Psychedelic therapy is an approach in the field of mental health that involves the controlled use of such drugs to facilitate deep and transformative therapeutic processes.

It is important to note that psychedelic therapy requires a suitable environment and preparation, as well as the professional supervision of therapists trained to support the effects of the medication and facilitate the therapeutic process safely and ethically.

Psychedelic medicines can broadly be defined as drugs that induce a state of consciousness different from the usual. There are many types of psychedelics. Currently, only one dissociative drug is legally used in clinical settings. This is what we use at Synaptica Clinic.

However, there are several psychedelics – which in the near future will be legally accessible to patients – that have shown great therapeutic potential in clinical trials, for a variety of mental health, physical, and neurological disorders or pathologies.

Psychedelic therapy is very safe. The therapeutic tools used are widely known, as evidenced by their routine use in anesthetic and pain medicine. The doses administered in the treatment of pain and depression are significantly lower than those used in anesthesia. However, it is essential to be under the care of accredited professionals during their administration and treatment.

The primary indication for psychedelic therapy is major depression. However, there is ample evidence for a wide variety of disorders and conditions, such as chronic pain, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, addictions, and eating disorders, among others. At our clinic, we have experience treating a variety of pathologies.

Like all treatments, psychedelic therapy does not always work in all cases. However, according to a recent meta-analysis (based on 36 studies), a positive response to treatment was obtained, with significantly greater improvement compared to placebo.

Psychedelic therapy has consistently shown to be effective and safe in the various clinical trials conducted so far. For this reason, drug regulatory agencies have authorized its use in the United States, Canada, Europe, Spain, etc.

It involves personalized support starting from an initial clinical interview where the suitability of psychedelic therapy is assessed. Next, the medication administration sessions begin, along with support from our clinical team. Sessions take place at our center and last approximately two and a half hours each. The duration of treatment will depend on the progress and follow-up in each case. Typically, two psychedelic therapy sessions are conducted per week over several consecutive weeks.

In general, it is not recommended to stop antidepressants or other medication during treatment. However, the medication currently taken by the person receiving treatment will be thoroughly reviewed by our psychiatrist during the initial interview to provide appropriate recommendations.

Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of depression induces an effect called psycholytic or psychedelic, which is a modified state of consciousness whose intensity depends on various controllable factors. Typically, there is a modification in the course and content of thoughts, where the person can review passages of their life and reach innovative understandings about themselves or the nature of reality.

Although psychedelic therapy has a clear pharmacological effect in reducing symptoms associated with depression, the psychological material that emerges during the experience is of great interest for psychotherapeutic work. For all these reasons, at Synaptica Clinic, we leverage the pharmacological effect of psychedelic therapy to work with emerging psychological material and enhance potential benefits.

Psychedelic therapy sessions vary in duration and protocol depending on the medication used. At our clinic, sessions last between two and two and a half hours.

The beginning consists of conducting a brief interview with the therapist, to discuss anything relevant to the person receiving the treatment and to prepare for the session.

After this, the medication will be administered. During the next 40-60 minutes, acute effects are experienced, during which we offer a mask and earphones to listen to a specially designed selection of music for this therapy. We have reclining chairs or very comfortable beds for this experience.

Finally, the integration phase of the experience arrives. Here we focus on sharing and structuring the experience in a psychotherapeutic manner. Integration, in simplified terms, is like a psychotherapy session, but more focused on working through the sensations, thoughts, memories, and feelings that have arisen during and due to psychedelic therapy.

• Under 18 years old
• History of psychosis
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Elevated intracranial or intraocular pressure
• Recent myocardial infarction or vascular disease
• Allergy to dissociative anesthetics
• Pregnancy or planning pregnancy within 12 weeks after treatment
• Hepatic impairment
• Presenting symptoms of infection at the time of treatment or having had contact with individuals with acute contagious illness
• Individuals unable to provide written consent
• Individuals exhibiting verbal, physical, or emotional aggression towards the staff of Clínica Synaptica or other patients.

Suicide is the leading external cause of death in Spain and Catalonia, especially among the young population, even more so than traffic accidents. Psychedelic therapy has been highly effective in people with suicidal ideation, whether or not they have a clinical diagnosis of depression and regardless of the clinical severity of the condition. The effectiveness of psychedelic therapy regarding suicidal ideation is nearly immediate: it peaks within 24 hours of administration, and the effect persists for up to seven days. Treatment with psychedelic therapy can be a safe, effective, and especially rapid tool for the enormous problem that suicide poses in our society.

Psychedelic therapy blocks pain receptors and stimulates neuroplasticity. It causes rapid pain relief that, in combination with its antidepressant effects and psychotherapy sessions, can be long-lasting.

In the last 20 years, there has been a surge in research on the use of psychedelic therapy. Many studies show evidence of its utility for bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance abuse or addiction, and anxiety disorders. Its antidepressant power, combined with psychedelic effects, opens the door to self-exploration and the creation of new patterns of thought and behavior.