Psychedelic Science and Medicine

Overview

Explore the science and therapeutic potential of psychedelics in this course led by experts from the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. You'll learn about the history of psychedelic use, the neuroscience underlying their effects, and the latest clinical trials evaluating their therapeutic potential. Gain insights into their risks and benefits, ethical considerations like informed consent, and ongoing challenges in the field. This course equips learners to critically assess scientific findings, moving beyond hype to understand the evidence. Whether you're interested in the neurobiological mechanisms of psychedelics, their role in mental health treatment, or broader societal impacts, this course provides a comprehensive and evidence-based foundation. Perfect for students, professionals, or anyone curious about this emerging area of science, the course offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and practical implications for medicine and beyond.

Syllabus

History, Context, and Definitions

In this module, we will get oriented. What is a psychedelic anyway? How have they been used historically? When did research begin and what is happening now? To address these questions and more, we will discuss psychedelic history, contexts, and definitions.

Clinical Trials and Major Findings

In this module, we will focus on the clinical trial research that is currently happening around the world. Clinical trials focus on people with a diagnosed disease or disorder. Most psychedelic research in medicine has been in psychiatry, which focuses on mental disorders like depression, substance use disorder, OCD, PTSD, and others.

Neuroscience and Mechanisms

We have now heard about the historic use of psychedelics among indigenous peoples, the start, pause, and re-start of scientific research on psychedelics, the clinical trial process and some preliminary findings on risks and benefits. But how do these molecules create these experiences that we’ve heard so much about? In this module, we will discuss the effects of psychedelics on the brain.

Ethics, Society, and the Future of Psychedelics

We have heard about histories of indigenous use of and scientific research on psychedelics, clinical trial results on risks and benefits, and some of how psychedelics impact the brain. In this module, we will tie these threads together and make some summarizing statements about risks of psychedelics in recreational and research settings. We will also discuss on-going bioethical issues such as informed consent, integration, and psychedelic exceptionalism. Lastly, what’s next for the field of psychedelics?