As research into psychedelics continues to grow, a new peer reviewed scientific journal – Psychedelic Medicine – will be launched in 2023 to provide a high-profile forum for groundbreaking original research papers.
Research into psychedelic substances is moving into the mainstream across Europe, the UK and the US. This research is creating optimism about the potential efficacy of psychedelic drugs as an alternative or supplement to traditionally manufactured pharmaceuticals to treat depression, anxiety, and addiction among other mental health conditions.
There are currently a number of preclinical and clinical studies being carried out into psilocybin, ayahuasca, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, LSD and mescaline. Preliminary clinical studies indicate that, when administered responsibly, psychedelic agents may be safe and effective therapeutics with intriguing effects on the central nervous system, brain function and inflammation.
Psychedelic Medicine will provide rapid, fair peer-review, and will welcome original research papers on every aspect of psychedelic medicine including in both the basic and clinical sciences, translational research, medical applications, review articles, as well as debate and commentary. The journal published both online and in print, with a preview issue planned for late 2022.
Mary Ann Liebert has announced that Professors Charles Nichols, PhD and Peter Hendricks, PhD will act as co-Editors-in-Chief.
Researching psychedelics for 25 years, Nichols is a professor of pharmacology at LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans. Nichols’ research centres on the pharmacology of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.
He and his laboratory have made several key discoveries throughout the years, including the first study of the effects of psychedelics on gene expression in the brain, identification of specific populations of cell types within the brain that directly respond to psychedelics and the development of animal experimental systems that recapitulate the long-lasting antidepressant effects of psilocybin for mechanistic study. Additionally, he made the discovery of the potent anti-inflammatory effects of psychedelics for the potential treatment of diseases like asthma and cardiovascular disease.
His research comprises three main areas including: the receptor pharmacology of ligand interactions with the 5-HT2A receptor, and drug discovery and design; the study of psychedelics and their effects in the CNS ranging from molecular/genetics to behavioural models in rodents and Drosophila; and, elucidation of the mechanisms of action of the potent anti-inflammatory effects of psychedelics in models of human inflammatory disease.
Nichols is also a founding member of the International Society for Research on Psychedelics (ISRP), serving as the society’s current President-Elect, and North American Councillor for the International Society of Serotonin Research (ISSR).
Nichols stated: “I am honoured and very excited to serve as co-Editor-in-Chief alongside Dr. Hendricks. The time is right for a rigorous, peer reviewed journal devoted exclusively to psychedelic research.”
Hendricks is professor and director of research in the Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Trained as a clinical psychologist, Hendricks earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and received his PhD from the University of South Florida studying tobacco dependence and interventions for smoking cessation. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship on drug abuse treatment and services research at the University of California, San Francisco before joining UAB in 2010.
Hendricks’ research centres on the development of novel and potentially more effective treatments for substance use disorders and comorbid conditions, with specific areas of focus on tobacco, cocaine, cannabis, opiate, and polysubstance dependence in vulnerable populations, including individuals in the criminal justice system.
He has been an active researcher in the psychedelic field since 2014, publishing population studies suggesting psychedelics may be effective in preventing and treating substance use, criminal recidivism and psychological distress, as well as a number of systemic reviews and theoretical pieces.
He is currently the principal investigator (PI) of a pilot trial of psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy in the treatment cocaine dependence, psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia, and low doses or “microdoses” of psilocybin in the treatment of demoralisation.
Hendricks is also site PI of a NIDA-funded study of psilocybin for smoking cessation.
Hendricks stated: “Psychedelic Medicine will serve to elevate and advance the field of psychedelic science. I am honoured to serve as co-Editor-in-Chief alongside Dr Nichols.”
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