Psychedelic Frontiers: Bridging Science, Medicine and Consciousness

by Ben Clayden

In recent years, Psychedelics have begun to recapture the attention of the scientific community, largely related to their efficacy in the treatment of neurological disorders including PTSD, depression and addiction. Alongside this, with recent technological advances in neuroimaging, psychedelics may offer an all important tool to further our understanding of consciousness. With groundbreaking studies being released nearly e ... 

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Medicine
Natural Sciences
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Podcast episodes

  • Season 1

  • What are flashback hallucinations? Exploring HPPD - With Dr Torsten Passie and Ben Clayden - The Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast Episode 10

    What are flashback hallucinations? Exploring HPPD - With Dr Torsten Passie and Ben Clayden - The Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast Episode 10

    S01 E10
    01:03:07

     The latest episode of the Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast focuses on Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) where individuals experience persistent visual hallucinations or perceptual distortions after previous use with drugs, including but not limited to psychedelics such as LSD. HPPD is rarely encountered in clinical settings, and its aetiology is poorly understood. Wide variations across participants are seen in symptoms, frequency and treatment-efficacy in this mysterious disorder, and it's clear more research is needed to identify its risk factors and underlying mechanisms. Today on the Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast, we’ll Torsten and Ben discuss what’s currently understood about HPPD, and review a recent systematic study exploring the disorder.  Dr Passie is a German psychiatrist, professor at Hannover Medical School and is an expert in altered states of consciousness and psychedelic substances. Torsten was part of the only systematic scientific investigation of more than 20 subjects claiming symptoms of HPPD, and the results have been published in a major neuroscience journal. He has also published the only comprehensive book on the subject of flashback phenomena such as HPPD as after-effects of hallucinogen ingestion, recreational or otherwise.  Ben Clayden, the creator and owner is currently studying for an MSci in Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience at the University of York. Alongside the podcast, he is the co-chair for Drug Sciences Student Society Network, as well as the president of his university's Drug Science Society. He has a key interest in and neuroimaging neuropsychopharmacology, particularly related to consciousness and mental health. Halpern, J. H., Lerner, A. G., & Passie, T. (2018). A Review of Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) and an Exploratory Study of Subjects Claiming Symptoms of HPPD. Current topics in behavioural neurosciences, 36, 333–360. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2016_457 Flashback-Phänomene als Nachwirkung von Halluzinogeneinnahme - Doris Holland, Torstan Passie, 2011 https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Flashback_Ph%C3%A4nomene_als_Nachwirkung_von.html?id=t2cOMwEACAAJ A thank you to Neel Radia, a member of the podcast team who helped with the research and script production for this episode Contact and Extra Information: Keep updated and listen to all our episodes and clips! Podcast Email - psymedpod@gmail.com Listen to the Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast! – https://rss.com/podcasts/psymedpod/ Psychedelic Frontiers Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicfrontiers/ Psychedelic Frontiers Twitter - https://twitter.com/in_psychedelics Psychedelic Frontiers TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@psychedelicfrontiers

  • Possible Complications in Psychedelic Therapy with Dr Torsten Passie - Episode 9 of the Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast

    Possible Complications in Psychedelic Therapy with Dr Torsten Passie - Episode 9 of the Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast

    S01 E09
    51:02

    In recent years, psychedelics have been shown increased interest as a possible therapeutic agent for the treatment of various mood and mental health disorders, ranging from PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder to Anorexia and End of Life Associated Anxiety. Institutions all over the world are running clinical trials, with many producing promising results, however not without complications and challenges. Today on The Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast, we’ll discuss Psychedelic Assisted Therapies. For which disorders does this emerging treatment show the most promise for? What are the current methodological issues and challenges facing researchers studying this treatment? How generalizable are the results from recent clinical trials, and does Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy have a chance at becoming a mainstream treatment amongst the ever-growing mental health crisis.Dr Passie is a German psychiatrist, professor at Hannover Medical School and is an expert in altered states of consciousness. Torsten has performed clinical and experimental studies numerous psychoactive and psychedelic compounds including MDMA, Psilocybin, Ketamine, Nitrous Oxide and more.Ben Clayden, the creator and owner is currently studying for an MSci in Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience at the University of York. Alongside the podcast, he is the co-chair for Drug Sciences Student Society Network, as well as the president of his universities Drug Science Society. He has a key interest in neuropsychopharmacology, particularly related to the neural correlates of consciousness and altered states of consciousness.Podcast Themes: Psychedelics, Drugs, Science, Medicine, Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, Consciousness, Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, PsychologyContact and Extra Information: Keep updated and listen to all our episodes and clips!Podcast Email - psymedpod@gmail.com Listen to the Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast! – https://rss.com/podcasts/psymedpod/ Psychedelic Frontiers Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicfrontiers/ Psychedelic Frontiers Twitter - https://twitter.com/in_psychedelics Psychedelic Frontiers TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@psychedelicfrontiers

  • The History of MDMA - With Dr Torsten Passie and Ben Clayden - The Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast Ep.8

    The History of MDMA - With Dr Torsten Passie and Ben Clayden - The Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast Ep.8

    S01 E08
    50:02

    Recent statistics have shown that more than 100 million people on the planet have used MDMA, making it the second most popular drug worldwide. Commonly reported effects include altered sensations, increased energy, empathy and pleasure. Since its discovery, MDMA has garnered significant interest both from recreational users as a party drug, as well as from the medical and therapeutic communities as a possible therapeutic tool. Today, on the Psychedelic Frontiers podcast (formerly the Psychedelics in Medicine Podcast), we’ll take a deep dive into the rich history of MDMA. Dr Passie is a German psychiatrist, professor at Hannover Medical School and is an expert in altered states of consciousness and psychedelic drugs. He has very recently published a book titled ‘The History of MDMA’ with Oxford University Press, the first-ever comprehensive history of MDMA. MDMA has had a complex often misunderstood and multilayered history. The book provides a deeper and more differentiated understanding of MDMA and its history, drawing partially on personal interviews with most of the people significant in the history of MDMA. Ben Clayden, the creator and owner is currently studying for an MSci in Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience at the University of York. Alongside the podcast, he is the co-chair for Drug Sciences Student Society Network, as well as the president of his universities Drug Science Society. He has a key interest in neuropsychopharmacology, particularly related to the neural correlates of consciousness and altered states of consciousness. LINK TO TORSTENS NEW BOOK - https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-history-of-mdma-9780198867364?lang=en&cc=cr Podcast Themes: Psychedelics, Drugs, Science, Medicine, Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, Consciousness, Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, PsychologyContact and Extra Information: Keep updated, and listen to all our episodes and clips! Podcast Email - psymedpod@gmail.com Listen to the Psychedelic Frontiers Podcast! – https://rss.com/podcasts/psymedpod/ Psychedelic Frontiers Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/psymedpod/ Psychedelic Frontiers Twitter - https://twitter.com/in_psychedelics Psychedelic Frontiers TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@psymedpod

  • Low Dose Psycholytic Therapy: A neglected approach - The Psychedelics in Medicine Podcast with Dr. Torsten Passie and Ben Clayden

    Low Dose Psycholytic Therapy: A neglected approach - The Psychedelics in Medicine Podcast with Dr. Torsten Passie and Ben Clayden

    S01 E07
    48:50

    The phrase ‘psycholytic therapy’ was coined by Ronald A. Sandison, literally meaning soul-dissolving. In contrast to psychedelic therapy, psycholytic therapy places more emphasis on the psychotherapy than the substance. It typically consists of a low-to-medium dose of a psychedelic compound alongside more therapy sessions than its counterpart. In this month’s episode of the Psychedelics in Medicine Podcast (PiMPOD), Dr Torsten Passie and Ben Clayden discuss psycholytic therapy. What is the history of substance assisted therapies? What are its differences to psychedelic therapy? Has it shown therapeutic relevance and efficacy? These and much more our discussed in today episode. Dr Passie is a German psychiatrist, professor at Hannover Medical School and is an expert in altered states of consciousness. Torsten has performed clinical and experimental studies numerous psychoactive and psychedelic compounds ranging from nitrous oxide, to MDMA to ketamine. Ben Clayden is the creator and owner of this Podcast. He is a student at the University of York studying Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience. He is co-chair for the Drug Science Student Society Network as well as the president of his University’s Psychedelics in Medicine Society. Psychedelics, LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, Therapy, Doctors, Neuroscience, Medicine Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Wellbeing, Psycholytic Useful Links INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/psymedpod/ LINKTREE - https://linktr.ee/psymedpod RSS - https://rss.com/podcasts/psymedpod/

  • First Hand Experience in Psychedelic Therapists - PiMPOD E6

    First Hand Experience in Psychedelic Therapists - PiMPOD E6

    S01 E06
    50:43

    In this month’s episode of the Psychedelics in Medicine Podcast (PiMPOD), Dr Torsten Passie and Ben Clayden discuss Self-experimentation with psychedelic substances. What is the history of psychedelic self-experimentation, why is self-experimentation important for therapists conducting psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, which aspects of the trip are particularly important, and what ethical issues may arise if psychedelic therapists are required to take psychedelics before finishing their training? All of these questions and more are covered in our first episode of 2023 Dr Passie is a German psychiatrist, professor at Hannover Medical School and is an expert in altered states of consciousness. Torsten has performed clinical and experimental studies numerous psychoactive and psychedelic compounds ranging from nitrous oxide, to MDMA to ketamine. Ben Clayden is the creator and owner of this Podcast. He is a student at the University of York studying Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience. He is co-chair for the Drug Science Student Society Network as well as the president of his University’s Psychedelics in Medicine Society. Psychedelics, LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, Therapy, Doctors Neuroscience, Medicine Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Wellbeing Useful Links INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/psymedpod/ LINKTREE - https://linktr.ee/psymedpod RSS - https://rss.com/podcasts/psymedpod/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@psymedpod