PSYCH Symposium: shifting perceptions, in conversation with Robin Carhart-Harris 

At PSYCH Symposium in the British Museum on 6 July a conversation between Professor Robin Carhart-Harris and journalist Kate Spicer explored the impact of psychedelic research on culture and the future of psychedelics in society.

PSYCH Symposium’s day of discussions was closed with an intimate conversation between Robin Carhart-Harris, Professor of Neurology & Psychiatry, Director Psychedelics Division, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and journalist Kate Spicer.

Carhart-Harris, formerly of Imperial College London, discussed his recent opportunity in becoming the Ralph Metzner Distinguished Professor in Neurology and Psychiatry at UCSF, highlighting the progressive approach in the US that will be “leading the way in the future” with psychedelic research.

Mainstream funding just wasn’t coming in for psychedelic research in the UK, he explained.

The work that Carhart-Harris and colleagues Professor David Nutt and Dr David Erritzoe have been doing for the last decade has ignited so much inspiration in people, said Spicer – asking how Carhart-Harris felt about his work impacting culture.

“It’s a mix,” answered Carhart-Harris. “I don’t think about it too much in a negative sense, but I am aware – and often beat the drum, as many do, thankfully – that this is psychedelic therapy. It’s not about the drugs alone – the drugs alone carry some risk.”

What’s the best case scenario once these medicines are licensed and patients can access them for beneficial indications, asked Spicer. 

“In terms of an ideal future, when we talk about the mental health crisis, scientists, epidemiologists, will say that the evidence, – at least in an adult population – prevalence is increasing,” said Carhart-Harris. “It’s clearer rates are increasing in young women. What we do know is that even prescription rates of gold standard treatments for depression and antidepressant medications like SSRIs, are going up – they are breaking records.

“We’re not improving outcomes. So, I would say the crisis is in the treatments that are available at the moment. They’re not good enough. And so in terms of the bright future, it is hope that we can have treatments that work better.

“We shouldn’t underestimate the power of hope. In disorders where treatment isn’t working – to be hopeless and to have that on top of things – it really compounds the problem.”