Psychedelic Medicine

Psychedelics for Psychosis

Currently we are in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance. As psychedelics are currently restricted substances, there is the need to demonstrate their medical efficacy in order to introduce their place as instruments of healing in Western society. While a multitude of studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of psychedelic substances in treating a wide range of psychological problems including anxiety, depression, substance use, and PTSD, the vast majority of psychedelic clinical trials and treatment programs have listed history of psychosis as a non-negotiable exclusion criterion.

Although this may seem like a justifiable position, some have criticized this as an extremist, unscientific, and even discriminatory bias. This is because under certain conditions, an individual with psychosis could benefit from psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Although considered a taboo subject, more dialogue must be initiated around this topic. In addition, ethical and responsible research examining psychedelic treatment for psychosis should be explored. Our work will examine this issue in greater depth to lay the groundwork for the first clinical trial examining the effectiveness of psychedelic treatment for psychosis since before the prohibition on psychedelics in the West.

Selected Presentations

Gallo, J., La Torre, J., Mahammadli, M., Zalewa, D., Michaels, T., & Williams, M. (2022, November 17-20). How people with psychotic conditions describe their psychedelic experiences: Initial findings from a preliminary sample [Poster presentation]. 56th Annual ABCT Convention, New York, NY.

La Torre, J., Gallo, J., Mahammadli, M., Michaels, T., & Williams, M. (2022, May 27-29). Experiences of psychedelic use among individuals with psychotic symptoms [Poster presentation]. From Research to Reality: 1st Global Summit on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Medicine, Toronto, ON.

La Torre, J. & Williams, M. T. (2021, May 13). Research Abuses Against Individuals with Psychosis During the First Wave of Psychedelic Research and the Potential Effects, Risks, and Benefits of Using Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treating Psychosis. In D. Strauss (Chair), Understanding the Past and Reimagining the Future of Psychedelic Research. [Virtual presentation]. Interdisciplinary Conference in Psychology, University of Ottawa, ON.