Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Psychedelic Science: A Review and Perspective on Opportunities in Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology

Dec 13, 2022Neurosurgery

Psychedelic Therapy and Science: Potential Uses in Brain Surgery and Brain Cancer Treatment

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Abstract

Psychedelics are being investigated for their potential to treat a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions.

Psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD, along with MDMA and ketamine, may promote , potentially altering mood and behavior.
Imaging studies with psychedelics are enhancing the understanding of brain networks and connectivity.
The resurgence of psychedelic research may offer new therapeutic avenues for patients with brain tumors, chronic pain, and mental health disorders.
Psychedelics could potentially work alongside existing treatments or in subpsychedelic doses that do not induce significant mind-altering effects.
A multidisciplinary approach is encouraged to explore the broad therapeutic potential of psychedelics in various patient populations.

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After a decades-long pause, psychedelics are again being intensely investigated for treating a wide range of neuropsychiatric ailments including depression, anxiety, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia, and chronic pain syndromes. The classic serotonergic psychedelics psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide and nonclassic psychedelics 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ketamine are increasingly appreciated as neuroplastogens given their potential to fundamentally alter mood and behavior well beyond the time window of measurable exposure. Imaging studies with psychedelics are also helping advance our understanding of neural networks and connectomics. This resurgence in psychedelic science and has potential significance for the fields of neurosurgery and neuro-oncology and their diverse and challenging patients, many of whom continue to have mental health issues and poor quality of life despite receiving state-of-the-art care. In this study, we review recent and ongoing clinical trials, the set and setting model of psychedelic-assisted therapy, potential risks and adverse events, proposed mechanisms of action, and provide a perspective on how the safe and evidence-based use of psychedelics could potentially benefit many patients, including those with brain tumors, pain syndromes, ruminative disorders, stroke, SAH, TBI, and movement disorders. By leveraging psychedelics' neuroplastic potential to rehabilitate the mind and brain, novel treatments may be possible for many of these patient populations, in some instances working synergistically with current treatments and in some using subpsychedelic doses that do not require mind-altering effects for efficacy. This review aims to encourage broader multidisciplinary collaboration across the neurosciences to explore and help realize the transdiagnostic healing potential of psychedelics.

Key numbers

60% to 80%

Durable Reduction in Anxiety/Depression

Percentage of subjects reporting reduced symptoms after therapy.

100 for psilocybin; 21 for LSD; 67 for MDMA

Completed Clinical Trials

Total number of clinical trials listed in the NIH database.

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Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Psychedelic Science: A Review and Perspective on Opportunities in Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology

Abstract

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You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the psychedelic science brief