ketamine
Spotlight: Rapid and sustained reduction of treatment-resistant PTSD symptoms after intravenous ketamine in a real-world, psychedelic paradigm (MacConnel, et al, 2024)
"Administering ketamine in ways that parallel psychedelic-assisted treatments—including preparatory, integration, sensory immersion, and psychotherapy sessions—could decrease PTSD symptoms meaningfully."
Spotlight: Measuring acute effects of subanesthetic ketamine on cerebrovascular hemodynamics in humans using TD-fNIRS (Castillo, et al, 2023)
"we provide preliminary evidence that a combination of neural and physiological metrics may serve as predictors of subjective mystical experiences and reductions in depressive symptomatology"
Spotlight: Countering the Monogamy-Superiority Myth: A Meta-Analysis of the Differences in Relationship Satisfaction and Sexual Satisfaction as a Function of Relationship Orientation (Anderson, et al, 2025)
"Studies have shown that non-monogamy is a largely misunderstood concept within general society, and it has often been assumed that non-monogamous relationships are inferior to monogamous relationships "
Spotlight: Ketamine: Review and Hypothesis for Potential Use in Spinal Cord Injury (Liester, et al, 2024)
"Racemic ketamine is an inexpensive general anesthetic, a rapid-acting antidepressant medication, and a psychoplastogen. This medication, which is safe when used in low doses, stimulates the growth of nervous system structures, thus making it a potential option for individuals who suffer from SCI."
Spotlight: Digital CBT proves changing thoughts quickly reduces negative feelings
What Causes Depression? New Research Confirms Ancient Wisdom (Burns, 2025)
Spotlight: Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: Research and Practice Smart Recovery podcast
Dr. Michael DeMarco is a licensed mental health and family therapist and has pursued additional training in the use of psychedelic medicines for those struggling with substance use disorders.
depression
Spotlight: Nearly half of depression diagnoses could be considered treatment-resistant (ScienceDaily, 2025)
Mixed methods study found hopelessness among patients struggling with condition after trying multiple antidepressants
ayahausca
Spotlight: Ayahuasca and Safety: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Ceremonial Work in Non-native Contexts
preparation and integration, ethical limits in the facilitator-participant relationship, the risks of idealization and abuse of power, and the importance of clear protocols to ensure safer and more responsible spaces
Spotlight: Notes from the Field: Ketamine Detection and Involvement in Drug Overdose Deaths — United States, July 2019–June 2023
A majority of deaths with ketamine detected involved illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs) (58.7%), followed by methamphetamine (28.8%) and cocaine (27.2%).
costs
Spotlight: On Cost Considerations in psychedelic assisted therapy
"In Oregon, psychedelic mushroom sessions are typically $1,000 to $3,000, are not covered by insurance, and must be paid for up front."
Spotlight: Symptom modulation and tolerability of intravenous ketamine in treatment-resistant bipolar depression: A retrospective study (Cuomo, et al, 2025)
The review underscores the safety and efficacy of ketamine for patients with Bipolar Disorder.
Considering the critical role music has on the psychedelic experience and mental health
In psychedelic experiencing, training and research, one of the common and most-emphasized themes is music.
Spotlight: Beyond Gender: Indigenous Perspectives, Muxe
A limited series on some of the world's third gender Indigenous people
Ketamine - "psychedelic" or "dissociative"? Experts weigh in
Closed caption (no audio) from a recent Harvard Medical School training on psychedelic medicines. Read what this panel has to
Spotlight: Why consciousness must be quantum mechanical | Stuart Hameroff
“Can the psychedelic experience be explained by quantum collapses?”
Spotlight: Ketamine Psychedelic Therapy: Review of the Results of Ten Years of Research (Krupitsky & Grinenko, 1997)
"We have been working with KPT since 1985 and have already treated with KPT more than 1000 alcoholic patients without any complications like protracted psychoses, flashbacks, agitation, or ketamine abuse. So, KPT seems to be safe and effective method of treatment of alcohol dependence."
Spotlight: The shameful history of psychedelic gay conversion therapy
A range of other gay “treatments” were also in use, not only mind-altering drugs but also aversion therapy with electric shocks, and chemical castration.
Spotlight: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Provides Lasting and Effective Results in the Treatment of Depression, Anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at 3 and 6 Months: Findings from a Large Retrospective Effectiveness Study (Yermus, et al, 2024)
"KAP produced sustained reductions in anxiety, depression, and PTSD, with symptom improvement lasting well beyond the duration of dosing and integration sessions. These effects extended to as much as 5 months after the last KAP session."
