Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is an area of great research interest, widespread media coverage and increasingly also financial dimensions. In this episode, we discuss psychedelic research and everything related to it with Dr. Sandeep Nayak.
Dr. Nayak is assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research where he studies treating psychiatric disorders with psilocybin-assisted therapy. He also works as a clinical psychiatrist at Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
Episode timestamps:
00.00 A brief history of psychedelic research
7.40 Where the funding is coming from
10.10 Psychedelic-assisted therapy in practice
20.55 “Bad trips” and mystical experiences
27.39 Scientific results so far
38.13 Non-specific effects, relationship effects and placebo
44.43 Implementation in regular clinical practice
46.22 Risks and harms
55.45 Financial incentives and hype effects
1.01.45 Expected timeline for FDA approval
Related materials:
Johns Hopkins - Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression
MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study
Psychedelics, placebo effects, and set and setting: Insights from common factors theory of psychotherapy
New York Magazine: Cover Story (Podcast)