Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Info and Updates
Exploring Healing with Renewed Research
The mental health field is in the midst of a psychedelic science renaissance.
Psychedelic medicines are presently being studied around the world for potential medical benefits.
I THRIVE founder Heather Curtis MD advocates for strenuous evaluation of all emerging novel therapies and compounds in light of rising dilemmas in the evolving psychedelic sciences. This should be the practice for any medicine to be considered for approval by the FDA or other regulatory body.
I THRIVE encourages caution and appropriate referrals to experienced, licensed, and trained medical doctors, psychiatrists, and psychedelic medicine clinicians prior to consideration of any psychedelic medicine healing or assisted treatment pursuits.
We defer all questions related to the efficacy of these medicines and their utility for the treatment of trauma or other conditions to licensed, trained, and experienced psychedelic medicine providers and clinicians.
Check back later to learn more about I THRIVE and our evolving study of Integrative Medicine and associated therapies.
In the meantime, practice appropriate caution in all healing and therapeutic pursuits.
MDMA Assisted Therapy for PTSD
Despite 2024 FDA rejection, MDMA continues to be studied as a potential medicine to be utilized in assisted therapy for the treatment of PTSD. Given the risk of misuse of MDMA in drug facilitated assault, I THRIVE disproves of MDMA legalization efforts for recreational use. We support continued research for medicinal use of MDMA and recommend caution, improved infrastructure, and community education prior to considering this a prospective treatment.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine is currently widely used in the evidence based treatment of treatment resistant depression. It is also being used off-label for various psychiatric conditions including anxiety, substance abuse, and trauma either as stand alone treatment or as a medicine assisted therapy (recommended). Ketamine is a schedule I substance and should not be used outside of strict medicinal monitoring and treatment.
Psilocybin for Depression
Psilocybin is presently being studied as a potential treatment for depression. Psilocybin is the active compound in magic mushrooms that grants them their hallucinogenic effects. Psilocybin assisted therapies are projected to be considered as an approved medicine for depression by the FDA by as early as 2025 and early research reveals potential benefits for depression and multiple other neurologic conditions.
Lysergic Acid Research Returns
Lysergic acid dietyhlamide (LSD) is presently being studied at various sites for evaluation of the efficacy of treatment for disorders of attention, anxiety, mood, and substance abuse. The longer half life of this medicine gives a wide window for assisted therapy to be provided during a medicine assisted therapy experience. The increased volatility of this substance at high doses and its recent and historical safety concerns may limit high dose LSD's utility for therapeutic and medicinal benefit.
Plant Medicine Science & Ceremony
Plant medicines from around the world including ayahuasca (DMT), iboga, cacao, psilocybin, peyote, and mescaline have been utilized in indigent healing ceremonies around the world for millennia. Many of these medicines are now being studied for their various medicinal benefits and efficacy in the treatment of medical, physical, and mental illnesses and for their utility in the treatment of substance use disorders and in palliative care. Special attention to honoring native culture is also being made during this renaissance of psychedelic and plant medicine study.
Novel Psychedelic Compounds
Pharmaceutical companies are looking to advance the psychedelic sciences through the invention of novel psychedelic compounds in addition to evaluating known substances. Pharmaceutical companies are exploring the possibility of developing new psychedelic medicines that promote neuroplasticity while sparing the hallucinogenic and disorienting effects inherent to classical psychedelic medicine experiences. Further research is necessary to determine the utility of these compounds for medicinal benefit and this is an exciting time in psychiatric science.
