I think the biggest meta level issue with psychedelic medicine & science, manifested in countless ways, is that it's an unprecedented virtue signaling machine. The spiritual effects are very effective at providing cover for unethical behavior.

Is history repeating itself? Medical and societal skepticism towards anesthesia in the mid-19th century revolved around similar topics as current discourses about psychedelics. Some of the parallels are really striking! sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Psychedelics and autobiographical memory - Six open questions --- Commentary w Morten Lietz now out as preprint. We present 6 pressing, unanswered questions related to psychedelics and autobiographical memory and discuss why and how they should be studied. osf.io/preprints/psya…

"Unfortunately, lack of understanding about anesthesia meant that all deaths and complications were viewed as an indictment against the discipline, rather than the limitations of practitioners or characteristics of patients." Sounds familiar?

Psilocybin post-cocaine extinction does nothing. Note that there were 2 or 7 ext+psilo sessions so subacute fx also did nothing. In an upcoming review, we discuss how psychedelics DURING extinction is probs the best bet (for extinguishing fear at least...) ibroneuroscience.org/article/S0306-…

Strange how people misread my posts on analogies between psychedelics & anesthetics as "true believer" advocacy. Read the article! There were massive problems with 19th century anesthesia: - dangerous practices - poor understanding - abuse & charlatanerie - profiteering - ...

Max Wolff Ok, you’ve worn me down. the analogy is pretty good. Still, I’m curious whether there’s a concept of “psychotherapeutic restraint”. The best surgeons I know understand when not to operate. And sometimes, the only thing surgery begets is more surgery…

"One anesthetic experience is like ten thousand hours of surgery" x.com/trpwolff/statu…

"The Therapy Part of Psychedelic Therapy Is a Mess" Another headline implying psychedelic therapy consists of a 'therapy part' plus some other part that is somehow not therapy. That makes about as much sense as speaking of a 'vegetable part' of broccoli. wired.com/story/psychede…

CPCR Director Dr. Frederick Barrett (Fred Barrett) discusses blinding and study design options for psychedelic clinical trials. Check it out in MedPage Today: medpagetoday.com/special-report…

What if psychedelic use itself is much less psychologically beneficial than the mere fulfillment of all the many conditions that must be met before one can use psychedelics at least somewhat pleasurably?

I'm curious what would happen if we banned possessives when referring to hypotheses in scientific papers. My impression is that scientists are far too personally invested in their hypotheses. When I edit my student's papers, I change 'our hypothesis' to 'a hypothesis'.

Humboldt University Berlin is conducting a survey on traumatic psychedelic experiences: soscisurvey.de/psychedelicsan…

Max Wolff That is very true. It was just another step on a long road. In a way that's similar to how deciding to see a therapist is a form of healing in its own right, even before therapy does anything. Very good point and an update to my worldview! 🙏

Anesthetic and psychedelic medications cannot be compared, mainly because one is not a treatment per se, but rather a treatment tool whose profound temporary effect on consciousness facilitates various treatments for a wide range of conditions, whereas the other oh wait