are Not Pathological, and May Even Help You See Better (Chacruna)
  • Overview of some of the models we use to explain the effects of psychedelics and why they can be useful
• Psychedelic Bulletin: Psychedelics Companies Embrace Tech; MindMed to Study LSD Microdosing; UFC Eyes Psychedelics (Psilocybin Alpha)
  • Round-up of psychedelic news of the last week, focus on business
• Engineering Psychoplastogens: Toward a Safer Alternative for Treating Depression (Psychedelic Science Review)
  • Expose on the development of isoDMT analogs that do provide the option of neuronal plasticity without psychedelic effects
  • (this page broke in February 2021, the link is for the Wayback Machine)
• How to Benefit from Psychedelics Without Even Taking Them (Psychology Today)
  • Very pop-sci and not really well written, not sure if this type of coverage helps or hurts
• ‘Magic mushrooms’ grow in man’s blood after injection with shroom tea (Live Science)
  • Not more attention is needed than already (50+ articles) given, but don’t do stupid things like this
• Psychedelic Therapy Schools Are Popping Up Like Mushrooms (Bloomberg – soft-paywall)
  • Overview of psychedelic courses like those from MAPS and Fluence, with commentary from Julie Holland

Fourth Week of January

Research

We have just released our research overview for 2020. Here we look back at all the research published last year and highlight 10 papers that stood out.

A prospective survey study (n=886, analysis) of those participating in a psychedelic ceremony found that positive interpersonal experiences (including personal sharing) correlated with positive outcomes (psychological wellbeing & social connectedness).

The positive subjective and behavioral effects (e.g. mindfulness) observed after taking psychedelics have yet to be found in the brain (changes). A new fMRI study (analysis) did find a change one week later in the executive control network. This activity in this network was decreased, which correlated with the three-month mindfulness scores of the participants (n=10).

NGOs and Advocacy

Decriminalization is moving forward and the Oregon decriminalization law has gone into effect as of today. Measure 110 puts the focus on recovery from addiction and removes fines for drug possession (among other things).

Corporate Corner

atai (now with lowercase letters) has started a collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital. In the ‘Center for Neuroscience of Psychedelics,’ the two heavyweights aim to better understand how psychedelics enable (positive) cognitive and behavioral change and how to develop new drugs.

More News/Links

• How ecstasy and psilocybin are shaking up psychiatry (Nature – News Feature)
• Psychedelics as Antidepressants (Scientific American)
• New Toad Venom Compound Synthesized for Clinical Use: 5-MeO-DMT Succinate (Psychedelic Science Review)
  • Good article about Sherwood et al., (2020) who synthesized 5-MeO-DMT (vs getting it from a quickly-becoming-extinct toad)
  • Also see Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia Season 3 episode 2
• Who Gets to Give? The Debate Around Credentialing Psilocybin Clinicians (Akarash Pasricha on Medium)
  • Discussion on what level of training is needed for psychedelic therapists (or guides)