Psychedelics and Mental Health

I was recently asked about a piece on psychedelics from the television show, “Last Week Tonight.” The host, John Oliver, did a great job talking about the complicated history around these chemicals in a therapeutic setting. For example, there are places where psychedelics have been considered an integral part of a community (ex: spiritual practices), political policies that have shaped their use, fabricated research used to promote a given stance, and active campaigns to scare people away. So, what do we make of all this?

While I am no expert in this area, I have an opinion (probably a surprise to no one). In the field of psychiatry and psychology, there is definitely growing openness to this form of treatment. Efforts are underway to determine efficacy, particularly in the ability to create relief for those suffering from PTSD. The Daily just aired a podcast that featured a veteran who was haunted by the symptoms of PTSD until she received psychedelic treatment. After her experience, she has become a passionate advocate, hoping more people will find relief.

I look forward to hearing more about the psychological benefits and the sense of calm that some have reported. It will be fascinating to learn about the biological impacts of treatment, established through measurements like brain scans and neurological testing. If research points to noticeable changes in turning off the fight-or-flight response and addressing the structural changes trauma creates, it will show psychedelics to be a potent option for enduring change. Meanwhile, I remain cautious. Here are a few reasons:

  • There are training programs that certify therapists in this area. Therapists are not medical providers. Comprehensive coursework around the complexities of biochemistry is not part of a counseling program.  We have no ability to assess contra-indicators such as the way psychedelics mix with other medications/drugs or how physical health issues like brain injuries/heart conditions/hypertension could be impacted.  I also wonder how therapists are instructed to handle a bad experience. There are no guarantees this treatment will create the healing we hope for. It is important to make damn sure we know the right conditions to promote a positive experience and how to handle a situation should the trip go to unintended places.
  • It is important to allow a body of research to emerge that demonstrates statistically significant trends. In undergrad, there was literally a requirement to be a subject of some professor’s research project. I can only imagine what conclusions were drawn based on a bunch of privileged, white, 19-year-olds. Yikes! Good research should include exploring a variety of groupings such as sex, race, age, physical size, diagnoses, etc. That will take some time and careful parameters.
  • The treatment has not been approved on a state or national level so there is no mandated, formal protocol. A client experiences a high degree of vulnerability and suggestibility during a trip. John Oliver’s piece mentions a two-person support team, but this is not a standard by any means. I personally know two clinicians who provide this treatment in a one-on-one setting. While I know there are upstanding ethical providers, it is incredibly risky to rely on trust alone.

Although I am excited about the potential benefits, there is a lot of work ahead before this would be a treatment I would recommend. Even though people have access to psychedelics for recreational use and even though it has been used for mystical/transcendental experiences, turning this into a recognized treatment for mental health issues is not a step that should be lightly taken. Scientific research coupled with safe and ethical practices must be our priority when helping people overcome incredible challenges and pain. I stand with the APA on this one:

Sources

Privacy Settings
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
Save