The Bloom #147 Free Edition the EMA workshop

Editor note: My apologies for not getting this email to you last week, I see that it accidentally was stuck in draft - so you are getting this email and the one for this week just a few minutes apart

How do psychedelics work?

Some may say we have all the answers already, and that all the research currently happening is just an exercise in writing down wisdom that's already present in the wider world outside of academia.

Others, notably the stakeholders at the EMA workshop on psychedelics, would say there is still a lot to be figured out.

Without stepping into this discussion itself, I can say that we need to have a lot more information on how and why psychedelics work - within the medical path. And that by answering these questions, we might again learn valuable lessons in underground (and coaching context) and religious use of psychedelics (heck, even in recreational use).

All that being said, I wrote a 5000-word recap of the first day of the EMA workshop, which gives you a peak inside the minds of regulators, drug developers, and patient advocates.

Floris - Founder of Blossom

ps ICPR, just added a policy-focused day (Pathways to Access Summit) at the start of the conference; with the code BLOSSOM50, you can get a €50 discount.

pps If you're in the US, please join the 16th edition of Horizons New York happening on May 8-11 at the New York Academy of Medicine. The conference spans Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with workshops offered on Wednesday. With our link, you will receive a 15% discount.

Latest Psychedelic Research

1 Psychedelics and the 'inner healer': Myth or mechanism?​

This re-analysis of an RCT (n=59) examines the concept of an 'inner healer' effect associated with psilocybin. Participants receiving a high dose of psilocybin (25mg, 2x) reported higher inner healer scores compared to those receiving a placebo (escitalopram). Furthermore, higher inner healer scores in the high-dose group correlated with improved depressive symptoms two weeks post-dosing, suggesting a potential therapeutic mechanism.

2 Psilocybin pulse regimen reduces cluster headache attack frequency in the blinded extension phase of a randomized controlled trial​

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=10) assesses the safety and efficacy of repeated pulse administration of psilocybin (10mg/70kg, 3x in 15 days) in cluster headache patients. Following the initial trial, eligible participants received a psilocybin pulse at least 6 months later and kept headache diaries for 8 weeks. Results indicate a significant reduction in cluster attack frequency following the psilocybin pulse, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits.

3 The potential of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: A first look at therapeutic mechanisms of action​

This review (2024) examines the potential therapeutic mechanisms of action for alcoholism (AUD) treatment using 5-MeO-DMT. It highlights that 5-MeO-DMT can induce mystical experiences and ego-dissolution, leading to increased psychological flexibility and mindfulness, which may alleviate AUD symptoms. Additionally, preliminary evidence suggests that 5-MeO-DMT modulates neural oscillations and exhibits neuroplasticity and anti-inflammatory properties, indicating its potential clinical implications for AUD and related psychiatric comorbidities.

More new research

• ​Naturalistic use of psychedelics does not modulate processing of self-related stimuli (but it might modulate attentional mechanisms): An event-related potentials study​

New on Blossom

1 Getting The Ducks in a Row in Europe – The EMA Workshop on Psychedelics – Day 1​

Europe explores the future of Psychedelic Medicine in a workshop led by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) - First Day

2 Psychedelic Research Recap March 2024​

This month’s research highlights the potential of psychedelics in treating a range of mental health conditions, as well as the importance of considering individual factors and safety considerations in different populations.

3 Psychedelic Research Links 2024​

All the other papers that have come out this year that don't have a separate entry in the database.

Spotlight

1 ICPR (Event)

In just 50 days, the sixth edition of the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research (ICPR 2024) will take place. It is organized by the OPEN Foundation. It is an academic conference focused on high-quality scientific and scholarly research into psychedelics.

The main conference takes place from June 6 to 8. This is a must-go-to conference for those involved with the academic side of psychedelics.

Join ICPR 2024 with a €100 discount using the code BLOSSOM100

Join the pre-conference day (June 5th) on policy & implementation (PATHS) with a €50 discount using the code BLOSSOM50

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