Description
Book SynopsisThere is substantial contemporary interest in psychedelic agents as medicines for maladies of the mind. This follows research in the 1950s and 1960s exploring the use of LSD and other psychedelics to treat a range of psychiatric illnesses as well as addictions. This research was shut down after prohibition of these drugs, however the last decade has seen a major renewal of interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics and related drugs in psychiatry. Psilocybin (found in ''magic mushrooms'') has been used effectively for amelioration of distress in people with depression/anxiety in the context of potentially life-ending cancers, as well as for treatment-resistant depression and also addictions. MDMA (''ecstasy'') has shown efficacy for severe post-traumatic stress disorder, with enduring benefit. Other psychedelics, both plant-derived (e.g., ayahuasca) and synthetically produced (e.g., LSD) are also being investigated for their potential therapeutic value. These agents not only heral
Table of ContentsIshrat Husain and Chase Thompson: 1. Historical Overview Laurie Highbed and Ben Sessa: 2. The psychotherapeutic component of psychedelic medicine (includes set, setting, anticipation, expectancy, preparation, integration) David Erritzoe and James Rucker: 3. Psilocybin Michael Mithoefer and David Presti: 4. MDMA Mihai Avram, Felix Müller and Stefan Borgwardt: 5. Lysergic Acid Diethylamid: In Search of the Wonder Drug Daniel Perkins, Simon Ruffell, and Jerome Sarris: 6. Ayahuasca Deborah Mash: 7. Ibogaine James Linden and Daniel Robin: 8. Other psychedelics Joshua Di Vincenzo, Joshua Rosenblat and Roger McIntyre: 9. Ketamine Jo Neil, Mohammed Shahid, Rosalind Gittins, Anne K Schalg and Frank I Tarazi: 10. Risks and side effects associated with the use of psychedelics David Castle, David Nutt and Nicole Ledwos: 11. Psychedelics as psychiatric medicines: current challenges and future prospects
