OPEN Foundation

OPEN Foundation

The Role of Psychedelics in Palliative Care: Real-World Cases – Dr. Houman Farzin, M.D.

Introduction to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Palliative Care

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is emerging as a transformative approach in palliative care, offering new hope for patients facing the profound challenges of advanced cancer and end-of-life distress. In his presentation at the ICPR 2024, Dr. Houman Farzin, MD, a palliative care physician and clinical faculty member at McGill University, provided insights into the evolving field of psychedelic therapy, specifically focusing on its application in advanced cancer care. Drawing from real-world case studies in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Farzin highlighted the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and MDMA in alleviating physical and psychological suffering, offering a compelling vision for the future of palliative care.

Recording of ICPR 2024 talk. Discover more recordings here.

about Dr. Houman Farzin: Pioneer in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Palliative Care

Dr. Houman Farzin, M.D. is a leading physician specializing in psychedelic-assisted therapies, nutrition, and lifestyle modification to address trauma, existential distress, and enhance overall well-being. As an attending physician in the Division of Palliative Care at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Dr. Farzin integrates emerging treatments and digital health technologies with mindfulness, music, and psychedelic medicine to improve quality of life and alleviate suffering across all life stages.

A lecturer at McGill University Medical School, Dr. Farzin also contributes to the McGill Programs in Whole Person Care, where he teaches resilience and Mindful Medical Practice to future physicians. His extensive training includes expertise in MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine therapies, and he has been instrumental in organizing Quebec’s first psilocybin therapy training programs.

Dr. Farzin’s research focuses on the societal views of psilocybin therapy for existential distress and innovative treatments for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. His contributions to the field are further exemplified by his role as a site physician for MAPPUSX, a study on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. He is also a co-founder of injoy (formerly Phyla), a digital health tool utilizing AI to connect diet, lifestyle, and microbiome health.

Passionate about indigenous cultures and altered states of consciousness, Dr. Farzin’s work is deeply informed by Eastern philosophies and his anthropological studies of ancient practices. His commitment to advancing psychedelic therapies in mainstream healthcare continues to inspire confidence in their potential to transform palliative care and mental health treatment.

Case Studies: Real-World Applications of Psychedelic Therapy

Dr. Farzin’s presentation at ICPR 2024 was grounded in the real-world application of psychedelic therapies, illustrating their profound impact on patients with advanced cancer. His work highlights the effectiveness of individual and group therapy sessions, tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Case 1: Floran’s Journey with Psilocybin Therapy

One of the most compelling cases involved a patient named Floran, who underwent psilocybin-assisted therapy as part of her treatment for advanced cancer. Her first session, which involved a five-gram dose of psilocybin mushrooms, was characterized by intense emotions and a confrontation with deep-seated fears. However, it also opened up new pathways to healing, as depicted in a drawing she created afterward, illustrating her experience of moving from darkness to vibrant colors.

Case 2: A Retired Nurse Finds Peace

Another case involved a retired nurse in her seventies, suffering from advanced cancer and severe anxiety. Despite her reliance on multiple medications, the psilocybin session had a profound impact, providing her with a sense of peace and acceptance that had eluded her for years. Months after the session, she reported a transformative change in her outlook on life, illustrating the long-term benefits of psychedelic therapy.

Case 3: Rediscovering Poetry Through Psychedelic Therapy

A younger cancer patient rediscovered her love for poetry during her psilocybin-assisted therapy. The experience allowed her to reconnect with her inner child, a part of herself suppressed due to the trauma of her illness. This reconnection empowered her to express her emotions and creativity in ways that had previously been inaccessible.

The Importance of Somatic Awareness and the Mind-Body Connection

A critical component of Dr. Farzin’s approach to psychedelic therapy is the emphasis on somatic awareness—the recognition and processing of emotions and trauma stored in the body. This concept, supported by experts like Dr. Gabor Maté, posits that trauma can manifest as physical ailments, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. In psychedelic therapy, patients explore these bodily sensations to access and resolve deep-seated emotional issues.

For instance, during a session, a patient might experience intense physical sensations, which are then explored as manifestations of underlying trauma. By addressing these sensations directly, patients often access emotions and memories that are not readily available in their normal state of consciousness. This process aids in the release of stored trauma and fosters a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection, crucial for holistic healing.

The Evolution of Psychedelic Therapy in Canada

Psychedelic-assisted therapy has a complex history, marked by periods of intense research interest followed by decades of legal and cultural suppression. In Canada, psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, was banned in 1974, closely following the United States’ regulatory actions. However, a significant shift occurred in 2020 when an advocacy campaign led by four terminally ill patients resulted in legal exemptions for psilocybin use under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

This legal breakthrough marked the beginning of a new era in Canadian healthcare, enabling patients facing end-of-life distress to access psilocybin-assisted therapy. The initial exemptions allowed patients to source psilocybin from the black market, setting a precedent that has since expanded into the Special Access Program (SAP), allowing broader clinical use under regulated conditions.

Dr. Farzin’s involvement with TheraPsil, a Canadian nonprofit dedicated to advancing legal access to psilocybin therapy, underscores the collaborative effort required to integrate these treatments into mainstream healthcare. The inclusion of psilocybin and MDMA in the SAP represents a significant milestone, enabling healthcare practitioners to apply for the use of these substances on a case-by-case basis for patients who do not respond to conventional treatments.

Psypal, The First EU-Funded Multi-Site Clinical Study into Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

The EU marked a significant step forward in integrating psychedelic-assisted therapies into mainstream palliative care practices as it granted Psypal, a multi-site clinical study into psychedelic-assisted therapy, over €6.5 million. PsyPal aims to study the use of psilocybin in treating psychological distress in patients with progressive, incurable illnesses requiring palliative care. It consists of a European consortium of 19 partners, including the OPEN Foundation learn more.

Ethical Considerations and the Future of Psychedelic Therapy in Palliative Care

While the benefits of psychedelic therapy are increasingly recognized, the field is not without its ethical challenges. Dr. Farzin addresses these concerns by acknowledging the complexities of offering these treatments to vulnerable populations. One primary ethical consideration is the potential for these therapies to alter a patient’s perception of their illness and treatment choices, particularly in the context of end-of-life care.

Some may argue that providing psilocybin or MDMA therapy to terminally ill patients could influence their decisions regarding medical aid in dying (MAID). However, as Dr. Farzin notes, the goal of psychedelic therapy is not to steer patients away from MAID but to offer them additional tools for coping with their illness. In some cases, patients may still choose MAID after undergoing psychedelic therapy, but with a greater sense of peace and acceptance.

Conclusion: A New Paradigm in Palliative Care

Dr. Houman Farzin’s work represents a significant step forward in integrating psychedelic therapies into mainstream healthcare, particularly in palliative care. His pioneering efforts in Canada demonstrate the profound impact these therapies can have on patients facing the challenges of advanced cancer and end-of-life distress. By combining rigorous scientific research with compassionate patient care, Dr. Farzin is helping to pave the way for a new paradigm in palliative care—one that embraces the transformative potential of psychedelics to heal the body, mind, and spirit.

As the field of psychedelic therapy continues to evolve, healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers must collaborate to ensure that these treatments are accessible, ethical, and grounded in the best available evidence. Through innovation and teamwork, the potential for psychedelics to revolutionize palliative care is immense, offering new hope and healing to those who need it most.

Access recording to “Psychedelics in palliative Care” online event

Members of the OPEN community platform have access to all previous online events organized by the OPEN Foundation.

The FDA’s Decision on MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Call for Pragmatism and Scientific Rigor

On behalf of the OPEN Foundation.

10 min reading time

The recent decision by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withhold approval for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AT) has sent ripples of disappointment and frustration throughout the scientific, psychedelic and therapeutic communities. This decision, issued via a Complete Response Letter to Lykos Therapeutics, effectively delays access to a promising treatment for millions of patients suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by years. At OPEN, we feel compelled to express our concerns, while also proposing a path forward: one that emphasizes both rigorous scientific validation and compassionate pragmatism.

Disappointment in the FDA’s Decision to Restrict Access to Mdma-at

The FDA’s decision represents a significant setback for those advocating innovative approaches in mental healthcare. MDMA-AT has shown remarkable potential in treating PTSD, a condition that remains notoriously difficult to treat with existing therapies. The evidence presented by MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and Lykos Therapeutics (formerly MAPS PBC) demonstrates substantial improvements in PTSD symptoms among patients treated with MDMA-AT. These findings are not only statistically significant but also clinically meaningful, offering hope to those for whom traditional therapies have failed.

The FDA’s decision, while ostensibly rooted in a commitment to safety and efficacy, ultimately restricts access to a treatment that could transform and even save lives. For patients who have exhausted all other options, this decision feels like a denial of hope. 

Surprise at the Divergence from the Dutch State Committee Report “Beyond Ecstasy”

What is particularly surprising is the stark contrast between the FDA’s decision and the conclusions reached by the Dutch State Committee on MDMA. Based on the same body of evidence, the Dutch committee (consisting of scientists, psychiatrists, legal experts, drug prevention and harm reduction specialists) arrived at a radically different conclusion: MDMA-AT is promising, effective, relatively safe and warrants more scientific research to further explore its therapeutic potential.

The committee even concluded that based on the relatively low potential for harm, MDMA could be down-scheduled: moving the compound from List 1 to List 2 of the Opium Act. Finally, the Committee advised the Dutch government to start a naturalistic study to allow patients access to this new therapy form, while also allowing scientists to collect more data on an ongoing basis, all the while gaining important clinical experience in delivering this novel treatment form. These diverging perspectives raise important questions about the interpretation of scientific data and the role of cultural and institutional factors in regulating novel therapeutic approaches. 

The Dutch committee’s recommendation reflects a nuanced understanding of both the risks and benefits associated with MDMA-AT. They recognize that while methodological and ethical concerns remain, the potential therapeutic benefits of MDMA-AT cannot be ignored. This discrepancy between the FDA and the Dutch committee highlights the need for international dialogue and collaboration in the evaluation of novel therapies.

Want to learn more about the Dutch State Committee Report? Click here.

Acknowledging Methodological Concerns In MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy

At the moment, the specific reasons why the FDA rejected the approval of MDMA-AT are not yet publicly available, but we presume these concerns are likely based on the report from the FDA’s scientific advisory panel. These concerns are not without merit. The methodological issues raised, particularly those related to expectancy and placebo effects, are valid and warrant careful consideration. In randomized controlled trials (RCTs), both the MDMA and control groups have shown dramatic improvements, raising the possibility that nonspecific factors may be contributing to the observed outcomes. The contribution of these nonspecific factors to treatment outcomes is not unique to MDMA-AT, but is of concern in the evaluation of any psychoactive medicine. It is also crucial to note that the magnitude of improvement in the MDMA group far exceeds that of the control group, suggesting that the effects of MDMA-AT are not merely due to placebo or breaking blind. Placebo effects, while powerful, tend to diminish over time, whereas the benefits of MDMA-AT have been sustained in many cases. This durability is a critical factor in assessing the therapeutic potential of MDMA and underscores the need for further research to refine our understanding of its mechanisms of action.

Questions that need to be addressed

In our view, specific open questions that need to be addressed in future research include:

  1. Role of Expectations: What is the role of patient expectations in the therapeutic benefits associated with MDMA-AT?
  2. Blinding Integrity: How many participants are able to accurately guess their treatment assignment, and how does this impact the study outcomes?
  3. Prior Experience with MDMA: Does the therapy work equally well for patients with and without prior experience with MDMA?
  4. Control Conditions: Could alternative control conditions with experiential components, such as breathwork, be equally effective as MDMA in improving PTSD symptoms?
  5. Non-Responders: What are the characteristics of patients who do not respond well to MDMA-AT, and how can their outcomes be improved?
  6. Therapist-Client Interactions: What checks and balances are necessary to ensure the standardization and careful conduct of therapist-client interactions in MDMA-AT? 
  7. Proper aftercare: How can we ensure appropriate, sensitive, and durable aftercare for patients who may struggle for a substantial period after having undergone MDMA-AT (or placebo-assisted therapy)? 

These questions highlight the need for further evaluating the efficacy of MDMA-AT and underscore the need for open science practices, including transparent reporting and rigorous study designs, to address these issues.

Addressing Ethical Concerns

Ethical concerns surrounding MDMA-AT are significant and need to be taken very seriously,  particularly regarding the risks related to boundary violations. We are acutely aware of the need for rigorous training, careful monitoring and adequate supervision of both therapists and patients involved in MDMA-AT. This is particularly true when these therapies do become approved, and will be rolled out at a large scale, to more diverse groups of patients. The therapy should only be conducted in controlled environments by qualified professionals who adhere to the highest standards of care. This includes official oversight of relevant professional associations, ideally with a thorough understanding of the nature of – and specific risk factors related to – psychedelic-assisted therapies.

A more difficult issue revolves around the standardization of the psychotherapeutic component of MDMA-AT. While some argue that standardized psychotherapy is essential to ensure consistent and safe treatment across different settings, others propose getting rid of psychotherapy altogether, while a third group suggests that common factors – like therapeutic alliance – are the defining feature, and that the specific form of psychotherapy is less important. 

What we can be sure of, is that as the demand for MDMA-AT grows, there will be an increasing need for well-trained therapists who can deliver this therapy responsibly. The establishment of clear guidelines and protocols is imperative to mitigate risks and protect patient safety.

The Impact of the FDA’s Decision on the Legal Landscape & Future Research on MDMA-aT

The FDA’s likely requirement for a third phase-3 trial presents a serious hurdle to the timely approval of MDMA-AT. The time and costs involved in conducting such a study are substantial, and will require additional fundraising. It is likely that this will postpone the availability of MDMA-AT in the USA by years. This delay is particularly concerning given the urgent need for effective treatments for PTSD, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide.

The implications for Europe are uncertain. It remains unclear whether the results of a future phase-3 trial in the USA will be leveraged to apply for marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as well. Theoretically, another phase 3 trial could also partially take place in Europe (there are trained and experienced MDMA-AT therapists sites in multiple European countries), thereby overcoming the EMA’s wish to have studies conducted in Europe. If Europe is not included, and the EMA does require additional data, this will further delay the availability of MDMA-AT in Europe, leaving many patients without access to this potentially life-changing treatment.

A Pragmatic Approach: Naturalistic Studies and Early Access

In light of these challenges, we propose a pragmatic approach that balances the need for rigorous science with the urgent need for patient access to MDMA-AT. Specifically, we support the recommendation of the Dutch State Committee on MDMA to initiate a naturalistic study in which patients are given MDMA-AT by qualified therapists in specialized treatment settings.

Such a study would provide valuable data on the real-world effects and risks associated with MDMA-AT, while also offering patients access to a therapy that they might otherwise seek in the so-called ‘underground’ or ‘grey’ circuit. A naturalistic study has the dual benefit of providing potential relief to suffering patients while advancing our understanding of the roll out of MDMA-AT in a controlled and ethical manner.

Furthermore, implementing this approach in the Netherlands could position the country as a leader in psychedelic science and innovative mental healthcare. It would enable us to gather valuable real world data, understand the complexities of offering such a therapeutic innovation in the real world, and, importantly, ensure that an increasing  number of qualified therapists can gain experience conducting MDMA-AT, putting in place structures, protocols, and guidelines to enable a smooth rollout when MDMA-AT eventually becomes a mainstream therapy.

Conclusion: Balancing Rigor with Compassion In Psychedelic Science

In sum, the OPEN Foundation believes that the FDA’s decision overlooks the immediate needs of patients who stand to benefit from MDMA-AT. We recognize the importance of rigorous science in establishing the safety and efficacy of this therapy, but we also advocate a pragmatic approach that allows for early access through naturalistic studies. Only by adopting this dual strategy can we ensure that MDMA-AT is administered safely and responsibly, while also collecting the data necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements. Ultimately, the goal of such an approach would be to minimize harm, maximize patient benefit, and pave the way for MDMA-AT to become a valuable tool in the treatment of PTSD.

We call on regulatory agencies, researchers, and clinicians to work together in the spirit of collaboration and innovation, to bring this promising therapy to those who need it most.

Interdisciplinary conference on psychedelic research / iCPR 2024 6 – 8 June / Save the date!

The OPEN Foundation is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated 6th edition of the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research – Europe’s leading academic gathering dedicated to advancing psychedelic research and therapies.

After our hugely successful conference in 2022, we are returning to the prestigious Philharmonie Theatre in Haarlem (right next to Amsterdam).

ICPR provides a unique opportunity to get up to speed with the latest findings in psychedelic research. From clinical research and therapeutic paradigms to neuroscience, neurobiology and pharmacology, to consciousness and mysticism research, to anthropology, historical research, philosophy, social science and humanities studies, plus much more… 

ICPR 2022 aftermovie

ICPR conference takes place only once every two years, don’t miss out in June 6th to June 8th, 2024!

pre ICPR 2024 events, june 5th

Choose your event the day before ICPR

PAthways to access one-day summit

Potential FDA approval of MDMA-assisted therapy and growing evidence supporting psychedelic therapies, makes 2024 stand as a pivotal year for psychedelic medicine.

The Pathways to Access Summit (Paths) is a full-day add-on to the ICPR, dedicated to the challenges and opportunities around the development, approval & integration of psychedelic medicines into mainstream European health care.

Paths takes place the day before the ICPR 2024 conference, at the same location in Haarlem.

Expert-Led Workshops

Learn directly from world-esteemed experts in psychedelic therapy by joining one of two exclusive full-day workshops at the cutting edge.

workshop 1: Psychotherapy with psychedelics
with Torsten Passie, Bill Richards & Janis Phelps

Workshop 2: psychedelic integration
with rosalind watts & Marc Aixala

Workshops take place the day before the ICPR 2024 conference.

We hope to see you at the ICPR conference 2024!

OPEN x APRA Community Meetup in Amsterdam – October edition

Get ready for an epic in-person OPEN community meetup that’s going to be more special even than our usuals! OPEN and APRA are teaming up for an evening of connections, conversations and good vibes!

On Thursday 26 October, you are very welcome to join us and

  • connect with other psychedelic enthusiasts and professionals; 
  • discuss the latest on psychedelic science, research and therapy;
  • and, of course, enjoy a fun night with us!

It’s going to be a memorable evening of mingling, sharing, and expanding our psychedelic horizons. See you there! 🌈

Substance, Set & Setting – An OPEN Foundation workshop

Set and Setting in Psychedelic Use

During the last week of August, the Lorentz centre at the University of Leiden hosted the Substance, Set and Setting workshop. Initiated by the Open Foundation and generously supported by the Netherlands Research Foundation (NWO) and the Improbability Foundation, more than fifty researchers and practitioners from the field of psychedelic science and therapy convened for five intensive days to discuss the entanglement of substance, set and setting. The aim of the workshop was to create new research models and guidelines to further our understanding of how non-pharmacological factors affect the psychedelic experience. To this end we used innovative and interdisciplinary research ideas and methods, and we established interactive discussions between scientist, therapists and other practitioners (e.g., organizers of retreats). The workshop brought together leading international researchers and experts from different disciplinary backgrounds to foster an exchange of ideas and best practices about whether and how set and setting can be used to ‘engineer the psychedelic experience’ and to develop best practices (e.g., related to harm minimization). The participants also attempted to integrate academic and experienced experts’ knowledge about the use of psychedelics that already exists in medical, religious, and other non-medical settings.

Open Space Technology

To encourage an active engagement between researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds (a variety of (medical) sciences, social sciences and humanities), practitioners (such as place holders, ceremony leaders, psychologists) and harm reduction and addiction and substance abuse experts, the workshop used the format of Open Space Technology. In spite of its high tech name this technique provides a pleasantly analogue and hands-on way to collect ideas, to select and focus and to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams on the agenda that was by and large determined by the participants. It was quite amazing to see how an empty wall for ideas and topics, soon transformed into a beehive of themes to discuss and evaluate. In breakout rooms these topics were discussed, according to the principle that it is okay to hop from one room to the next like bumble bees who can cross pollinate or like butterflies who can more silently absorb and transmit information at a later stage. The outcomes were synthesized using the reporting sheets from each discussion group, that were made available to all participants after the workshop.

Everything Else Matters: Film, Experiential Workshops, the Sea and Ruigoord

The workshop also included some plenary moments, such as the presentation of the findings from the Delphi study on setting conducted by the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College in London by Chloe Provoost-Morgan and Leor Roseman. We also engaged in a  presentation of the work-in-progress of the documentary on set and setting Everything Else Matters, a film co-commissioned by the OPEN foundation.Directors Kristina Kulakova, and producer Dmitry Repin presented and discussed excerpts from the film, interviewed several participants and actively worked on the film that will be presented at ICPR 2024. Ido Hartogsohn, assistant professor at Bar-Ilan University, gave a passionate keynote lecture, in which he proposed to extend the notion of set and setting to include the socio-historical context in which psychedelic experiences take place as well. Harm reduction specialist from the Dutch Jelinek and Trimbos institute shared their view and knowledge on harm reduction and several scientists presented their research and experiences either in smaller groups or on posters. 

Over the course of the week the empty offices at the Lorentz Institute started to be taken over by buzzing sounds, passionate exchanges of ideas, but also music and movements in space. In the meantime, in several experiential workshops  the idea of set and setting was put into practice: this opened up new dimensions: a breath work workshop by Katrien Franken moved participants deeply; a music workshop by Arno Adelaars and Jan Frank transformed the university room into a ceremonial space and invited participants to improvise music during breaks; Rini Hartman gave a taste of a Sante Daimo set and setting; and Andre van der Braak demonstrated different meditation techniques. All these experiences were not only important demonstrations of set and setting but contributed to the exchange and development of new ideas on set and setting.

These experiential events are at least as important as the formal research and academic discussion on set and setting. Also the evening program included an experiential element. We watched a screening of Maartje Nevejans’ beautiful documentary Descending the Mountain, documenting the story of a psychedelic scientist and a Buddhist monk who develop a lifelong friendship, which was  followed by a Q&A with the director. We enjoyed a barbecue at the Dutch seaside that invited several participants to a spontaneous dive into the cool and dark water of the North Sea. On Thursday evening the group made a visit to the unique cultural green village (hidden in the Amsterdam Harbor) Ruigoord with a guided tour by one of its founders, Hans Plomp.  

And Now? Concrete Outcomes and follow-up

 Throughout the week different groups started to work on different concrete outcomes of all the encounters: one group initiated a joint white paper on substance, set and setting. Another group focused on the development of a conceptual model and theoretical framework that highlights the surplus value of bringing together the perspectives of different disciplines and practices. And a third collective started to work on concrete guidelines for different groups of practitioners and policy makers with a particular aim at harm reduction and care. In many discussions we had, it was clear that while sharing the exact same hypothesis about the necessity to bring together substance, set and setting, it was not always easy to create ways to truly collaborate in larger projects. But this is precisely where innovation is needed we should embrace complementarity and serial disciplinarity, where each discipline, according to its own method or practice, covers a part of the entire psychedelic spectrum which can then be brought together at different stages. 

While all groups are still working on concrete papers and guidelines, it was clear that the commitment of working together, sharing spaces and places, provided the foundation for the establishment of an interdisciplinary European research network for psychedelic research. We were also able to conceptualize and establish parameters of responsible and safe use of psychedelics in different contexts (medical, religious, recreational and other). Such guidelines can be implemented by policy makers and practitioners and are aimed towards providing concrete advice and recommendations related to risk reduction of psychedelic use. 

At the end of the week we had a closing circle, in which every participant shared their insights and experiences. It was heart-warming to learn how the workshop had been an invaluable experience for everyone involved. It is a unique situation to be able to devote a full week with experts for an open and free debate about set and setting. And we sincerely hope that the participants will carry this positive afterglow forward in their own work and practice!  


Reported by Patricia Pisters & Michiel van Elk (Board members OPEN Foundation)

Ketamine in the Dutch mental healthcare system

This report (only available in Dutch) describes the current state of (es)ketamine treatments within mental healthcare in the Netherlands. The report aims to contribute to an effective and safe implementation of ketamine in the Dutch mental healthcare system. The first chapter discusses the history of ketamine, its mode of action, administration forms, and its use in mental healthcare. The second chapter discusses ketamine in the Dutch healthcare system. The third chapter focuses on ketamine as an antidepressant. Chapter four discusses the risks associated with its implementation. The last chapter addresses unresolved issues and steps that can be taken in the future. In addition to studying relevant information from previous studies and reports, information was also obtained from a large number of Dutch professionals and experts in the field. Six psychiatrists, five therapists, and three scientific researchers contributed their perspectives on current ketamine treatments, identified existing challenges, and shared their visions for the future of ketamine treatment in the Netherlands. The unanswered questions are included in chapter five and serve as a starting point for further collaborations and study of outstanding issues. The report aims to provide a clear overview of registration, implementation, unresolved issues, and guidance so that the implementation of ketamine as a treatment for TRD can be realized efficiently and safely.

Click here to read the full PDF report, written by two of our interns!

Goodbye ICPR 2022. Hello… ICPR 2024!

From touching talks to insightful perspectives, and profound new ways of thinking about reality to practical tips about doing therapy or research: ICPR 2022 has been an inspiring, thought-provoking, educational, and uplifting experience. Thanks to you all so much from the bottom of our hearts, whether you were a visitor, volunteer, speaker, presenter, digital visitor, or fan from afar: you made this conference what it was.

A common theme at ICPR 2020 was figuring out what is next for psychedelics and psychedelic therapy, now that their efficacy has been proven, their acceptance is broadening, and a professional ecosystem is developing. The presentations at ICPR were able to satisfy some questions with answers but mostly helped us all to develop new and better questions about the challenges we are dealing with in our own fields. 

“We can set the standard for how this is done in the future,” as MAPS director Rick Doblin asserted at the closing panel of ICPR 2022. “And I think the most important thing right now is the training of therapists,” Doblin said, constantly pushing the envelope on where this field might go. “Let people watch videos for example. But also make sure there is a clear and defined way for therapists themselves to take MDMA legally as part of their training.”

At the same time, Paul Stamets stated, we should not forget to look for knowledge outside of the rigor of scientific research and prohibitionist laws – and appreciate more that some of these substances, experiences, and knowledge have been with humanity for a very long time: “We shouldn’t ignore that millions of people have been using these substances for thousands of years,” Paul Stamets stated. 

Participants Panel

There was special attention for the participants of psychedelic trials, who were featured on a panel to bring a much-needed perspective to ICPR that had been missing at earlier conferences. It was the first time -as far as we know- that a panel of trial participants was featured at a psychedelic conference. 

Participants Ian Roullier and Leonie Schneider stressed the need for extensive and thorough support before and after the psychedelic experience: “set and setting, for as participants, apply before, during and after treatment. It’s not just during the medical intervention itself.”

So psychedelics give us the opportunity to radically rethink human healing, was an often-heard sentiment at ICPR: “It’s time we treat people like plants”, Pedram Dara, ICPR Manager and panel member of the participants’ trial asserted. He alluded to the care we take to change the environment of a plant when it’s not doing well – with light, water and nutrients – instead of trying to ‘fix’ the plant itself. 

Leonie Schneider underlined the need for an infrastructure and ecosystem. “Tweak the environment so that it supports them. We are not dots on a graph, we are not lab rats, we are human beings. So how do we create peer circles and support groups – a community infrastructure – going forward?”

FUTURE OF PSYCHEDELIC Therapy

Mendel Kaelen, music researcher and the CEO of Wavepaths, underlined the importance of experience as a healing agent: “We learn to walk by walking, we learn to talk by talking and we need to learn to feel safe by feeling safe” – Mendel Kaelen, CEO of Wavepaths.

Janis Phelps shared her qualms about the psychedelic experience being boxed-in too much: “I’m afraid the experience will be overmedicalized,” she said, “that we lose that sense of awe and gratitude that Roland Griffiths talked about. I don’t want to have done all this work just to the benefit of wealthy people.”

Future research was also announced and highlighted. Beckley Foundation founder and director Amanda Feilding announced a first proof-of-concept study with Basel university to study microdosing LSD in mild Alzheimer’s disease. Rick Doblin posed difficult questions around PTSD in children and proposals to explore MDMA-assisted therapy for 11-year olds.    

Roland Griffiths reflected on his own mortality and shared how he is nurturing gratitude about the mystery of life and consciousness while he walks this earth with us.

Charles Raison examined the agent of change in a psychedelic experience: are psychedelics more like psychotherapy or more like standard antidepressants ‘on steroids’? To test this, an upcoming study by Raison will administer psilocybin to sleeping participants. Will they experience a meaningful change without having conscious thoughts?

Torsten Passie reflected on his experience in psychedelic therapy: “We are not treating people. We are moderating self-healing. This is why we should guide rather than interfere with the process”, explained Torsten Passie.

Some findings

There were bigger and smaller findings about how psychedelics compare to more traditional antidepressants. Emotional blunting is a common side effect reported with antidepressants, Matthew Wall explained. And his research found that psilocybin affects emotional responsiveness less than escitalopram – as measured by the emotional faces task. In simpler terms: it found psilocybin offered a greater antidepressant effect with less downsides.

Frederike Holze presented the results of a recent study at University Hospital Basel with Peter Gasser, that a single dose of LSD correlated with a rapid, long-lasting reduction in anxiety symptoms. And that mystical experiences are correlated with longer-lasting effects.

Jennifer Schmidt presented a study that found that Methylone showed the strongest possible antidepressant effect in the forced-swim-test in rats. The study also found that methylone does not have a negative drug interaction with SSRIs, like MDMA does.

David Erritzoe found that participants who were weaned off antidepressants before taking psilocybin experienced a smaller change in depression reduction than those who were fully naive to antidepressants. David Erritzoe explained that the expectancy effect of escitalopram predicts greater efficacy than the same expectancy effect with psilocybin.

ICPR 2024!

We’ve hardly had time to catch our breath after the afterparty (and the after-after-party…) but we didn’t want to leave you with the sincere wish we can do this all again soon! The great success of ICPR 2022 means that the OPEN Foundation has a runway to organise and expand the psychedelic scientific ecosystem for the upcoming years. And it is with that confidence and love that we want to invite you to the next ICPR – now planned for 2024. Because there is much suffering in the world, the questions that psychedelics force us to ask are urgent, and there is much need to separate fact from fiction, and hype from hope, in the prospering psychedelic ecosystem.

This overview was but a snippet of the hundreds of hours we could spend on its content. But rest assured that more videos from ICPR2022 will appear over the coming weeks. Watch your email and follow us on social media to stay up to date. The community platform is where these videos will be released.

Thanks again to all the volunteers helping out, and especially the photography, video, livestream, content and social media teams! Special mention to @martin_spijker for his amazing portraits and photos.

(Now let’s all take a well-deserved nap.)

ICPR 2022 PREVIEW: SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Wow, we’re already on the final day of ICPR 2022! We’ll hear from Roland Griffiths (virtually), trial participants, Rick Doblin, Gitte Moos Knudsen, Bernardo Kastrup and others on topics such as MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, indigenous medicine, business, microdosing, and critical perspectives on the quality of psychedelic research. 

Just before lunch, there will be a screening in the Wasson Room of the film Descending the Mountain at 11:50, followed by a Q&A with co-producer Annette Badenhorst. At that same time, Corine de Boer will give an update on MDMA-assisted therapy in Europe, followed by Rick Doblin who will give an overview of the work of MAPS on MDMA. 

This will be a hard block to choose from, because at the same time we’ll hear from participants of psychedelic trials in the Shulgin Room.

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After lunch, Bernardo Kastrup will give a keynote speech on how the effects of psychedelic  point towards a much bigger puzzle about the nature of reality – while the Wasson Room will feature talks on Indigenous medicine in and beyond the Amazon.

Roland Griffiths will speak to us via video, while some perspectives and digital tools for microdosing studies are shared in the Wasson Room. There will be three different panels, discussing the business of psychedelic sciencepatient perspectives from trials, and managing issues around blinding and expectancy in research. 

For reflecting on three days of psychedelic discourse, there will be a closing panel starting at 17:30, with time to relax and connect afterward. For those who have signed up for the afterparty in Amsterdam: see you there! (Afterparty has a waitlist – check your email for more info)!

As for recordings for all rooms, we’ll need time to process. Most talks will be available for later viewing, but there is no timeline available for this yet. We’ll keep you posted.

Check out the full day 3 programme here.

ICPR 2022 PREVIEW: FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

And we’re off! After an amazing, warm and inspiring first day where we hugged old friends and greeted new faces, we’re now on to our second day of ICPR! Hopefully everyone knows their way around the building (and to the different “toiletten” tucked in the building) a bit more.

Friday Highlights
Some highlights of Friday are LSD Research, the mainstreaming of psychedelics, the future of funding, and psychedelic neuroscience. 

David Nutt and Amanda Feilding will dive into the neuroscience of psychedelics in the morning. And Bill Richards will give an update about his work around palliative care and psychedelics – some of the longest-running research into the possibility of psychedelics to relieve suffering of terminal patients. While Torsten Passie will teach lessons from the first wave of psychedelic research in the mid-20th century.

Brian Pace will try to break some stereotypes about the political leanings of the psychedelic ecosystem with his presentation on Right-wing psychedelia: red pills for sale. Ethics will be discussed by Carolina Seybert and Robert Schoevers.

Two concurrent panels will round up the day.

One panel will be about the mainstreaming and commercialisation of the psychedelic field and will include Rick Doblin, VICE-journalist Shayla Love, North Star project leader Julia Mande and professor in clinical pharmacology and long-time psychedelics researcher Matthias Liechti. The conversation will be hosted by journalist Thijs Roes.

The other panel is moderated by David Nutt and will discuss the future of funding and regulation in Europe. Panel members are Lionel Thelen, Gitte Moos Knudsen, Tadeusz Hawrot, and Florence Butlen-Ducuing.

At that same time, Mendel Kaelen, founder and CEO of Wavepaths, will give a talk on the role of music in psychedelic therapy based on his 10 years of research.

Having such a wide range of topics on one day again shows the value of having an interdisciplinary conference. So again, on this Friday, there is again so much to choose from. 

Highlighted topic of the day: LSD
From its accidental discovery to its long-lasting effects, and now a renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of the substance in modern psychiatry: lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is unique in the world of psychedelics. On day 2 of ICPR, you will hear from Friederike Holze and Peter Gasser about the recently published results of one of the biggest trials with LSD in the treatment of anxiety with or without a life-threatening illness.

Amanda Feilding will present an important aspect of the LSD experience, talking about blood supply to the brain. Finally, there will be an intriguing talk by Mark Juhan regarding the “entities” encountered during LSD trips. Get ready to dive deep into the history, or mystery of the LSD experience!
Cognition and perception will be explored by Isabel Wiessner in her talk LSD and the stream of thought: increased discontinuity of mind, deep thoughts and abstract flow.

Full programme
Find 
Friday’s full programme here.

ICPR 2022 PREVIEW: THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS

After many months of planning, ICPR 2022 is finally here! In this post, we’d like to look ahead to the first day of ICPR: Thursday. Here are some highlights, to help you with your planning for the three days of psychedelic science. You can find the full programme here for all the specifics about who is where and when. The full list of speakers and presenters is on the ICPR website. If you have an in-person or livestream ticket already, be sure to check your e-mail for all the latest news and updated – like getting access to our new OPEN Community Platform.

ICPR 2022 will be hosted at the Philharmonie building in Haarlem from approximately 9:00 to 18:00 each day across three stages, which include the Huxley Hall, the Shulgin Stage, and the Wasson Room. Lunch will be served in the main hall and poster presenters will have their own room. 

On Wednesday, we’re first holding The Psychedelic Science, Ethics & Business event, featuring in-depth discussions about the way forward in the business side of psychedelics. Supplemental live stream tickets are still available for those who need them and more information is here.

Let’s now dive into the programme so you can get planning and make sure you don’t miss any of the action!

THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS

The main hall of the conference, called Huxley Hall.

On the first morning of ICPR 2022, Joost Breeksema, director of the OPEN Foundation, will kick things off with an official opening at Huxley Hall at 9:15. This will be followed by chemist David Nichols, who will set the scene with an overview of psychedelics from prehistory to the present. After that, the presentations will generally run parallel.

Later highlights of this first day are neuroscientist Kim Kuypers about microdosing, mycologist Paul Stamets about synthetic psilocybin vs. psilocybin mushrooms and the three interesting panel discussions in the afternoon. Topics will be psychedelic research in the Netherlands, therapist self-experience, and the relative novelty of psychedelic compounds

Be sure to take a good look at the programme so you can plan accordingly. Because other topics for this first day will range from the commercialisation of psychedelics to mysticism, 5-MeO-DMT for depression, diversity and inclusion in the field, and psychedelic aesthetics

To round off the day, there will be a musical performance by Vincent Moon at the Shulgin Stage (de Kleine Zaal).

Check out the Full Programme here on the ICPR website or if you have a ticket, go to the programme on the OPEN community platform.

The Shulgin Stage in the Kleine Zaal

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