A scientific guide to psychedelic-assisted mental health treatment
• Details how psychedelics alter our experience from a neurological perspective, including what neurons they interact with, their effects on cognitive and emotional processing, and why those effects can be therapeutic
• Looks at clinical results with LSD, psilocybin from magic mushrooms, and DMT from ayahuasca, as well as empathogens such as MDMA, found in ecstasy
• Provides an illustrated introduction to neuroscience and a vision for a new model of psychotherapy where psychedelics help bring lasting healing
Presenting a comprehensive guide to the new and evolving landscape of psychedelic-assisted mental health treatment, neuroscientist Irene de Caso takes you on a journey through the brain, revealing how psychedelics and empathogens, if taken in a safe and therapeutic environment, can lead to positive and lasting changes.
Providing an illustrated introduction to neuroscience and molecular actions in the body and brain, the author details how psychedelics alter our experience, including their effects on cognitive and emotional processing and how those effects can be therapeutic. She explores the wide body of evidence behind the psychedelic revolution in psychiatry and psychotherapy and looks at clinical studies on hallucinogens such as LSD, psilocybin from magic mushrooms, and DMT from ayahuasca as well as empathogens such as MDMA found in ecstasy. She reviews the efficacy of psychedelics in treating alcoholism and other addictions, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety in autistic individuals, treatment-resistant depression, and other conditions, offering statistical comparisons to conventional antidepressants and mood-enhancing drugs. She also explores the psychedelic experience through neuroimaging and phenomenological experience, considering mystical states, synesthesia, and the therapeutic benefits of momentary ego-dissolution.
Laying the foundation for a new model of psychotherapy, de Caso shows how psychedelics can help break down our defense mechanisms, offer direct access to the subconscious, and provide a path to deeper, lasting healing.
By:
Irene de Caso
Foreword by:
José Carlos Bouso
Imprint: Park Street Press,U.S.
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: 2nd Edition, Revised Edition
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 547g
ISBN: 9798888500002
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 16 April 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
FOREWORD by José Carlos Bouso, Ph.D. INTRODUCTION Unlocking the Therapeutic Power of Psychedelics A Mental Health Crisis The Discovery, Prohibition, and Rebirth of New Tools in Psychotherapy References for Further Study 1 Understanding Neuroscience Living Organisms: The Cell The Neuron Neuroplasticity Neurotransmitters and Receptors: A Complex World A Rich Consciousness: Senses, Thalamus, and Cerebral Cortex The Cerebral Cortex The Limbic System Brain Networks and Neuroimaging Techniques References for Further Study 2 Using Psychoactives in Therapy Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Depression—Ayahuasca and Psilocybin • Cancer or Terminal Illness Diagnosis—LSD and Psilocybin • Addictions—Psilocybin and Other Psychedelics • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)—Psilocybin MDMA-Assisted Therapy Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Alcohol Abuse • Social Anxiety Linked to Autism References for Further Study 3 Within the Psychedelic Experience The Mystical Experience Phenomenology and Neuroimaging Visual Effects • Synesthesia • Cognitive Effects • Mnemonic Effects • Emotional Effects • Corporal Effects Unveiling the Psychedelic Experience’s Transformative Potential Summary Tables of Studies References for Further Study 4 Psychedelic Neurobiology, Chaos, and Remodeling Neurobiological Mechanisms of Action Deep Cortical Layers, Chaos, and Belief Deconstruction Neuroplasticity: Remodeling of the Mind and Brain References for Further Study 5 MDMA: Love Enhancer, Fear Suppressor Phenomenology of MDMA: Feeling Safe Neurobiology of MDMA MDMA’s Psychotherapeutic Properties Social Anxiety • Conflict Resolution • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) References for Further Study 6 The Future of Psychedelia A Warning on Set, Setting, and the Wake Future Clinical Applications Integration into Western Society References for Further Study APPENDIX I The Legal Status of Psychedelic Drugs around the World APPENDIX II Glossary Index
Irene de Caso, Ph.D., is a biologist who first specialized in neurobiology and then completed a master’s of science and a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience and neuro-imaging from the University of York. A co-organizer of the 2020 Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research and co-director of the Madrid Psychedelic Society, she lives in Madrid, Spain, where she works as a neuroscientific consultant and is studying to become a clinical psychologist.
Reviews for Psychedelics and Mental Health: Neuroscience and the Power of Psychoactives in Therapy
“An extraordinary blend of scientific rigor and personal insight. This book masterfully conveys the neuroscience behind psychedelics, highlighting their promise for transforming mental health care.” * Amanda Feilding, founder and director of the Beckley Foundation * “Neuroscientist Irene de Caso shows how psychedelics, when used safely and appropriately, can lead to positive and lasting change. This is an important book for anyone interested in the science of psychedelic-assisted mental health treatment.” * Rick Doblin, Ph.D., founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studi * “Featuring illustrations, diagrams, and flowcharts, Psychedelics and Mental Health clearly guides the reader step-by-step along neuropsychological pathways that have previously baffled ordinary, nonscientific readers. By making ideas clear to both the sciences and the humanities, this book bridges the ‘two-cultures chasm.’” * Thomas B. Roberts, Ph.D., author of Mindapps, The Psychedelic Future of the Mind, and Psychedelics a *
