Science of Psychedelics – May 30

Recent evidence suggests that psychedelics mitigate several mental health problems. Specifically, clinical findings show that psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, ayahuasca, ibogaine, and ketamine may be effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, depression, alcohol and substance use disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. MDMA (“ecstasy”) will most likely be the first psychedelic to undergo evaluation for full FDA approval (for treatment of PTSD) and DEA rescheduling.

Our speaker, Dr. Jennifer Mitchell, is Professor of Neurology and of Psychiatry at UC San Francisco. She is also Deptury Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development at San Francisco VA Medical Center.