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January 3, 2024

Why UW Scientists Think Psychedelics Might Heal Trauma

City Cast Madison

Why UW Scientists Think Psychedelics Might Heal Trauma

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Could psychedelics help veterans suffering from PTSD? UW scientists want to know.

UW-Madison’s Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances wants to explore the medicinal uses of psychedelics like psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and MDMA (ecstasy) for those dealing with trauma. They’re seeking state approval to create a pilot program to study it.

Bianca Martin speaks with the center’s director Paul Hutson as well as psychologist and neuroscientist Christopher Nicholas about the new frontiers in mental health treatment.

More about the research:

MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD [Nature Medicine]

Current psychedelic trials at UW-Madison [UW-Madison]

About the proposed medicinal psilocybin legislation [Sen. Diane Hesselbein]

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