"Psychedelics appear to work by inducing specific subjective experiences, often described as 'mystical-type' experiences, which involve a temporary dissolution of self-boundaries and altered perceptions. These experiences are strongly predictive of therapeutic outcomes, suggesting that the subjective experience is a key driver of change rather than just pharmacological effects."
"At the neural level, psychedelics reduce activity in the brain's default mode network, which is associated with self-referential thinking, and increase neuroplasticity. This promotes new neural connections, allowing the brain to reorganize itself. However, the neuroplastic window is brief, meaning that while the brain becomes more impressionable, it requires structure to maintain the changes."
On April 18, 2026, an executive order was signed to expedite the development of psychedelic drugs for medical use. The order directs the FDA to fast-track breakthrough therapies and encourages interagency data sharing. It allocates $50 million in federal funding to support this initiative. The urgency stems from the need for effective treatments for conditions like treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and addiction. Research indicates that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may offer a novel approach, inducing subjective experiences that promote therapeutic outcomes.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]