Issue 150

Integrating metaphysics into psychedelic therapy

Dr Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, Lecturer at Exeter University, has proposed incorporating metaphysical philosophy into psychedelic therapy to help improve therapeutic outcomes.

Sjöstedt-Hughes suggests that psychedelic therapy may gain more advantage by extending its scope into metaphysics, helping patients better integrate and understand psychedelic-induced metaphysical experiences. Such improved outcomes may be seen if patients undergoing this therapy “are provided with an optional, additional, and intelligible schema and discussion of metaphysical options at the integrative phase of the therapy.”

In the paper, Sjöstedt-Hughes puts forward this schema as the “Metaphysics Matrix” and an accompanying “Metaphysics Matrix Questionnaire (MMQ)” which can be utilised by therapists and researchers as a tool for the quantitative measurement of a psychedelic experience.

The paper ‘On the need for metaphysics in psychedelic therapy and research’ has been published in Frontiers in Psychology.

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PSILOCYBIN MICRODOSING REGIMEN ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT RESEARCH

Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have established a psilocybin microdosing regimen in rats to help advance microdosing research. Results from the study have shown that repeated microdoses of psilocybin in rats increased the animals’ resilience to stress, and they displayed fewer compulsive behaviours.

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THE PROMISE OF PSYCHEDELICS IN ADDRESSING ALZHEIMER’S

To ease inflammation in the brain, researchers have suggested activation of the serotonin receptor (5-HT2A). Classic psychedelics have been shown to target and activate the 5-HT2A receptor. Regions of the brain susceptible to Alzheimer’s, such as the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, have high concentrations of the 5-HT2A receptor.

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BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT

Enveric Biosciences has announced its Psybrary™ portfolio now totals over 1000 psychedelic-inspired therapeutic candidates, creating a robust IP portfolio of NCE’s for mental health indications

GH Research has announced that the FDA has placed its IND on clinical hold due to “Insufficient information to assess risks to human subjects”. The FDA indicated that a letter with additional details will be issued within 30 days.

Peter Rands has disposed of common shares in the capital of Small Pharma Inc.. Prior to the disposition, Rands owned 91,117,974 common shares representing approximately 28.76% of the company.

Jupiter Acquisition has filed its investor presentation on its deal with Filament Health, expected to provide at least $5 million of net proceeds to the combined company.

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SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

Psychedelics plus psychotherapy can trigger rapid changes in the brain − new research at the level of neurons is untangling how.

Numinus Wellness has launched a psychedelic programme for individuals suffering from mental distress associated with serious and chronic illness.

Cybin Inc. has announced that it has completed dosing in its Phase 2 Study of CYB003 for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder.

A new study has explored the risk of chronic psychedelic and MDMA microdosing for valvular heart disease (VHD).

REGULATION AND LEGISLATION

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is investigating three cases of allegedly unlawful psychedelic therapy advertisements, one of which was advertising ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

High Times reports that California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law that would allow doctors to immediately begin writing prescriptions for MDMA and psilocybin medications should the federal government choose to reschedule them.

Non-profit PsyCan has published its White Paper on the future of psychedelic access in Canada, examining regulatory reforms governing access to psychedelics.

Health Affairs explores regulatory frameworks for psychedelic services to treat mental illnesses, looking at what lessons psychedelic therapy regulation can learn from the landscape of ketamine treatment.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Statista Research Department has published new figures that show the suicide rate among men in England and Wales in 2021 was almost three times higher than for women.

The economic impact of our mental health crisis: The government is trying to fix it, but investors should note some companies are also making headway.

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