Psychedelics in the Clinic

When I first heard about the use of psychedelics (like ketamine and psilocybin) for treatment of mental illness, I was skeptical. It just seemed too ripe for abuse.

But, there is a growing body of credible academic work suggesting that psychedelics when dosed properly and used in conjunction with therapy / other drugs can be a gamechanger — especially for treatment-resistant depression and suicidality — and that is incredibly exciting.

At the same time, as a former telemedicine startup operator, this makes me more alarmed by the numerous companies working to commercialize these. In the bid for venture-style growth, it’s all too easy to lose track of the “when dosed properly and used in conjunction with therapy / other drugs” part.

In any event, this article from Medicine at Michigan is a good overview of the recent research highlights in the field and why so many clinicians and scientists are excited.