Comment: In the past few years there has been renewed interest and research in the role that psychedelics may have in the treatment of a number of mental health conditions. This article from Scientific American looks at the future role of psychedelics as a treatment for depression. For those interested in this topic there are many resources at Mind Medicine Australia A link is at the end of this post.
Remember: Please do not experiment with your own mental health by using psychedelics – if you have mental health concerns consult a doctor or psychologist.
…Chemicals such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) are more accurately called “serotonergic psychedelics” among the neuroscience community. Outside of this group however, many people don’t think of these compounds as antidepressants to be distributed by white-coat-wearing psychiatrists. Instead, they imagine whimsical blotter papers passed around by washed-up hippies at Grateful Dead concerts.
And yet, researchers in the U.K. have already been given the green light to begin clinical trials for using DMT for treating depression.
To a neuroscientist whose focus is the striatum, a brain area involved in complex conditions ranging from depression to addiction, it’s evident that these drugs have tremendous promise for a safe, happier future.
Many states are looking to reevaluate the legal status of psychedelics. This is a start at improving the public perception of psychedelic use, which can ultimately encourage more to seek psychedelic therapy in psychiatric practice…