Matthew W. Johnson, PhD | UW Psychiatry Grand Rounds

Matthew W. Johnson, PhD | UW Psychiatry Grand Rounds

Psychedelics in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders

Talk Description:

This talk will review the behavioral pharmacology and treatment of substance use disorders with psilocybin and other classic psychedelics (5HT2A agonists).  Early research from the 1950s to 1970s investigated classic psychedelics, primarily LSD, in the treatment of alcoholism and cancer-related distress. Over the last 20 years research has once again investigated psychedelics in the treatment of psychiatric disorders including substance use disorders, cancer-related distress, and depression. This talk will provide a current description of this work as well as a vision for the future.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify two “classic psychedelic” compounds
2. Identify two forms of substance use disorder that are currently being investigated with regard to psychedelic therapy.
3. Identify two risks of administering a psychedelic and that can be mitigated with appropriate safety guidelines

About the Speaker:

Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., is The Susan Hill Ward Endowed Professor of Psychedelics and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins. Working with psychedelics since 2004, he is one of the world’s most widely published experts on psychedelics. He has published research on psychedelics and mystical experience, personality change, tobacco smoking cessation, cancer distress treatment, and depression treatment. In 2021 he received as principal investigator the first grant in 50 years from the US government for a treatment study with a classic psychedelic, specifically psilocybin in treatment of tobacco addiction. He is also known for his expertise in behavioral economics, addiction, sexual risk behavior, and research with a wide variety of drug classes. He’s been Interviewed by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, NPR, Fox News,  Fox Business News, BBC and was featured in Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind.

Reading List:

1. Johnson Editorial International Review of Psychiatry 2018
2. Johnson Richards Griff 2008 safety paper
3. Johnson Smoking Cessation 2014

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, the University of Wisconsin-Madison ICEP is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Designation Statements

American Medical Association (AMA)

The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 ANCC contact hours.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

Continuing Education Units
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP, as a member of the University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), authorizes this program for 0.125 continuing education units (CEUs) or 1.25 hours.