125. The 5-HT hypothesis of depression with Prof Philip Cowen and Dr Sameer Jauhar

In this episode of the drug science Podcast, we meet with Mike Jay, author and 2024 Cheiron Book Prize winner who has written extensively on scientific and medical history with a special interest in Psychedelics. In this Podcast, he discusses with us his newest book, Free Radicals: How a Group of Romantic Experimenters Gave Birth to Psychedelic Science, which tells the story of early invention and experimentation with Nitrous Oxide (Laughing gas). He discusses various key figures at this time and the work they conducted, including Humphry Davy and Thomas Beddoes as well as discussing early theories into the potential use of gas in medicine which lead to the development of the Pneumatic Institute. Further, they discuss how this 18th-century research links to the psychedelic renaissance  Free Radicals: How a Group of Romantic Experimenters Gave Birth to Psychedelic ScienceMike Jay AuthorHumphrey Davy Humphry Davy BookThomas Beddoes Joseph Priestley Davis Giddy Miners lung Tuberculosis Michael Pollan Default mode network Mescaline Drug Science Podcast with Mike JayLink in show notes  ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us in the latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast, where we talk with Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley, Director of Research for Heroic Hearts Project UK, Chief Scientific Officer of NW PharmaTech, and founder and CEO of Hystelica. In the episode, she explore where psychedelic studies have largely ignored women’s physiology, particularly in failing to acknowledge and control for hormonal fluctuations. Grace particularly emphasises the necessity for greater investigations and understandings around the intersection of psychedelics and the menstrual cycle, explaining how Hystelica attempts to bridge this gap with naturalistic and observational studies. Throughout, the discussion examines how, by researching these unknowns, we can discover new treatment opportunities that better serve women’s health.Heroic Hearts Project UK HystelicaNWPharmaTech MDMAPsilocybin Retreats Study Mothers of the mushroom Microdosing Study ★ Support this podcast ★

In this latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we talk with Natalia Rebollo and Jesús Alonso Olamendi of the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ICEERS). They discuss the lasting legacy of colonialism in the psychedelic culture of indigenous communities, stressing the need for the sacredness of these substances to be uplifted and not commodified. Throughout, they explore their work with ICEER’s Ayahuasca Defense Fund and how it has begun to change the narrative surrounding psychedelics in prohibitionist countries. Operating between indigenous communities and the Western world, they provide a unique perspective that shows how both communities can learn from each other. ICEERSAyahuasca Defense FundAyahuascaDMTAyahuasca Legal Battle in FranceTechnical Report on AyahuascaColombia's CND68 ResolutionIbogaineSpanish Ibogaine TrialContact Email ★ Support this podcast ★

Tune in to the latest episode of the drug science podcast where David Nutt meets with Tim Kerr, a doctoral research student in Psychiatry at King’s College London. Tim discusses his journey from slowly falling into drug addiction and dealing whilst studying for his medical degree eventually leading to arrest and imprisonment. Tim shares how he used this time in an open prison to apply for and study a Neuroscience masters with Kings College London with the support of the Longford trust, a charity that supports people with lived experience of prison to access higher education.  The Longford TrustHoward League for Penal ReformNHS Practitioner HealthAlcoholic liver diseaseJaundiceEcstasyKetamineCocaineFreud and cocaineNitrous oxideGHB SpiceWeedVenlafaxineModafinil Open and closed PrisonAlcoholics Anonymous ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us in the latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast where David Nutt meets with Psychedelic psychotherapy experts Laurie Higbed and Owain Winfield to dive into how to use psychedelics in psychotherapy. In this episode, they discuss the different techniques used with different psychedelics for different conditions to optimise this type of therapy and why these differences are necessary. They discuss MDMA, Ketamine and Psilocybin in a range of applications including trauma and addictions.MDMAKetaminePsilocybinSubstance MisusePTSDMAPSMDMA study into Substance Use DisorderCompass PathwaysCompass Pathways Psilocybin for Treatment Resistant DepressionAwakn life sciencesAmygdalaLink in show notes ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we meet with Bessel van Der kolk, a trauma based psychiatrist, author, researcher and educator. Since the 1970s his research has been in the area of post-traumatic stress and he is the author of four books including best seller “the body keeps score”. Within this episode, he dives into what trauma is and different research into the impact trauma can have on the body and brain. He further discusses various traditional and alternative treatments for trauma and where these may be appropriate for different people with specific emphasis on EMDR and MDMA.   The body keeps score Nutt's paper lancet psychiatry 50 years of failure MDMA SSRIEMDR GabaBenzodiazepinesRorschach testNorepinephrine Bowlby MAPSWhen the spirit catches you, you fall downNeuroplasticity  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, David Nutt meets with psychopharmacologist Phil Cowen and Psychiatrist Sameer Jauhar  to discuss the neuroscience behind and treatments for depression. Within the episode they touch on various neurotransmitters involved in depression as well as research studies into each of their impact, stigma around antidepressants and the role of psychedelics in treatment.  DepressionSerotoninTryptophanHamilton depression scaleAntidepressantsGeddes paper on preventing relapseSupport the Podcast ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the Drug Science podcast, we speak with Josh Dugdale of the Wasing Estate, described as a "mindful aristocrat." He shares his experiences with Ayahuasca in the Amazon and how they influenced his journey upon returning to the UK. Josh discusses the creation of a mindful and spiritual festival during the pandemic, its evolution over time, and its wider impact. He also explores the challenges surrounding psilocybin access rights, the changes needed in this area, and what the future of psychedelic reform might look like.Medicine Festival Psilocybin Access RightsAyahuascaPsilocybinMDMADrug Science Reschedule PsilocybinMedical CannabisPTSD Veterans PTSDIndustrial Hemp LicensingDEFRASubscribe to podcast  ★ Support this podcast ★

Prof Ravi Das is a leading expert in psychopharmacology and cognitive neuroscience, with a career dedicated to understanding and developing innovative treatments for addiction and anxiety disorders. He completed his BSc in Psychology and MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL), followed by a PhD in Psychopharmacology at the UCL Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit. Prof Das’s research takes a translational and experimental medicine approach, focusing on the mechanisms of memory plasticity and their role in the development of addictive and anxiety disorders. A key area of his work is memory reconsolidation—the process by which established memories become temporarily unstable when retrieved, creating an opportunity to modify maladaptive memories. By targeting these unstable memories, Prof Das explores how drug or behavioral interventions could potentially disrupt the cravings and relapse associated with addiction, the fear underlying anxiety disorders, or the flashbacks experienced in PTSD. In addition to his work on memory reconsolidation, Prof Das is deeply interested in the phenomenology and effects of illicit drug use, as well as the role of cognitive and mindfulness-based strategies in treating substance use disorders. His research bridges the gap between scientific discovery and clinical application, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective, evidence-based treatments for mental health challenges. Prof Celia MorganProf Val CurranProf Sunjeev KambojMemory Research and consolidation Biggest DMT studyPlacebos in psychedelic clinical trials Prof Mitul MehtaPsychedelic gold rush RFK Jr pro-psychedelics FDA reject Lykos decision UNITy screening form Wellcome LeapLSD study Preparation for Psilocybin studyUNITy ★ Support this podcast ★

Tune in to the latest episode of the drug science podcast where we meet with Dr James Morgan, Prof Chris Chandler and Prof Jo Neill, the founders of Street Drugs Discussions (SDD). They discuss the process which led to them founding SDD, a series of webinars featuring experts on drug policy and drugs featuring topics surrounding overdose prevention centres, trafficking, specific substances and more. They reflect on the journey which got them to their current position as well as future hopes for SDD. Further, in this episode, the speakers discuss specific research conducted into long term heroin use and learning theory of addiction.   Street Drugs DiscussionsBuvidal WedinosBarodpsycareDiamorphine assisted treatmentLeapNeil Woods EpisodeNeedle exchangeTrainspottingHeroinCrack cocaineNicotineAlcohol MDMAmorphineDrug Science Community Member ★ Support this podcast ★