Altered Realities Through Psychedelics

Psychedelic therapies are on the cusp of widespread access and availability: MDMA could be licensed for PTSD in 2024, Australia has rescheduled psilocybin for prescribing, and Oregon has legalised it. And the feverish hype rages on… But there are problems: how can we blind studies? Which model of psychotherapy should we use? Is the data as good as it’s touted? These are but a handful of questions that will need answers if psychiatry is to enjoy its first pharmacological revolution in many decades.

Psychedelic substances are experiencing a significant surge in popularity as new research highlights their therapeutic potential and novel biological mechanisms. However, what does the safe and effective use of psychedelics look like for women? Emerging research has also cast much-needed light on the effects of women's biology on their mental and physical health, revealing mechanisms that overlap between cyclical hormones and psychedelics. With further research, women's psychedelic use may offer potential avenues to better understand and treat the unique aspects of women's bodies and minds.