SITREP: New Directions in Treatment for Veterans With Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Overview
Current evidence-based psychotherapies often provide less than satisfactory results for veterans struggling with the so-called "hidden wounds of war" (e.g., PTSD, anxiety, and depression). After 20 years of continuous warfare, veterans require and demand new and effective modalities. Fortunately, important new treatments are emerging on the horizon. The FDA granted breakthrough status for treatments with psilocybin and MDMA, and veterans are the likely recipients of these emerging therapeutic practices that psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT) typify. The clinical uses, research outcomes, and rationales for the FDA's granting of breakthrough status for these novel treatment modalities that utilize psilocybin and MDMA will be discussed, followed by a question and answer session.
Learning objectives
- Discuss the impact of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, and appreciate the volume and trends of current psychedelic research today
- Describe how, with different mechanisms of action, both MDMA and psilocybin can be used for treating and managing serious mental illnesses
- Recognize the significance of set and setting as they apply to veterans' therapeutic experiences enabled by psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT)
- Describe 3 differences between PAT and the currently practiced, conventional, office-based psychotherapy
Professional credit
- This activity offers the following types of credit: APA
- 1.5 CEs are available.
- Additional details can be found in the activity document for this resource.