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Date of Award
Spring 2024
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Lisa Akselrad
Abstract
Cultures have been experimenting with psychedelics for thousands of years(1). After the introduction of psychedelics in the United States in the 1950’s for the treatment of mental disorders, these substances and their use in clinical studies were later banned(1). Yet they have been experiencing a new renaissance in the last decade as more and more universities and research labs across the globe are conducting clinical studies with a multitude of different substances, including psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, and LSD, to name a few(1). Although current research has demonstrated potential benefits with many psychedelics, this paper will focus on psilocybin, the psychedelic garnering the most attention in the therapeutic world - Oregon and Colorado have both recently legalized psilocybin assisted therapy. The goal of this paper is to educate the physician assistant about the history of psychedelic assisted therapy, the use of psilocybin in the therapeutic setting, the pharmacology and metabolism of the psilocybin, the importance of the proper set and setting of a psychedelic session, and the safety profile of the drug, including contraindications.
Recommended Citation
Shaw, Austin Taylor, "An Introduction to Psilocybin Assisted Therapy for the Physician Assistant" (2024). Capstone Showcase. 81.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2024/pa/81
An Introduction to Psilocybin Assisted Therapy for the Physician Assistant
Cultures have been experimenting with psychedelics for thousands of years(1). After the introduction of psychedelics in the United States in the 1950’s for the treatment of mental disorders, these substances and their use in clinical studies were later banned(1). Yet they have been experiencing a new renaissance in the last decade as more and more universities and research labs across the globe are conducting clinical studies with a multitude of different substances, including psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, and LSD, to name a few(1). Although current research has demonstrated potential benefits with many psychedelics, this paper will focus on psilocybin, the psychedelic garnering the most attention in the therapeutic world - Oregon and Colorado have both recently legalized psilocybin assisted therapy. The goal of this paper is to educate the physician assistant about the history of psychedelic assisted therapy, the use of psilocybin in the therapeutic setting, the pharmacology and metabolism of the psilocybin, the importance of the proper set and setting of a psychedelic session, and the safety profile of the drug, including contraindications.