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Psychedelics for Treating Mental Disorders | Dr. Matthew Johnson — Whalespan

Content›Video›Psychedelics for Treating Me…

Psychedelics for Treating Mental Disorders | Dr. Matthew Johnson

Andrew Huberman2h 52m · 2021-09-20

Support Rate

61%

169 of 278 claims supported

Support rate

169 of 278 claims supported

169 supported109 partial / not

Claims from this content

180

✓Well SupportedAthletic Greens is a drink containing vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and adaptogens designed to meet foundational nutritional needs and aid recovery from stress.✓Well SupportedInside Tracker analyzes blood and DNA data to provide personalized nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle recommendations for optimizing health markers.✓Well SupportedMDMA's specific effect on social interactions provides a clue for understanding empathy.✓Well SupportedDevelopmental plasticity is highest between ages 0-25, after which rewiring the brain requires more intention and effort.✓Well SupportedRegular blood work and DNA tests are essential for understanding one's health status and informing decisions about immediate and long-term health.

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✓Well SupportedPsychedelics like LSD and psilocybin augment serotonin and have shown impressive results in clinical trials for relieving major depression.

✕Not SupportedThere is no evidence that microdosing psilocybin increases creativity, enhances cognition, or provides sustained mood improvement.

✓Well SupportedReplacing sandwiches with salads and a small piece of meat, while still consuming carbohydrates at night, can improve alertness.

✓Well SupportedMDMA enhances the potency of therapy within a limited number of sessions.

✓Well SupportedVitamin D3 K2 is important for metabolic health, endocrine health, and heart health, with K2 regulating calcium in bones.

✓Well SupportedSingle or two sessions of 25-30mg psilocybin treatment are effective for long-lasting depression relief.

✓Well SupportedPsilocybin shows therapeutic potential for depression, MDMA for PTSD, and psychedelics for substance abuse.

✓Well SupportedMDMA's pro-social effects are mediated by serotonin release in the nucleus accumbens via serotonin 1B receptor activation.

✓Well SupportedMeat from animals raised on regenerative farms, living 24-40 months before slaughter, is more nutrient-dense than meat from factory-farmed animals living 14-16 months.

◐Partially SupportedMicrodosing psilocybin involves taking approximately one-tenth of a standard psychedelic dose, such as 1 milligram of psilocybin or a quarter to half a gram of mushrooms.

✓Well SupportedApproximately one-third of individuals may experience a 'bad trip' during a 30mg psilocybin experience.

✓Well SupportedPsychedelics may promote neuroplasticity, potentially contributing to improved outcomes in psychiatric treatments and repair of brain injury from repetitive head impacts.

◐Partially SupportedIntense psychedelic experiences can include sensations of dying or extreme cardiovascular events like a racing heart.

◐Partially SupportedSalvinorin, derived from Salvia Divinorum, is a potent, non-nitrogen-containing diterpene hallucinogen that interacts with kappa opioid receptors.

◐Partially SupportedAndrew Huberman eats meat about once a day, typically for lunch or breakfast, and prefers high-quality, humanely raised meat.

◐Partially SupportedA dose of 100 micrograms of LSD is considered a macrodose, not a microdose.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA can act as a powerful anti-trauma mechanism when used clinically.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic experiences can lead to a realization of personal agency and empowerment.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics are more efficacious and safer when administered within medical models.

◐Partially SupportedResearch is planned to investigate if psychedelics can help retired UFC athletes with depression from head impacts, and improve cognitive function and gray matter volume.

◐Partially SupportedHigh doses of psychedelics may produce improvements in depression and addiction lasting months to over a year.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin is a tryptamine that closely resembles serotonin.

◐Partially SupportedDr. Matthew Johnson has been instrumental in securing funding and establishing clinical trials for psychedelic research.

✓Well SupportedClinical trials for psychedelics include screening for disqualifying conditions such as psychotic disorders and cardiovascular issues.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics are a powerful tool for changing brain circuitry through experience.

◐Partially SupportedThere are 74 NIH-funded clinical trials of psilocybin currently underway for a wide range of conditions.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals seeking to participate in clinical trials should use the designated portal on the Hopkins Psychedelic Research website.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin received FDA 'breakthrough status' approximately five years ago, increasing clinical trials for mood and addictive disorders.

◐Partially SupportedThe resolution of PTSD symptoms can occur after exposure to substances like MDMA or psilocybin.

✕Not SupportedStudies on microdosing psilocybin have found no effect or slight impairment in time estimation and production tasks.

◐Partially SupportedA therapeutic model for psilocybin use involves preparation where the person feels comfortable with their guides, and allowing all emotional responses.

◐Partially SupportedAllowing a psychedelic experience to unfold, rather than constraining it, is clinically important.

◐Partially SupportedFederally funded research grants now require studies to include both males and females of the species being studied to receive and continue funding.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals should wait two weeks after a psychedelic experience before making major life decisions.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin's potential antidepressant effects may stem from long-term effects on 5-HT2A receptors or other mechanisms.

◐Partially SupportedRecent psilocybin trials are dropping body weight adjustments for dosing.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics are being explored for the potential treatment and reversal of neurological injuries.

◐Partially SupportedMicrodosing psilocybin may function as a better alternative to SSRIs like Prozac for antidepressant effects.

◐Partially SupportedHallucinogen-persisting perceptual disorder (HPPD) has not been observed in thousands of participants in psychedelic studies.

◐Partially SupportedSerotonin generally promotes a state of contentment within the immediate experience, while the dopamine system drives an external focus on the world and possibilities.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics can destabilize individuals with a predisposition to or active psychotic disorders.

◐Partially SupportedConventionally-raised animals are confined and eat grains, while regenerative farm animals graze on pastures and seasonal grasses.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics can be understood as dissolving predictive models of the world.

◐Partially SupportedNeuromodulators like dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine are essential for opening up neuroplasticity, allowing information and experiences to be mapped in the brain.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic experiences can lead to persisting changes in self-representation.

◐Partially SupportedSurrendering to a psychedelic experience, rather than resisting it, is crucial for avoiding a bad trip.

✓Well SupportedRegenerative agriculture practices can make meat climate positive and carbon negative.

◐Partially SupportedSerotonin itself is not psychedelic.

✓Well SupportedMDMA therapy is expected to be legalized for broader access in early to mid-2023.

◐Partially SupportedThe therapeutic power of psychedelics lies in the ability to truly learn from the experience.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA may be better for treating trauma than classic psychedelics due to a lower chance of inducing a challenging experience.

◐Partially SupportedPaul Stamets' specific microdosing protocols have not been scientifically studied.

✕Not SupportedTaking excessive amounts of anabolic steroids and diuretics has led to deaths.

◐Partially SupportedHow one psychologically defines themselves internally, including in terms of emotional states, influences their experience.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic integration sessions tailor discussions to the individual's context, such as implications for cancer treatment or smoking cessation.

◐Partially SupportedTaking 500mg of mescaline, a heroic dose, can lead to an expansion of perception, focusing intensely on object properties.

◐Partially SupportedSolutions for depression, head trauma, psychological trauma, PTSD, and ADHD involve behaviors, nutrition, supplementation, social connection, drugs, and compounds that change the brain.

◐Partially SupportedChronically stimulating a subtype of serotonin receptor could theoretically produce an antidepressant effect.

◐Partially SupportedKetamine at lower doses can produce effects similar to alcohol, allowing for activity like dancing, but higher doses can lead to incapacitation.

◐Partially SupportedKetamine clinics are increasingly using ketamine off-label and treating it like psychedelic therapy, though research on this approach is lacking.

◐Partially SupportedA $17 million gift has transformed psychedelic research capabilities.

◐Partially SupportedAyahuasca or MDMA use may increase ASMR and provide relief.

◐Partially SupportedWait one to two weeks after a psychedelic experience before getting a puppy.

◐Partially SupportedKetamine can cause dissociative experiences and unconsciousness at very high doses.

◐Partially SupportedSeveral labs at Stanford are exploring psychedelics at a mechanistic level, including in animal models.

◐Partially SupportedThe experience of the sense of self extending outside the body is a clinically described neurologic phenomenon.

◐Partially SupportedClassic psychedelics involve two-way activation, with downstream effects that increase glutamate transmission.

◐Partially SupportedThe serotonin and dopamine systems are neuromodulator systems that change how other circuits behave by increasing or decreasing the probability of certain circuits being active.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with a psychotic predisposition are more susceptible to severe outcomes from psychedelic experiences.

◐Partially SupportedStructured psychiatric interviews can reliably identify individuals with psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or strong predispositions.

◐Partially SupportedPlacebos can have therapeutic effects even when participants know they are receiving a placebo.

◐Partially SupportedThe context of a psychedelic experience, including supportive friends, influences the outcome and management of difficult trips.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics can be categorized into sub-groups based on their impact on neurotransmitter systems.

◐Partially SupportedA 'bad trip' during a psychedelic experience can resolve within minutes and may lead to positive outcomes.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic compounds may exacerbate bipolar disorder, potentially manifesting as a manic episode.

◐Partially SupportedA common effect of psychedelics at sufficient doses includes hallucinations and synesthesia.

◐Partially SupportedDrugs designated as breakthrough therapies show high potential for treating disorders lacking effective treatments.

◐Partially SupportedOrganizations like the Heffter Research Institute and the Beckley Institute have provided significant funding for early psychedelic research.

◐Partially SupportedPioneers in psychedelic research include Humphry Osmond, Abram Hoffer, Sidney Cohen, and Richard Schultes.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with trauma, PTSD, or depression may seek to participate in clinical trials for psychedelic treatments.

◐Partially SupportedSerotonergic and dopaminergic drugs create distinct subjective experiences.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA is a purely synthetic compound with no known natural sources.

✕Not SupportedStable representations and predictive models are crucial for cognitive function, and goal-directed plasticity is the aim.

✕Not SupportedIndividuals should not attempt to self-administer or mix psychoactive compounds due to the unpredictability of the outcome.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics can facilitate profound experiences leading to lasting changes in behavior and self-perception.

◐Partially SupportedPositive experiences like receiving a first pet can increase dopamine and serotonin levels.

◐Partially SupportedInstitutions like the NIH are not typically set up to support research in areas like psychedelic research or breathwork and hypnosis.

◐Partially SupportedAugmenting extracellular serotonin with tricyclics and MAO inhibitors has historically reduced depressive symptoms.

◐Partially SupportedTrue hallucinations are typically associated with anticholinergic drugs like atropine and scopolamine, not psilocybin.

◐Partially SupportedAgonizing the serotonin 2B receptor, a mechanism shared by common psychedelics and MDMA, has been linked to heart valve problems.

◐Partially SupportedThe ability to let go of control during a psychedelic experience may expand one's perceptual bubble, reducing worry about external judgment or catastrophic internal events.

◐Partially SupportedFocusing deeply on a single perceptual phenomenon, such as somatic sensations or bodily processes, can be facilitated by psychedelics without immediate judgment or concern.

◐Partially SupportedTaking psychedelics a few times therapeutically in a lifetime is unlikely to cause heart valve issues.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic experiences can set in motion a series of changes that constitute neuroplasticity.

◐Partially SupportedLSD is 100% aqueous soluble, allowing for volumetric measurement to achieve consistent dosing.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics like MDMA, LSD, or DMT can be profoundly destabilizing experiences and require careful administration in a safe container.

◐Partially SupportedMicrodosed psychedelics might function as an improved SSRI or Prozac for depression.

◐Partially SupportedThe approval of MDMA for PTSD does not mean it will be legal to buy, sell, and use without legal consequences.

◐Partially SupportedA study in Amsterdam involved participants taking psilocybin truffles and performing cognitive measures before and after.

◐Partially SupportedAlcohol and benzodiazepines can significantly impair space-time orientation and proprioception.

◐Partially SupportedGrinding psilocybin mushrooms into a powder and packing into capsules achieves homogenous dosing.

◐Partially SupportedSome compounds considered microdoses are tremendously powerful at microgram concentrations.

◐Partially SupportedClassic psychedelics act as agonists or partial agonists at the serotonin 2A receptor.

◐Partially SupportedNeuroplasticity is a process that could take years to reshape neural circuits.

◐Partially SupportedLong duration Kundalini breathing can cause a perception of self being outside the head.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic experiences may induce persisting changes in self-representation.

◐Partially SupportedTherapeutic use of MDMA or ayahuasca may enable individuals to generate ASMR more readily.

◐Partially SupportedNMDA antagonists like ketamine, PCP, and dextromethorphan can produce subjective effects similar to classic psychedelics.

◐Partially SupportedAge is considered a biologically relevant variable by the FDA, similar to sex, and studies must address it to receive funding.

◐Partially SupportedThe NCCIH at NIH supports complementary health research.

◐Partially SupportedFlashbacks can occur in individuals who have taken psychedelics.

◐Partially SupportedThe UFC is exploring the use of hyperbaric chambers, sauna, and breathwork for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to improve human performance.

◐Partially SupportedSome individuals have been diagnosed with Hallucinogen-Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD) without ever having taken a psychedelic.

◐Partially SupportedThe face-eating incident in Florida was attributed to cannabis, not bath salts.

◐Partially SupportedThere is a need for more innovation in guiding individuals through the transition out of psychedelic states.

◐Partially SupportedOlder research in Russia used high doses of ketamine as psychedelic therapy and found high success rates for heroin and alcohol addiction.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic compounds can induce neural plasticity, including dendrite growth and new neuronal connections.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic integration involves explicit follow-up sessions and encouraging individuals to apply insights in their own lives with supportive, non-structured therapy.

◐Partially SupportedHallucinogen-persisting perceptual disorder (HPPD) may occur more frequently with illicit psychedelic use due to factors like polypharmacy, unknown dosages, purity issues, or rare neurological susceptibilities.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic integration sessions involve initial discussion, homework to write about the experience, and a subsequent 1-2 hour discussion session the next day.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic experiences can alter the sense of self, including personality traits and a person's relationship to the world.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic states can enhance the mind's eye with effects ranging from subtle brightness changes to visual distortions.

◐Partially SupportedThe antidepressant effects of Spravato (esketamine) kick in immediately and last about a week.

◐Partially SupportedPhilanthropy and foundations have been crucial in supporting pioneering research in the psychedelic space when traditional funding bodies have focused on studying compounds as drugs of abuse.

◐Partially SupportedTerence McKenna advocated for the use of psychedelics and described profound experiences.

◐Partially SupportedBelief effects like placebo can influence physiological responses such as insulin response and weight loss from exercise.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic experiences can amplify the sense of agency.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics may alter the brain's analysis of space-time, potentially leading to hallucinations and altered sensory integration.

◐Partially SupportedThe therapeutic value of psychedelic experiences may stem from a shared mechanism of improving self-representation and one's fundamental relationship with the world.

◐Partially SupportedManipulating the acetylcholine system with anticholinergic drugs can cause disorienting experiences.

◐Partially SupportedMescaline's molecular structure resembles dopamine more than serotonin, yet its receptor activation and pharmacological effects are similar to serotonin-acting psychedelics.

◐Partially SupportedMatthew Johnson's group receives NIDA funding for psychedelic research on compounds as drugs of abuse.

◐Partially SupportedThe developing nervous system in children is potentially more susceptible to drug effects but also more plastic, adaptable, and resilient to certain injuries.

◐Partially SupportedFen-phen caused heart valve issues due to its serotonin 2B activity.

◐Partially SupportedDifferent compounds trigger pathway activation at different rates, leading to vastly different experiences.

◐Partially SupportedThe gut microbiome, maintained by healthy gut bacteria, impacts inflammation, mood, endocrine function, and metabolic function.

◐Partially SupportedMicrodosing psilocybin may have antidepressant effects, but less impactful than high-dose psilocybin therapy.

◐Partially SupportedThere is a risk of increasing the likelihood of psychotic thinking or auditory hallucinations in individuals with a predisposition to such conditions when using psychedelics.

◐Partially SupportedDuring a psilocybin experience, a physician may administer nitroglycerin to lower blood pressure or pulse if they exceed a certain level.

◐Partially SupportedWearing eye shades during a psychedelic experience can help individuals go further into their experiences.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics can dissolve predictive models of reality, leading to surprise or recognition.

◐Partially SupportedSurvey studies are available on the therapeutic use of psychedelics or breathwork for PTSD, depression, or anxiety.

◐Partially SupportedMedical research for psychedelics would be necessary to establish efficacy and mitigate risks, even if they had not been made illegal.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals on the Asperger's side of the autism spectrum may have an increased risk of adverse mental states when using psychedelics.

◐Partially SupportedExtreme use of substances, analogous to bodybuilding culture, can lead to death, with psychedelic use at extremes also carrying significant risks.

◐Partially SupportedPure psilocybin, administered in clinical trials, is a single molecular entity, a white powder, derived from mushrooms like Psilocybe cubensis.

◐Partially SupportedMicrodosing psychedelics may have antidepressant effects beyond placebo.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin is being studied for opioid addiction and PTSD, and LSD for chronic pain.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic therapy sessions involve 4-8 hours of preparation with guides.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin may be effective for treating PTSD according to some underground therapists.

◐Partially SupportedFrequent use of psychedelics may pose a cumulative risk for heart valve disease.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar disorder can potentially be exacerbated by psychedelic compounds.

◐Partially SupportedNMDA antagonist psychedelics, including ketamine, are claimed to be highly insightful.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin is a Schedule I compound, meaning it is illegal.

✕Not SupportedThe drug psilocybin is metabolized by the next day, so people do not 'never come back' from a trip.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic experiences can create lasting changes in self-perception and emotional state for depressed individuals.

◐Partially SupportedEsketamine (Spravato) is an FDA-approved nasal spray form of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin is not recommended as a first therapeutic option for schizophrenia due to associated risks.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic experiences can alter the sense of self, space, and time, leading to a focus on internal bodily sensations.

◐Partially SupportedSome individuals may experience reordering of neural circuitry following psychedelic use that extends longer than others.

◐Partially SupportedThe mechanism of action for most prescription antidepressants is as mysterious as that of psychedelics.

◐Partially SupportedThe experience of breath during psychedelic use can be profound.

◐Partially SupportedThere is a high likelihood of future research exploring the therapeutic use of psychedelics in individuals under 18.

◐Partially SupportedThe transition zone out of a psychedelic state may be valuable for learning.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic agents with therapeutic support can facilitate a reshaping of the perception of self through neuroplasticity.

◐Partially SupportedChanges in self-representation appear to be a key factor in the therapeutic success of psychedelics for depression and smoking cessation.

◐Partially SupportedPerceptual anomalies within a day or two following a psychedelic experience, such as seeing trails or halos, are not HPPD and are generally considered fun rather than distressing.

◐Partially SupportedConstruction workers are a major source of traumatic brain injuries, not primarily athletes.

◐Partially SupportedFocused attention can overcome the brain's default tendency to attend to multiple stimuli simultaneously.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals can experience severe harm or death from psychedelics due to freak-outs, accidents, or disorientation.

◐Partially SupportedReturning to a similar context can bring back thoughts and emotions experienced during a previous psychedelic session.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics may fundamentally alter the brain's predictive models by dissolving established patterns of thought and perception.

◐Partially SupportedSerotonergic psychedelics like psilocybin can expand narrow perceptual focus, offering valuable insights.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic research is FDA-approved as experimental with the goal of eventual formal clinical use approval.

◐Partially SupportedPrescribing psychedelics for therapeutic purposes in children will likely focus initially on treatment-resistant conditions.