MDMA and Psilocybin: The Swiss Limited Use Program
The webinar offers an in-depth exploration of Switzerland's progressive approach to integrating MDMA and psilocybin into therapeutic settings.
About this webinar
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and psilocybin are psychoactive substances with therapeutic potential. Specifically, MDMA-assisted therapy has been shown to be effective in patients with PTSD in two phase III studies. Psilocybin was effective in several phase 2 studies in the treatment of depression. Australia deregulated these controlled substances to allow their use in PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. Switzerland is a country which already has experience in the use of these substances in patients for more than 8 years within its limited use program. Matthias Liechti and Peter Gasser have contributed to the set-up of the program in Switzerland and will present its characteristics and current state.
Learning Outcomes
Gain insights into the legal and regulatory structures of Switzerland's limited use program for MDMA and psilocybin, including the conditions for use and limitations.
Learn about the potential therapeutic applications of MDMA and psilocybin in mental health treatments, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders, and the evidence supporting their use.
Discuss the safety profiles of MDMA and psilocybin, ethical considerations in their clinical use, and guidelines for ensuring patient safety and informed consent.
About the speakers
Matthias E. Liechti is the head of the Clinical Pharmacology Division and a professor for clinical pharmacology and internal medicine at the University Hospital Basel. With his psychopharmacology research group Matthias Liechti investigates the pharmacology of psychoactive substances both in vitro and in humans. The group is best known for the work on the acute effects of MDMA (ecstasy) and psychedelics including LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline in humans. In experimental clinical studies, the team investigates the clinical pharmacology of psychedelics and MDMA. The team also conducted phase 2 studies with LSD in patients with anxiety disorder, major depression, cluster headache, and ADHD in collaboration with the respective disease specialists. Matthias Liechti is also involved with the Swiss limited use program of psychedelics and MDMA in selected patients.
Peter Gasser is born in 1960, married, three children. He is a MD for psychiatry and psychotherapy, working in his own practice in Solothurn, Switzerland. He was trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy methods as well as in therapy with mind-altering substances, i.e. psycholytic or psychedelic therapy. He is a member of the Swiss Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy since 1992 and its president since 1996. After 2007, he conducted two studies on LSD-assisted therapy in patients with anxiety due to life-threatening illness or as psychiatric anxiety disorder. Since 2014, he has held about 30 individual case treatment authorisations from the Swiss Health Authority within the Swiss limited use program of psychedelics. He worked with MDMA, LSD and Psilocybin.
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Webinar details
Claim 1 CPD hour
1 hour of recorded content
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