Psychedelics: A Treatment For Mental Health Disorders?
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When Prince Harry recently indicated that psychedelic drugs helped him deal with past traumas, he caused plenty of raised eyebrows.
Was he talking about drugs like LSD and mushrooms that were banned in the 1960s? Yes, says clinical neuropsychologist Fadi Tayim, PhD, Division Chief of the Brain Mapping Center at the Premier Health Clinical Neuroscience Institute.
“The growing field of psychedelics research has shown that these medications can be helpful for those with mental illness,” Dr. Tayim explains. “We’re learning that when given in small amounts that build up gradually in your system – what we call micro-dosing – psychedelics can be therapeutic for some individuals, particularly those with anxiety spectrum disorders like PTSD.”
The Duke of Sussex said psychedelics helped him deal with past traumas including the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
Dr. Tayim explains that “in appropriate doses as prescribed by a physician, researchers are finding that psychedelics can enable individuals to let go and be more honest and forthcoming with a therapist rather than guarded, which is very common for people who have had a traumatic experience.”
But the drugs come with risks, he adds. These can include psychosis and a deterioration of mental health and functional status. “These controlled substances aren’t for everyone. They are highly, highly individualized and must only be taken under a doctor’s order.”
Premier Health physicians are not currently offering treatment using psychedelics.
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Sources: Fadi Tayim, PhD, Division Chief of Brain Mapping Center, Premier Health Clinical Neuroscience Institute; www.healthline.com
