Intro to Therapeutic Uses of Psychedelics

Over the past decade, interest in psychedelic medications and psychedelic plant and fungal medicines has steadily increased, as has their use in a growing number of clinical settings. While many of these substances are illegal in the United States, some are currently being researched for their potential benefit in mental healthcare and at end of life.

The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine has created this psychedelic course to give clinicians a broad overview of this topic and the current state-of-affairs. This is not a primer on how to prescribe or recommend psychedelic substances. This course will cover a variety of psychedelic substances that have been and/or are currently being investigated for their potential therapeutic value.

Course objectives:

  • Describe the historical and cultural origins of psilocybin, MDMA, ibogaine, and ayahuasca.
  • Define the potential mechanisms of action of psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, ibogaine, and ayahuasca.
  • Review the clinical evidence for effectiveness of MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin, ibogaine, and ayahuasca for mental health issues and end of life care.
  • Describe the legality (including experimental use) of psychedelic medicines and substances, including MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin, ibogaine, and ayahuasca in the US.
  • Review the role of set and setting, integration and the critical window theory within the context of therapeutic psychedelics.

Completion Requirements

Complete all the course work, course evaluation, and the final test with a score of 70% or better. Upon successful completion you will be able to print your certificate of completion.

Curriculum

SECTION I: An Overview & History

  • Psychedelics - An Introduction
  • First Wave Psychedelic Research to Reemergence
  • Traditional Uses and Cultural Perspectives of Psychedelics

SECTION II: Modern Approaches: Psychedelic Research and Practice

  • MDMA- and Ketamine-Assisted Therapies
  • Psilocybin-assisted Therapies Research
  • Ibogaine for Substance-misuse Treatment
  • Ayahuasca
  • Mechanisms of Therapeutic Psychedelics
  • Emotional Regulation and Role of Spirituality in Psychedelic Research

SECTION III: Inclusive Therapeutic Approach

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Psychedelic Medicine

Target Audience

Primary Care Physicians, Internal Medicine Physicians, Pain Specialists, Psychiatrists, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants

Enrollment

You can register and start immediately. If you register for the course and pay with a credit card you will have immediate access to the course. Once your registration is complete, logout and log back in and your course will be listed on the campus page. If you cannot remember your account information, click the Forgot Password link on the login page and it will be emailed to you.

Introduction to Therapeutic Uses of Psychedelics
Disclosure & Education Credit Info

COM CME

Physicians

ACCME/AMA PRA Accreditation and CME Designation Statement

The University of Arizona College of Medicine — Tucson is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine — Tucson designates this enduring material for a maximum of 9AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This course includes an assessment of 10 questions that you must answer 70% correctly or above in order to receive credit for participation. You are allowed unlimited re-attempts.

Current CME Approval Period: April 3, 2023 to April 2, 2025
Most Recent Review: April 3, 2023

Commercial Support

There is no commercial support for this activity.

Relevant Financial Relationships Statement

Dr. Dolen has disclosed relevant financial relationships: scientific advisory boards for Compass Pathways and Pangea Botanica. Her relevant financial relationships were mitigated via slide review and the content found to be evidence-based, balanced, and non-promotional.

Dr. Nutt has disclosed relevant financial relationships: research support from Compass Pathways and consultant for Awakn Life Sciences. His relevant financial relationships were mitigated via slide review and the content found to be evidence-based, balanced, and non-promotional.

Dr. Shannon has disclosed a relevant financial relationship: research support from MAPS PBC. His relevant financial relationships was mitigated via slide review and the content found to be evidence-based, balanced, and non-promotional.

Dr. Williams has disclosed that she owns stock in Wake Network, an ineligible company. The content that she authored was reviewed and found unrelated to the business/product lines of Wake Network. Therefore, Dr. Williams' relationship with Wake Network is not relevant to the content she authored for this course.

All other faculty, CME Planning Committee Members, and the CME Office Reviewers have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that would constitute a conflict of interest concerning this CME activity.

Faculty / Authors

Except where noted above, the following faculty, planners, and the CME reviewers have disclosed that they have no financial interest, arrangement, or affiliation that would constitute a conflict of interest concerning this CME/CE activity.

Joe Tafur, MD; Family Physician at Ocotillo Center for Integrative Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona; Fellow at the University of Arizona's Center for Integrative Medicine; Co-founded the Church of the Eagle and the Condor (CEC); Co-founder of Modern Spirit

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD, MPH, CCFP; Director, Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona

Josephine Begay-James, BS, MA; Diné (Navajo) Elder; Developed cultural school curriculums for K-12 school districts in Arizona and taught Diné language and Diné history and government for 34 years

Anthony Bossis, PhD; Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine; Adjunct Professor of Classics and Religious studies at the University of Ottawa; Investigator at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation

Rick Doblin, PhD; Founder and Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). His conflict of interest has been mitigated via peer review by the activity director (CME) to ensure a fair/balanced presentation.

Gul Dolen, MD, PhD; Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine. Her conflict of interest has been mitigated via peer review by the activity director (CME) to ensure a fair/balanced presentation.

Belinda Eriacho, MPH, MT; Wisdom Carrier; Healer; Founder of Kaalogii LLC, focused on cultural and traditional teaching, inner healing, and an international speaker on various topics impacting Native American communities in the United States

Veronika Gold, LMFT; Co-founder and a CEO at Polaris Insight Center; Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP) therapist, consultant, and lead trainer; Sub-investigator and Therapist at MAPS sponsored MDMA-Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT) for PTSD treatment Clinical Trials; Supervisor and Assistant Trainer for MDMA-AT

Bruno Gomes, PhD; Member of the Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (ICARO)-UNICAMP; Member of Chac runa Institute's Ayahuasca Community Committee

Rachel Harris, PhD; Psychologist with both a research and a clinical background; Worked in private psychotherapy practice for thirty-five years specializing in people interested in psychospiritual development; Worked as a psychological consultant to Fortune 500 companies including the UN

Adele Lafrance, PhD; Clinical Psychologist, Research Scientist, Author, and Developer of Emotion-focused Treatment Modalities; Strategy Lead for the MAPS-sponsored study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for eating disorders; Clinical Trainer and Supervisor for Imperial College Center for Psychedelic Research

David Nutt, DM, FRCP, FRCPsych, FSB, FMedSci; Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology and Director of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London; Chief Research Officer of Awakn Life Sciences corp. His conflict of interest has been mitigated via peer review by the activity director (CME) to ensure a fair/balanced presentation.

Michael Pollan, MA; Writer, Teacher, and Activist; Professor in the English department at Harvard and at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism

Scott Shannon, MD; Serves as a site Principal Investigator and therapist for the Phase III trial of MDMA assisted psychotherapy for PTSD sponsored by Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS); Past President of the American Holistic Medical Association; Past President of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. His conflict of interest has been mitigated via peer review by the activity director (CME) to ensure a fair/balanced presentation.

Nicholas Spiers, MA; Anthropologist; Research Coordinator at The Chac runa Institute

Rick Strassman, MD; Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the UNM School of Medicine

Monnica Williams, PhD; Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa, Canada Research, Chair in Mental Health Disparities, and Director of the Laboratory for Culture and Mental Health Disparities; Clinical Director of the Behavioral Wellness Clinic, LLC in Tolland, Connecticut and Founded clinics in Kentucky, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Her conflict of interest has been mitigated via peer review by the activity director (CME) to ensure a fair/balanced presentation.

Planning Committee

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD, MPH, CCFP; Director, Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona

Joe Tafur, MD; Family Physician at Ocotillo Center for Integrative Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona; Fellow at the University of Arizona's Center for Integrative Medicine; Co-founded the Church of the Eagle and the Condor (CEC); Co-founder of Modern Spirit

Molly K. Burke, CMT, MFA; Director of Online Education, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona

Copyright

All rights reserved - Arizona Board of Regents.