{"id":2530,"date":"2022-06-22T22:49:33","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T20:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/psykologvirke.no\/?p=2530"},"modified":"2024-10-03T15:07:33","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T13:07:33","slug":"psykedelisk-renessanse-foredrag-psykedelika-mdma-terapi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psykologvirke.no\/en\/self-help\/psykedelisk-renessanse-foredrag-psykedelika-mdma-terapi\/","title":{"rendered":"Psychedelic renaissance: A status update on psychedelics and MDMA in therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this article, we show how trends in academia, clinical practice, popular culture and underground make knowledge about the therapeutic use of psychedelics and MDMA increasingly imperative, especially for health professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tools that have the potential to open the heart and expand the mind should obviously be of interest to psychology. As long as they are safe in the clinical setting \u2013 what can be learned? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to be equipped with knowledge in the face of the psychedelic renaissance. We present the status of the field worldwide, as well as some of the most important issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are happy to share our experiences with psychedelic therapy as well the talks we offer about the psychedelic renaissance<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00abWhat a communication ability! I have seldom or never experienced so much knowledge and wisdom conveyed so well. We have received many emails from employees afterwards, who were all very happy! \u201d<\/p>\nPsychologist specialist Anne Berthelsen, S\u00f8rlandet Hospital<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Toe contact<\/a> for lecture offers or read on to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychedelic renaissance in academia \u2013 and clinical practice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is one going on psychedelic renaissance<\/a> in academia and in mental health care. Prestigious institutions around the world are now getting involved in this field, which has become one billion industry<\/a> with a number of listed companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, only ketamine is an approved drug and available for use in Norway. A recent one phase 3 study on MDMA-assisted therapy<\/a> however, seems to confirm that MDMA-assisted therapy may become an approved treatment in the United States during 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychedelics are on the agenda at countless conferences. For the first time, the international IEDTA conference, which includes methods such as EFT, ISTDP and AEDP, had a separate program item on psychedelics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psykologvirke presented two speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2022 arranged saws Norwegian Psychedelic Science<\/a> the first Nordic conference in the field, Nordic Psychedelic Science Conference<\/a> in Oslo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Picture<\/a>
Ivar Goks\u00f8yr gives a lecture during the Nordic Psychedeic Science Conference 2022. Photo: Martin Kufahl \/ Psychedelic Society<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Psychedelic renaissance in clinical practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Israel has already started pilot projects <\/a>with MDMA-assisted therapy outside of clinical trials. Likewise, a larger program stands for so-called \u00ab"expanded access"\u00bb<\/a> on the stairs in the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canada has for some time approved psilocybin therapy<\/a> in existential anxiety in life-threatening illness. They have recently softened the regulations further so that people with other problem indications can also get psychedelic therapy after individual assessment.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Switzerland, it has been the practice for a number of years that psychiatrists can apply for a license to operate psychedelic therapy upon individual application<\/a>. Unfortunately, this environment has not carried out good clinical studies, but research indicates that the treatment is safe and effective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the state of Oregon in the United States has enacted one public system<\/a> for therapy with psilocybin fungi, to be implemented during 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lot of interesting research was done on psychedelics in the 50s and 60s. But little of that research meets today's methodological standards. This means that it cannot be conclusive, but that does not mean that it is worthless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The relatively few studies that have been available so far in the psychedelic renaissance, the modern research era, all point in the same positive direction. But most are small, with methodological challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to interpret the research status in the field?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some studies show very large power sizes<\/a> and transformative experiences, have other problems to outperform traditional antidepressants<\/a>. How can this be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results are promising enough that both MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapy have been given priority regulatory status as \u00abbreakthrough therapies\u00bb by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But what does that actually mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MDMA-assisted therapy is in the latest Phase 3 study needed for final drug approval. The first phase-3 study was published in Nature in May 2021 with strong results<\/a>. How good the results can be said to be is an ongoing discussion, including in the columns of the psychology journal<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also remains to be seen how positive the results from the last, mentioned phase 2 study actually are, beyond statistical significance and no new concerns related to risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In any case, drug approval is expected in the USA in 2024 and in Europe a couple of years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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