Psychedelics and Mental Health

Auteur

Irene de Caso, Ph.D., is a biologist who first specialized in neurobiology and then completed a master’s of science and a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience and neuro-imaging from the University of York. A co-organizer of the 2020 Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research and co-director of the Madrid Psychedelic Society, she lives in Madrid, Spain, where she works as a neuroscientific consultant and is studying to become a clinical psychologist.

Texte du rabat

A scientific guide to psychedelic-assisted mental health treatment

• Details how psychedelics alter our experience from a neurological perspective, including what neurons they interact with, their effects on cognitive and emotional processing, and why those effects can be therapeutic

• Looks at clinical results with LSD, psilocybin from magic mushrooms, and DMT from ayahuasca, as well as empathogens such as MDMA, found in ecstasy

• Provides an illustrated introduction to neuroscience and a vision for a new model of psychotherapy where psychedelics help bring lasting healing

Presenting a comprehensive guide to the new and evolving landscape of psychedelic-assisted mental health treatment, neuroscientist Irene de Caso takes you on a journey through the brain, revealing how psychedelics and empathogens, if taken in a safe and therapeutic environment, can lead to positive and lasting changes.

Providing an illustrated introduction to neuroscience and molecular actions in the body and brain, the author details how psychedelics alter our experience, including what neurons they interact with, how they impact cortical activity and connectivity, their effects on cognitive and emotional processing, and how those effects can be therapeutic. She explores the wide body of evidence behind the psychedelic revolution in psychiatry and psychotherapy and looks at clinical studies on hallucinogens such as LSD, psilocybin from magic mushrooms, and DMT from ayahuasca, as well as empathogens such as MDMA, found in ecstasy. She reviews the efficacy of psychedelics in treating alcoholism and other addictions, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism and social anxiety, treatment-resistant depression, and other conditions, offering statistical comparisons to conventional antidepressants and mood-enhancing drugs. She also explores the psychedelic experience through neuroimaging and phenomenological experience, considering mystical states, synesthesia, and the therapeutic benefits of momentary ego-dissolution.

Laying the foundation for a new model of psychotherapy, de Caso shows how psychedelics can help break down our defense mechanisms, offer direct access to the subconscious, and provide a path to deeper, lasting healing.

Contenu

**FOREWORD
by José Carlos Bouso, Ph.D.

INTRODUCTION

Unlocking the Therapeutic Power of Psychedelics
A Mental Health Crisis
The Discovery, Prohibition, and
Rebirth of New Tools in Psychotherapy
References for Further Study

1
Understanding Neuroscience
Living Organisms: The Cell
The Neuron
Neuroplasticity
Neurotransmitters and Receptors: A Complex World
A Rich Consciousness: Senses, Thalamus, and Cerebral Cortex
The Cerebral Cortex
The Limbic System
Brain Networks and Neuroimaging Techniques
References for Further Study

2
Using Psychoactives in Therapy
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Depression—Ayahuasca and Psilocybin • Cancer or Terminal Illness Diagnosis—LSD and Psilocybin • Addictions—Psilocybin and Other Psychedelics • *Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)—Psilocybin

*MDMA-Assisted Therapy
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Alcohol Abuse •
Social Anxiety Linked to Autism

References for Further Study

3
Within the Psychedelic Experience
The Mystical Experience
Phenomenology and Neuroimaging
Visual Effects • Synesthesia • Cognitive Effects •
Mnemonic Effects • Emotional Effects • Corporal Effects

**Unveiling the Psychedelic Experience’s Transformative Potential

Summary Tables of Studies

References for Further Study

4
Psychedelic Neurobiology, Chaos, and Remodeling
Neurobiological Mechanisms of Action
Deep Cortical Layers, Chaos, and Belief Deconstruction
Neuroplasticity: Remodeling of the Mind and Brain
References for Further Study

5
MDMA: Love Enhancer, Fear Suppressor
Phenomenology of MDMA: Feeling Safe
Neurobiology of MDMA
MDMA’s Psychotherapeutic Properties
Social Anxiety • Conflict Resolution •
*Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

***References for Further Study

6
The Future of Psychedelia
A Warning on Set, Setting, and the Wake
Future Clinical Applications
Integration into Western Society
References for Further Study

**APPENDIX I

The Legal Status of Psychedelic Drugs
around the World

APPENDIX II
Glossary

Index