Psychedelic Science (Nauka Psychodeliczna) returns for its second edition, building on the success of Poland's first-ever conference dedicated to the study of psychedelic science. The objectives of the organizers remain closely aligned with the mission of PsyDAO. For more details, visit https://naukapsychodeliczna.org/ (for now the website is only in Polish). This edition is once again brought by the Polish Psychedelic Society and the Polish Drug Policy Network, in partnership with the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw.

This second edition brings together an even more diverse group of professionals and academics passionate about psychedelic research, including mental health practitioners, legal scholars, neuroscientists, medical doctors, psychotherapists, psychologists, psychonauts, journalists, biotech innovators, artists, PTSD survivors, and social media influencers.

Here are the highlights from the most captivating sessions and speeches.

Clinical trials with psychedelics in Poland

The first session provided an in-depth exploration of the latest research and clinical applications of psychedelic substances.

Dr. Hanna Badzio-Jagiełło from PI House initiated the session with her presentation on "Depression, Psychedelics, and Clinical Trials." She highlighted that approximately one-third of individuals with depression do not respond to conventional medications, a condition known as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). She emphasized the significance of DNA methylation and its hereditary links to PTSD and depression, indicating that these conditions can be passed down through generations.

Lek. Cyrus Tahery followed with his presentation on "Clinical Trials with 5-MeO-DMT," known as the "god molecule." He explained that 5-MeO-DMT, found in certain plants and toad secretions, has been used for approximately 4,500 years. The compound was identified in toad secretions in 1965. 5-MeO-DMT induces moderate entropy, making it a less exhausting psychedelic experience with a high safety profile and minimal side effects such as occasional nausea and nasal irritation. This makes it an attractive option for therapeutic use, providing a brief yet profound experience that could aid in treating TRD.

Dr. hab. n. med. Mariusz Wiglusz extensively reviewed "Psilocybin in the Treatment of Mood Disorders." He noted that psilocybin has shown promise in reducing relapse rates during the first year of depression treatment. However, a major obstacle in psilocybin therapy is obtaining FDA approval, as the agency requires concrete, reproducible data, which is challenging due to the significant influence of variables such as set and setting on the outcomes.

The session concluded with Dr. n. med. Adam Włodarczyk’s presentation on "The Clinical Applications and Efficacy of Ketamine in Psychiatry." He shared findings from a naturalistic study conducted at Gdańsk Medical University under Prof. Cubała, demonstrating ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects. He explained that the intensity of dissociative experiences on S-ketamine correlates with stronger antidepressant effects. Moreover, R-ketamine, initially dismissed due to its weaker dissociative effects, also showed significant antidepressant benefits.

Research on psychedelic users in Poland

The session examined the patterns, effects, and societal implications of psychedelic substance use within the country, drawing on diverse research perspectives. This strongly aligned with the mission of the Open Psychedelic Science Platform (OPSY), which aims to leverage non-medical psychedelic experiences to enhance scientific knowledge by collecting diverse data beyond traditional clinical settings, highlighting the critical role of comprehensive, interdisciplinary research central to OPSY's objectives.

Dr. Jan Szczypiński and Paweł Orłowski explored the emotional processing and self-awareness in experienced psychedelic users. Their research compared emotional reactivity, rumination, and self-reflection between regular psychedelic users and non-users through questionnaires and neuroimaging experiments using EEG. The data suggested that psychedelic users exhibit more positive emotional reactivity, lower rumination, and higher self-reflection. OPSY can support their work by providing extensive real-world data on user experiences, helping to validate and extend laboratory findings through the inclusion of naturalistic usage patterns, and enhancing the validity of their research.

Decriminalization and medicalization of psychedelics

Anastasia Ruban discussed the importance of creating an inclusive and ethical psychedelic movement. She emphasized that while evidence for the effectiveness of psychedelics like MDMA and classic psychedelics in treating PTSD and depression is growing, it remains influenced by social contexts and expert opinions. Ruban pointed out that the harm level of psychedelics is minimal compared to alcohol. She stressed the need for comprehensive education on the risks and benefits of psychedelics and highlighted organizations like Chacruna, ICEERS, Psyaware, and the Shine Collective for their roles in this educational effort. Ruban's presentation underscored the importance of harm reduction and ethical considerations in the psychedelic community.

Tadeusz Hawrot focused on the key factors necessary for broad access to psychedelic therapies in Europe. He introduced the Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance (PAREA), which aims to prepare Europe for the safe and responsible implementation of psychedelic therapies. Hawrot noted the discrepancy in drug approvals across the EU, with a significantly lower number of approved drugs available in Poland compared to Germany. Other interesting stats he presented were that last year, none of the 89 new medicines approved by the EMA targeted mental health conditions. Between 2021 and 2023, 68 oncology treatments were approved compared to just one in psychiatry. Hawrot's presentation highlighted the complexity of integrating psychedelic treatments into national healthcare systems despite the unified framework of the EU.

Neuroscience and psychedelic substances

Prof. Andrzej Pilc discussed the antidepressant effects of psychedelics, focusing on the central nervous system diseases. He highlighted that even significantly reduced doses of ketamine can produce antidepressant effects with fewer side effects. Pilc's research demonstrated that combining sub-threshold doses of psychedelics like ketamine, psylocybin, and skopolamine with mGlu2/3 receptor antagonists resulted in pronounced and lasting antidepressant effects in animal models. His work underscores the potential of these combinations to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Dr. Dorota Komar explored the genetic and epigenetic impacts of psychedelic experiences. She highlighted how psychedelics can lead to the dissipation of intra-neural connections while promoting inter-network connectivity, potentially allowing individuals to relearn deriving pleasure from social interactions. Komar pointed out that despite the availability of research tools, there is a lack of human studies showing molecular-level changes in the brain post-psychedelic administration. Komar's research aims to uncover how psychedelics affect gene expression and neuroplasticity, which could explain the variability in individual responses to these substances.

Integration of psychedelic experiences

Dr. Michał Jasiński explained that while psychedelic experiences can lead to significant positive changes, these changes are often not lasting. Jasiński highlighted memory reconsolidation, a brain mechanism that allows new experiences to fundamentally alter previously learned memories, as key to transformative change. He stressed the importance of reactivating old schemas, creating dissonance, and introducing contradictory experiences to facilitate this transformation.

Debate on the post-traumatic stress disorder among war veterans and uniformed services: will Ukraine be a pioneer of psychedelic treatment in Europe?

The closing session was a deeply emotional panel discussion on PTSD among war veterans and military personnel, with a particular focus on whether Ukraine could lead Europe in pioneering psychedelic treatment for PTSD.

Dr. Rick Doblin, the CEO of MAPS talked about the severe impact of PTSD on veterans and the need for federally funded psychedelic treatments, pending FDA approval. MAPS plans to allocate a lot of funds for treatments and to train therapists in Poland for Ukrainian soldiers.

Stanislav Hibadulin shared his journey of overcoming PTSD with mushrooms and MDMA, highlighting the dire reality for veterans and advocating for free psychedelic treatments. Dr. Taisiia Poda discussed the ongoing trauma in Ukraine, stressing the need for well-adapted protocols.

Neill Woods called for political activism to expedite trauma treatment changes, emphasizing the widespread nature of trauma. The session underscored the urgent need for innovative, compassionate approaches and systemic change in PTSD treatment.

Outcomes

The conference wrapped up with a wonderful sense of optimism and momentum. We left with a deeper understanding of the incredible therapeutic potential of psychedelics and the pressing need to integrate these substances into our current medical systems.

One of the most exciting outcomes was the creation of a tight network. We are ready to push forward, advance research, refine therapeutic protocols, and advocate for policy changes. We are all eager to continue this journey together, and I'm personally looking forward to collaborating with these amazing people to make a real difference in the world of mental health treatment.