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The Science of Psychedelics for Mental Health | Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris — Whalespan

Content›Video›The Science of Psychedelics …

The Science of Psychedelics for Mental Health | Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris

Andrew Huberman2h 37m · 2023-05-22

Claims Made

210

Claims Supported

126

Support Rate

60%

Support rate

126 of 210 claims supported

126 supported84 partial / not

Claims from this content

153

✓Well SupportedAG1 is a vitamin, mineral, probiotic drink with adaptogens designed to meet foundational nutritional needs and provide insurance for adequate fruit and vegetable intake.✓Well SupportedAn Eight Sleep mattress cover can improve sleep by increasing speed of falling asleep, reducing nighttime awakenings, and enhancing feelings of refreshment upon waking.✓Well SupportedProbiotics in Athletic Greens are vital for microbiotic health, which communicates with the brain and immune system to impact immediate and long-term health.✓Well SupportedSmart mattress covers can be programmed to maintain a specific sleep temperature, which aids in falling asleep, achieving deep sleep, and REM sleep.Well Supported

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A. Volkovreader

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Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

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✓

Ag One (formerly Athletic Greens) is a vitamin, mineral, and probiotic drink that provides foundational nutritional needs.

✓Well SupportedBrain and body temperature must drop by approximately 1 degree Celsius to fall asleep and stay asleep.

✓Well SupportedSleep is the foundation of mental health, physical health, and performance, and optimizing sleep is crucial for happiness, productivity, and overall life quality.

✓Well SupportedAndrew Huberman consumes 16-32 ounces of water with a packet of Element upon waking, during exercise, and sometimes a third packet if exercising hard or sweating a lot.

✓Well SupportedAn increase in body temperature of 1-3 degrees Fahrenheit is necessary to wake up feeling refreshed and energized.

✓Well SupportedMDMA therapy for PTSD has shown approximately 67% remission rates in Phase III clinical trials.

✓Well SupportedUsing a CGM and associated programs can help optimize food combinations, exercise, and sleep schedules for better blood glucose control and energy levels.

✓Well SupportedMaintaining steady blood glucose levels is crucial for health, energy, and focus.

✓Well SupportedContinuous glucose monitors can deter unhealthy food choices by making negative physiological consequences visible.

✓Well SupportedAnorexia nervosa is the most deadly psychiatric condition.

✓Well SupportedPsilocybin is a psychedelic compound being actively pursued for its capacity to treat major depressive disorder in laboratory and psychiatric settings.

✓Well SupportedPsilocybin increases brain plasticity, desynchronizes default networks, and enhances openness while reducing rigidity.

✓Well SupportedEven slight dehydration can significantly diminish cognitive and physical performance.

◐Partially SupportedResearch is exploring modifications to psychedelics to retain therapeutic effects while removing hallucinogenic properties.

✓Well SupportedLMNT electrolyte mix contains 1000mg sodium, 200mg potassium, and 60mg magnesium.

✓Well SupportedAndrew Huberman uses Ketone IQ, typically one to two servings per day, before cognitive work or workouts.

◐Partially SupportedThe 8-hour intermittent fasting feeding window is not based on systematic comparison but on data collection constraints.

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

✓Well SupportedClassic hallucinogens bind to serotonin 2A and 2C receptors, with major effects possibly mediated through glutamate.

◐Partially SupportedA clinical trial compared 25mg psilocybin, 10mg psilocybin, and escitalopram over 3 weeks.

✓Well SupportedControlling the sleeping environment's temperature helps regulate body temperature for better sleep onset, maintenance, and waking.

✓Well SupportedContinuous glucose monitors (CGMs) provide real-time feedback on how foods, food combinations, food timing, and exercise impact blood glucose levels.

◐Partially SupportedThe duration of an LSD trip is a likely reason for its less frequent use in clinical trials compared to psilocybin.

✓Well SupportedMeditation has transitioned from being viewed as fringe to being a subject of tens of thousands of quality studies exploring its mental and health benefits.

◐Partially SupportedA psilocybin dose of 25 milligrams is roughly equivalent to taking 2.5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms.

◐Partially SupportedA psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram trial used escitalopram for six weeks and a very low dose of psilocybin.

◐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 SupportedHvmn Ketone IQ is a ketone supplement that increases blood ketones.

◐Partially SupportedTaking Ketone IQ can lead to elevated focus for several hours, allow for fasted physical or mental work, and improve focus when fasted compared to being fasted alone.

◐Partially SupportedLetting go and riding autonomic arousal during psilocybin sessions is powerful for trauma and depression treatment.

◐Partially SupportedA single 25mg dose of psilocybin can induce neuroplasticity.

◐Partially SupportedKetone IQ increases blood ketones, which can benefit cognitive function.

◐Partially SupportedOregon has a state-licensed system for psilocybin practitioners, distinguishing it from decriminalized areas.

◐Partially SupportedMicrodosing psychedelics at sub-perceptible doses may alter neural circuits without causing hallucinations or catharsis.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic macro doses are suggested to be more effective than microdosing.

◐Partially SupportedEEG caps are used in mechanistic studies of psilocybin sessions in clinical populations.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA therapy requires physician presence due to amphetamine properties and cardiac risks.

◐Partially SupportedCombining psilocybin and MDMA in therapy may offer advantages in certain patients.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin journeys typically last 4 to 6 hours, influenced by dose, liver metabolism, and food intake.

◐Partially SupportedA 2022 New England Journal of Medicine paper compared psilocybin dosages, including microdosing, against citalopram.

◐Partially SupportedIncreased communication across brain systems under psychedelics is thought to be mediated by serotonin 2A receptor activation.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin's selectivity for the serotonin 2A receptor differentiates its effect on serotonin transmission from SSRIs.

✕Not SupportedScientific evidence does not yet strongly support the efficacy of microdosing psychedelics compared to higher doses.

◐Partially SupportedClassic psychedelics like psilocybin may offer a stronger opportunity to confront uncomfortable experiences compared to MDMA.

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

◐Partially SupportedPreliminary clinical data exists for psychedelic applications in conditions like anorexia and fibromyalgia.

◐Partially SupportedApproximately 1 gram (1000mg) of magic mushrooms contains about 10mg of psilocybin.

◐Partially SupportedThe term 'psychedelic' is often applied to compounds that do not interact with the serotonin 2A receptor.

◐Partially SupportedThe therapeutic effects of MDMA for PTSD can last for years in some individuals.

✕Not SupportedThere is currently a lack of compelling evidence for the efficacy of microdosing, with existing study designs often being weak.

✓Well SupportedPsilocybin administration induced higher entropic brain patterns, characterized as open, flexible, less predictable, and exploratory.

◐Partially SupportedPre-trial expectancy did not predict response to psilocybin therapy.

◐Partially SupportedClassic psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin can bring repressed material into conscious awareness, catalyzing the therapeutic process.

◐Partially SupportedObserved changes in brain microstructure after psilocybin administration are in the opposite direction to those seen in an aging brain or with pathology of aging, and are similar to changes seen in a healthy brain during neurodevelopment into adulthood.

✓Well SupportedPsilocybin therapy trials for treatment-resistant depression, conducted by Compass, are estimated to report results around 2026.

◐Partially SupportedCurrent psychiatric treatments have not significantly progressed since the 1950s.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics can increase communication components of neurons, including dendritic growth and synaptic spine growth.

◐Partially SupportedSevere psychopathology may involve being stuck in a particular state of brain function.

◐Partially SupportedThe licensing process for psychedelics is slow but necessary to ensure proper implementation and avoid repeating past issues.

◐Partially SupportedActivation of serotonin 2A receptors by psychedelics is hypothesized to cause increased brain connectivity.

◐Partially SupportedSome individuals who participated in early treatment-resistant depression trials remain well and are functioning fantastically today.

◐Partially SupportedThe ego may temporarily dissolve during a psychedelic trip, leading to profound insights, but can return with increased intensity if integration work is not performed.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA therapy involves more dialogue than classic psychedelic therapy, allowing people to talk more freely.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic therapy dosing sessions are typically spaced one to three weeks apart.

◐Partially SupportedA study from New Zealand showed preliminary positive findings for mood improvements with microdosing, but it requires peer review and further publication.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic therapy involves a controlled setting with two mental health professionals, music, and a drug-ingesting individual.

◐Partially SupportedMusic without lyrics is used in psychedelic therapy sessions.

◐Partially SupportedMicrodosing psychedelics at 1 milligram doses does not show changes in brainwaves.

◐Partially SupportedThe term 'psychedelic' indicates revelation of the psyche without specifying whether the experience will be positive or negative.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic therapy can help process trauma.

◐Partially SupportedClassic psychedelics target serotonin 2A receptors in the cortex.

◐Partially SupportedThe magnitude of subjective experiences during psilocybin therapy, as measured by rating scales, strongly predicts therapeutic outcomes.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics seem to provide access to a 'better version of self' by creating space between stimulus and reaction.

◐Partially SupportedA decrease in brain modularity, or an 'opening up' of the system, could relate to an enduring improvement in mental well-being after psychedelic dosing.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic therapy allows individuals to 'sit with' difficult experiences rather than 'sit on' them, unlike chronic pharmacotherapy such as SSRIs.

◐Partially SupportedThree psilocybin therapy sessions are being used in a current anorexia trial, showing improved weight at long follow-up.

◐Partially SupportedThe term 'psychedelic' accurately describes compounds that reveal aspects of the psyche (mind or soul) that are not ordinarily visible.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics have the potential to be added to the array of treatments for mental health conditions, possibly in combination with other therapies.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin treatment is yielding remarkable and profound experiences in people with fibromyalgia.

◐Partially SupportedIntegration work is crucial to prevent negative outcomes after psychedelic experiences as the ego can return.

◐Partially SupportedCocaine causes ego inflation without dissolution, while psychedelics cause ego dissolution without inflation.

◐Partially SupportedEvidence for the efficacy of 1-3 macro doses of psychedelics in a controlled setting is compelling.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics can induce profound insights about interconnectedness during a trip.

◐Partially SupportedLSD is very sticky for the serotonin 2A receptor, requiring only tiny microgram doses.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin at a 1mg dose does not produce measurable changes in brainwaves.

◐Partially SupportedWillingness to confront difficult experiences is a powerful component of psychedelic therapy.

◐Partially SupportedMusic is used in psychedelic therapy studies and may have a synergistic effect with psychedelics.

◐Partially SupportedA decrease in brain modularity or an increase in global functional connectivity correlates with improvement in symptom severity for depression.

◐Partially SupportedCocaine increases ego inflation and obsession with future outcomes, contrasting with the ego dissolution seen with psychedelics.

◐Partially SupportedExtreme modularity of brain function may be associated with depression.

◐Partially SupportedRelapse is common after three months in clinical trials for treatment-resistant depression if the underlying history is chronic depression.

?Limited ResearchIncreased communication between brain areas under psychedelic influence is maintained after the journey is over.

◐Partially SupportedIntegration of psychedelic therapy experiences can be a lifelong process, similar to meditation.

◐Partially SupportedTherapeutic rapport is a significant predictor of the quality of the psychedelic experience and subsequent therapeutic outcomes.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA experiences typically last 4 to 6 hours.

◐Partially SupportedIncreased crosstalk between brain modules may be associated with positive therapeutic outcomes.

◐Partially SupportedEgo dissolution can lead to feelings of interconnectedness and a realization that the ego may be a mental construction.

◐Partially SupportedSelf-empathy involves holding oneself with care during challenges to enable adaptive responses.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin can access deep psychological material and core experiences, but may do so aggressively, potentially agitating defense mechanisms in patients with PTSD.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with depression may perceive their negative state as permanent and without hope.

◐Partially SupportedMindfulness and present-centered acceptance allows observation, processing, and letting go of experiences without reactivity.

◐Partially SupportedSelective serotonin 2A receptor stimulators that are not psychedelic and are therapeutic in psychiatry have not yet been developed or licensed for medical use.

◐Partially SupportedMicrodosing may offer pharmacology or direct serotonin receptor agonism similar to SSRIs if it is sub-perceptible.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin, LSD, and DMT increase global functional connectivity in the brain.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic therapy, which involves using an eye mask and closing one's eyes, is distinct from simply taking a psychedelic substance recreationally.

✕Not SupportedThe term 'microdose' for LSD is misleading as effective doses can be in the microgram range.

✕Not SupportedFentanyl contamination of street MDMA and psychedelics poses a serious risk.

✕Not SupportedMicrodosing psilocybin did not compellingly outperform placebo when expectancy was controlled for.

◐Partially SupportedIn a self-blinded microdosing study, the majority of the observed effect was attributed to the placebo response.

◐Partially SupportedA true microdose is sub-perceptible and assumed to induce trait-level changes.

◐Partially SupportedA readiness to surrender and not resist is predictive of response in psychedelic therapy.

◐Partially SupportedA protocol involving ibogaine (22+ hours) followed by DMT shows success for veterans in Mexico.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA therapy facilitates a safer and more trusting return to traumatic experiences, making it well-suited for PTSD.

✕Not SupportedPossessing or selling psychedelics outside of approved clinical trials is illegal in the US and can result in felony charges and prison time.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic research is expanding rapidly, with trials investigating indications such as anorexia, fibromyalgia syndrome, methamphetamine use disorder, Parkinson's disease, chronic lower back pain, bipolar disorder, and OCD.

◐Partially SupportedIncreased connectivity between brain areas observed during psychedelic use persists after the drug's effects wear off.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics are now attracting significant philanthropic support for university studies.

◐Partially Supported5-MeO-DMT may provide a more reliable ego dissolution experience than DMT, characterized by less visual effect and more immersion in the whole with loss of self-identity.

◐Partially SupportedThe therapeutic effect in microdosing studies is largely attributed to the placebo effect.

◐Partially SupportedIntegration of insights gained during psychedelic sessions is crucial for consolidating neuroplasticity and brain changes.

◐Partially SupportedPre-trial expectancy for escitalopram predicted response to escitalopram across measures of depression, anxiety, and well-being.

◐Partially SupportedVape pens are being developed for DMT and 5-MeO-DMT administration to allow titration and acclimatization.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic therapy can lead to significant relief from depression in up to 70% of individuals.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic therapy can provide a significant boost, enabling individuals to continue working on their life journey.

◐Partially SupportedA physician must be present or accessible for MDMA therapy due to cardiac risks.

◐Partially SupportedThe affinity of a psychedelic for the serotonin 2A receptor is directly related to its potency.

◐Partially SupportedIncreased crosstalk between brain modules is correlated with positive therapeutic outcomes for depression.

◐Partially SupportedA more flexible mode of brain functioning, where modules are not excessively cut off from each other, may be beneficial.

◐Partially SupportedShifting between linear and nonlinear brain processing modes has therapeutic value.

◐Partially SupportedPositive expectancy can drive a therapeutic effect and act as the vehicle for the placebo response.

◐Partially SupportedDMT acts as a direct agonist of the serotonin 2A receptor.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA primarily acts as an empathogen and may soften the ego, but does not induce ego dissolution like classic psychedelics.

◐Partially SupportedThe historical therapeutic model of psychedelics involves accessing different modes of thinking, feeling, seeing things, letting go, and trust within a therapeutic relationship.

◐Partially SupportedIn expectancy-controlled studies, placebo recipients who believed they received a psilocybin microdose had similar outcomes to actual microdose recipients.

◐Partially SupportedA citizen science study of LSD microdosing did not show compelling results above placebo.

◐Partially SupportedDMT is approximately one order of magnitude less potent than psilocybin.

◐Partially SupportedDosing LSD at 10:00 AM means individuals may still feel the effects at 6:00 PM.

◐Partially SupportedEvidence for anatomical changes in brain microstructure due to psilocybin requires further replication.

◐Partially SupportedThe causality between increased brain connectivity and subjective psychedelic experience is circular.

◐Partially SupportedA 1 milligram dose of psilocybin was used as a placebo in a study.

◐Partially SupportedLSD trips can last from 8 to 15 hours.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin therapy is being studied for fibromyalgia syndrome.

◐Partially SupportedA larger dose of LSD results in a longer experience.

◐Partially SupportedA background of trauma, inflammation, and the development of fibromyalgia syndrome are linked in literature.

◐Partially SupportedThe brain is fundamentally interconnected, with all parts ultimately connected to each other.

◐Partially SupportedScience should be based on empirical evidence that holds up to testing, rather than personal beliefs or desires.

◐Partially SupportedThere is interest in shortening psychedelic therapy sessions to reduce cost and potentially achieve similar therapeutic outcomes.

◐Partially SupportedMusic may influence the emotional intensity of psychedelic therapy.

◐Partially SupportedSharper cognition is associated with greater modularity of brain function.