Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on December 17, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Die Arbeit untersucht verschiedene Möglichkeiten, wie die Substanzgestützte Psychotherapie im deutschen Rechtssystem legalisiert werden kann. Es stellen sich zwei grundlegende Fragen: in welcher juristischen Form soll die Substanzgestützte Psychotherapie geregelt werden und wie detailliert muss eine solche Regelung sein? Zunächst wird die Vorgeschichte der Psychedelika in der Psychiatrie kurz dargestellt. Erörtert wird, warum ihre Wiedereinführung vorteilhaft sein könnte. Die beiden Substanzen Psilocybin und MDMA - die derzeit aussichtsreichsten Kandidaten - werden vorgestellt und der aktuelle Stand der Diskussion umrissen. Es wird aufgezeigt, welche weiteren Probleme, neben der Verschreibbarkeit bisher verbotener Substanzen, auf dem Weg zur Legalisierung gelöst werden müssen: Abgrenzung zu anderen Verfahren, Balance zwischen Patientenschutz/ Standardisierung und Therapiefreiheit, Finanzierung über die gesetzlichen Krankenkassen, Zuständigkeit des Staates versus ärztliche Selbstverwaltung. Anhand von Beispielen aus dem In- und Ausland werden verschiedene Wege der Regelung dargestellt und in ihren Vor- und Nachteilen diskutiert. Unterschieden wird zwischen Varianten einer “kleinen Lösung” mit geringen Eingriffen auf Gesetzesebene und weitgehend untergesetzlicher Normierung und einer “großen Lösung” mit einem neuen Substanzgestützte-Psychotherapie-Gesetz. Für die kleine Lösung werden die Regelungen für verschiedene schon in Gebrauch befindliche Psychopharmaka sowie für die Substitutionstherapie opiatabhängiger Patienten herangezogen. Schließlich wird der Versuch unternommen, aus diesen Untersuchungen den Entwurf eines deutschen Substanzgestützte-Psychotherapie-Gesetzes abzuleiten. Die Argumente für und gegen die unterschiedlichen Möglichkeiten der Normierung werden zusammengeführt und in einen größeren gesellschaftlichen Rahmen gestellt. Die möglichen Vorteile einer großen (gesetzlichen) Lösung gegenüber den verschiedenen kleinen Varianten werden abschließend herausgearbeitet.

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Abstract   Wickzell, Arvid. Magic mushrooms or a miracle drug? The Swedish media coverage of psilocybin. Bachelor’s thesis, Umeå University, 2023.   Abstract.   This bachelor’s thesis presents a study on how Swedish mass media is covering the subject of psilocybin. With a social constructionist, critical discourse, framing and agenda setting perspective, the thesis aim is to analyze the media discourse around the subject and to answer the main research question; how does Swedish mass media report about psilocybin? The main question is followed by sub questions; (a) how is psilocybin being framed, (b) whose opinion is voiced in the media, (c) has the way mass media reports on the subject changed over time?   The research questions are answered by using quantitative research method, and critical media discourse analysis, on material from four Swedish publications, both web and print based. The material spans from the year 1995 to 2022. Results show a change over time. A higher interest in the subject, and a change in types of texts being produced. A new way to frame the subject, changing from articles mainly about psilocybin in a crime context, to articles about psilocybin in a medical context. The opinions that are being voiced in the media are mainly by scientists, medical professionals, and law enforcement.    Key words: agenda setting, drugs, debate, discourse analysis, framing, media, press, psilocybin, newspapers, Sweden.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in media coverage regarding the use of psychedelic drugs. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the development of the psychedelic discourse between 1990 and 2019 using critical discourse analysis as a methodological and theoretical tool. Furthermore, this thesis hopes to explain how Swedish media, and the daily press in particular, has presented the image of the typical user of psychedelic drugs, and if this image has changed over time, by looking at articles and news coverage of the psychedelic discourse. The result of this study indicates that there have been several changes in the discourse, both in terms of how psychedelics and its users are presented in the media, but also in the types of discourses that are used to describe them.

Recently, psychedelic science (PS) has been going through a resurge with a vast increase in publications. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) is demonstrating promising results across the treatment of various psychiatric disorders; however, psychedelic science remains absent from the curriculum of both medical and psychology students in Sweden. This study examined medical students' attitudes towards PS, comparing them with psychology students' attitudes, which were previously investigated. The medical students' knowledge and attitudes towards psychedelic science and its therapeutic potential were analysed using a cross-sectional survey study design. Data from psychology students were collected in the spring of 2023, while data from medical students were collected in the fall of 2023. Both datasets were based on a digital survey, Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire, APQ. Multiple Mann-Whitney U tests and a chi-square test were performed across the two groups. n = 316 psychology students and n = 709 medical students answered the survey. Psychology students held more positive attitudes, rated themself as more knowledgeable and followed new findings about psychedelic science to a higher degree compared to medical students. There were no differences between the groups concerning the interests in learning about psychedelics as part of their curriculum, nor the current amount of education in PS they have received. Students who have used psychedelics themselves for recreational purposes held more positive attitudes compared to non-users. This study revealed an unmet request for education about PS from students. We argue this lack of education in PS may delay a future potential implementation of PAT in Sweden.

Il n’est pas rare que souffrir d’un cancer occasionne des symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété. Ces derniers affectent le traitement, entraînant une moins bonne adhérence à celui-ci, une réduction de la qualité de vie ainsi qu’un taux de suicide plus élevé. Les patients se voient alors souvent prescrire des antidépresseurs. Or, leur efficacité est limitée et ils provoquent souvent de nombreux effets secondaires désagréables. Après des années passées sous silence, la psilocybine, à la suite de son inscription dans l’Annexe 1, s’impose comme traitement prometteur pour de nombreuses psychopathologies. Ce mémoire présente une revue systématique de la littérature des études entreprises chez les patients atteints de cancer traités par la psilocybine doublée avec une psychothérapie comme traitement contre leurs symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété. L’objectif est de déterminer si, sur la base de ces études, la psilocybine se révèle un traitement efficace contre les symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété chez cette population, tout en présentant les limites et enjeux de celles-ci. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour évaluer l'efficacité et la sécurité du traitement avec la psilocybine. Cependant, bien que la psilocybine soit une substance non-addictive, elle est illégale dans la plupart des pays, rendant plus complexes et plus coûteux les essais cliniques impliquant son administration à des sujets humains. Néanmoins, la psilocybine, combinée avec une psychothérapie, s’avère être un traitement particulièrement intéressant. Dans un contexte médical, elle n’est pas associée à des effets secondaires importants et permet des améliorations au niveau de la qualité de vie, diminuant les symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété chez les patients atteints de cancer. / It's not uncommon for cancer sufferers to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. These affect treatment, leading to poorer adherence, reduced quality of life and a higher suicide rate. As a result, patients are often prescribed antidepressants. However, their efficacy is limited, and they often cause numerous unpleasant side-effects. After years of silence, psilocybin is now emerging as a promising treatment for many psychopathologies, following its inclusion in Schedule 1. This dissertation presents a systematic literature review of studies undertaken in cancer patients treated with psilocybin coupled with psychotherapy as a treatment for their symptoms of depression and anxiety. The aim is to determine whether, on the basis of these studies, psilocybin presents an effective treatment for symptoms of depression and anxiety in this population, while presenting their limitations and challenges. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy and safety of psilocybin treatment. However, although psilocybin is a non-addictive substance, it is illegal in most countries, making clinical trials involving its administration to human subjects more complex and costly. Nevertheless, psilocybin, combined with psychotherapy, has proved to be a particularly interesting treatment. In a medical context, it is not associated with significant side-effects and leads to improvements in quality of life, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer patients.

Recent research studies and clinical trials have suggested that psychedelic therapy with psychological support can offer beneficial and synergistic effects in reducing or eliminating substance use disorder (SUD) patterns and symptoms. However, very little is known about SUD healthcare providers' perceptions of the usage of psychedelic-assisted therapy in SUD treatment. The present study assesses biomedical SUD healthcare providers' perceptions and concerns to better understand potential barriers to the effective implementation of psychedelic-based therapies and formulate further recommendations for research efforts surrounding them. This study collected data through a short survey and qualitative semi-structured interviews from nine participants involved in SUD patient treatment and care. Open discussion was encouraged in the interviews which were recorded and transcribed using the Otter app. Data was analyzed using Charmaz's two-step coding process, which identified common themes and specific issues about translating psychedelic-assisted therapy into clinical application. Four interconnected themes were identified: personal responsibility, patient safety and expectations, a call for further research, and societal structures as barriers. The findings of this study indicate that SUD healthcare providers have optimism and openness surrounding psychedelic-assisted therapy and generally view it as a positive treatment. However, this optimism was often followed by concerns for safety, legality, and the providers' role in this treatment. Participants also expressed a critical need for further research with rigorous clinical trials to explore the effectiveness of psychedelics in a therapeutic setting. The results provided in this study act as basis for engaging with biomedical SUD healthcare providers to address concerns about psychedelic-assisted therapy in future research for SUD treatment.

Studien syftar till att studera medikaliseringen av psykedelika i svensk massmedia. Uppsatsen utgår ifrån ett socialkonstruktionistiskt perspektiv. Begreppen diskurs, makt, subjektsposition och social kontroll utgör studiens teoretiska begreppsram. Studien är utförd med foucauldiansk diskursanalys som metod. Totalt har 34 tidningsartiklar som förekom mellan 2016-2023 samlats in och analyserats från sex svenska tidningsaktörer. Resultatet visar att massmedia använder en rad strategier för att medikalisera psykedelika. Strategierna består av att; konstruera psykedelika som effektiv behandling för psykiska besvär; tilldela aktörer som har en positiv inställning till att behandling med psykedelika ska bli legitim plats att uttala sig; psykedelika som behandling konstrueras som en viktig lösning på samhällsproblem gällande den utbredda problematiken med psykisk ohälsa; massmedia konstruerar att det finns kulturella hinder för effektiv behandling med psykedelika i form av ett etiskt motstånd samt läkemedelsindustrin.

Psychiatry is in a crisis. Mental health disorders are on the rise worldwide and there are currently not enough efficient treatment methods that would meet the patients’ needs. Hence, the societal and economic costs of mental health problems are enormous, as well as the suffering of individuals afflicted by mental health problems. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin are substances that create an altered state of consciousness characterized by altered sensory perception and on some occasions, ego-dissolution, and mystical experiences. In recent studies, LSD and psilocybin have been shown to carry significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders in conjunction with psychotherapy. The therapeutic effects of LSD and psilocybin have also been shown to persist for between 3-12 months post-treatment. LSD and psilocybin, like other classical hallucinogens, increase serotonin availability, which has been suggested to attenuate symptoms of anxiety and depression. In addition, LSD and psilocybin alter the activity of the default mode network, which has been suggested to be overly active in depressed and anxious patients. This essay is a literature review of the neural mechanisms of LSD and psilocybin, their potential therapeutic effects in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders, and how insights about said neural mechanisms may be useful in understanding the possible application of psychedelics in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders. In sum, recent studies have provided converging and convincing evidence on therapeutic potential of LSD and psilocybin. Yet, few conclusions on the exact neural mechanisms of how LSD and psilocybin alleviate depressive and anxiety symptoms can be made. Although the future of this research field looks promising, archaic national- and international regulations continue to be a hindrance to research into psychedelic drugs. Yet, due to the psychiatric crisis and the promising results so far, more studies in this field are warranted.