DeepSummary
In this episode, Dr. Andrew Huberman interviews Dr. Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, about the use of psychedelic compounds for treating mental disorders. They discuss the biology and clinical trial uses of psilocybin, MDMA, ayahuasca, DMT, and LSD, and the potential these compounds hold for treating depression, addiction, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, and other mental disorders.
Dr. Johnson describes a typical psychedelic experiment in his laboratory, including the conditions for optimal clinical outcomes, and explains some potential hazards and common misconceptions related to psychedelic medicine. He also discusses the legal and pharmaceutical industry landscape surrounding psychedelics and how the scientific study of these compounds is likely to set the trajectory of psychiatric medicine in the years to come.
Dr. Johnson shares insights on microdosing, the dangers of psychedelics for certain individuals (such as those with psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder), and the potential use of psychedelics for treating concussion and traumatic brain injury. He also discusses the importance of philanthropy and foundations in supporting pioneering research in this field.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Psychedelic compounds, such as psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD, have shown promising results in clinical trials for treating mental disorders like depression, addiction, trauma, and PTSD.
- Proper preparation, guidance, and integration are crucial for optimal therapeutic outcomes in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
- Psychedelic experiences may lead to changes in one's sense of self or self-representation, which could contribute to their therapeutic effects.
- There are potential dangers and risks associated with the use of psychedelics, particularly for individuals with psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or other neurological vulnerabilities.
- Microdosing psychedelics is an area of interest, but there is limited scientific evidence supporting its claims of improved cognition or mood.
- The legal landscape surrounding psychedelics is evolving, with some states decriminalizing or legalizing certain compounds for therapeutic or personal use.
- Philanthropy and foundation funding have been crucial in supporting pioneering research on psychedelics, as it has been historically underfunded by traditional funding sources.
- Psychedelic research may have implications for the treatment of neurological conditions such as concussion and traumatic brain injury, although more research is needed.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The idea is like, can these experiences and including those therapeutic effects be explained from a naturalist point of view? And his conclusion is that changes in self representation may be the commonality.“ by Matthew Johnson
- “I still have some great support from NIDa. Outside of psychedelics, I'm shifting more and more of my time towards focusing only on psychedelics. And in fact, us getting the center level funding from some really big picture philanthropists helped me to start to make that transition.“ by Matthew Johnson
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Episode Information
Huberman Lab
Scicomm Media
9/20/21