Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Hugh McGovern PhD

Claire Zagorski, MSc, EMT-P @clairezagorski.bsky.social · Aug 21

If you need a brief doomscroll break (you do) then watch this very precious little baby bear having a tantrum because his mama needed a minute to herself 🥹🐻

(Via melbird3 on TikTok)

4 20 55

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 23

This was the first study to break down this analysis in this particular way, and points to the importance of set and setting in psychedelic experiences, but also how each of these factors interact with each other. Enjoy

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 23

After the experience, many reported lasting changes in behavior and attitudes, with personal growth and new perspectives. Multiple posts often described the experience and eudaemonic.

1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 23

During the experience, sensory shifts and mindset solicit and inform insights, and the environment provides crucial support.

1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 23

Before the experience, knowledge, intention, and preparation play a big role in shaping the experience.

1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 23

We performed thematic analyses separately in each of the phases of psychedelic experience (before, during, after).

1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 23

new paper just dropped in Brain and Behaviour, with @bman1285.bsky.social and colleagues: doi.org/10.1002/brb3...

Deconstructing Psychedelic Phenomenology: A Thematic Analysis of Discrete Phases of the Psychedelic Experience

A thematic analysis of psychedelic experiences was partitioned into three temporal phases: before, during, and after the experience. Themes before the experience were preparatory intentions and perce...

doi.org

1 1 1

Reposted by Hugh McGovern PhD

Kimberley Johnson @kimberleyjohnson.bsky.social · Jul 15

Always good to remember.

290 2.1K 11K

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 15

TLDR; Aussie policy on psychedelic therapy is ahead of clinician knowledge and (to a lesser extent) willingness. There is a desire tor structured formal training from clinicians, particularly psychologists.

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 15

Clinicians who'd personally taken psychedelics were much more likely to support psychedelic therapy, and more willing to offer integration supports to people who had taken them independently.

1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 15

Interestingly, we found a gap between desired and actual knowledge clinicians had - whilst 17% had formal training in psychedelic therapy, 80% desire evidence-based education. Many respondents relied on things like Reddit or podcasts for information about psychedelics, and most want formal training.

1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 15

Most clinicians surveyed support psychedelic therapy (at least in theory). However, psychiatrists are most likely to question research quality, safety and ethics of it (even when under medical supervision). Psychologists are much more supportive.

1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Jul 15

It's finally out! Large study led by
@lenaedibrainz.bsky.social
surveying Aussie GP's psychologists, and psychiatrists attitudes towards psychedelic therapy. doi.org/10.1177/0004...

Attitudes toward psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy among Australian mental healthcare providers - Zohaib Nadeem, Stephen Parker, Hugh McGovern, Bianca Sebben, Lena KL Oestreich, 2025

Background: Recent regulatory changes in Australia have approved 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin fo...

doi.org

1 1

Reposted by Hugh McGovern PhD

Max Wolff @trpwolff.bsky.social · Jul 9

Doing psychedelic research with Spanish-speaking populations & interested in avoidance/acceptance?

There is now a culturally decentered Spanish APEQ version designed to work equally well across the Spanish-speaking world:

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

2 5

Reposted by Hugh McGovern PhD

Dr Paul Liknaitzky @pliknaitzky.bsky.social · Jul 7

ENROL NOW in Australia's first university-accredited short course in psychedelic therapies!

🖥️ 12 weeks, fully online, starts late July
🌏 Open to anyone with an undergrad degree

More info and enrol here:
👉 www.monash.edu/psychedelic-...
📧 [email protected]

1 3

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · May 14

I'm very much with you that ideation is a non-trivial issue (speaking from personal experience as well). Definitely much more needs doing on developing risk-management and clinical frameworks - which has been badly overlooked so far.

1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · May 14

Playful and inflammatory is why I'm a subscriber Michael! We share that perspectives that the hype exceeds the data (the less encouraging of which is hidden in those pesky supplementary files) .

1 1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · May 14

3 of my papers (2 preprints) made the list! Great resource and great for scoping out all that was published last year

josh hardman @josh-hardman.bsky.social · May 14

📚✨ ~500 Papers. ~30 Researchers & Experts. One Annotated Psychedelics Bibliography...

Very excited to share the 2024 edition of Psychedelic Alpha's Interdisciplinary Annotated Psychedelic Research Bibliography, by @michaelhaichin.bsky.social.

psychedelicalpha.com/news/the-int...

The Interdisciplinary Annotated Psychedelic Research Bibliography of 2024 - Psychedelic Alpha

Psychedelic Alpha’s Medical Advisor, Michael Haichin, compiled a list of over 500 notable psychedelics-related publications from 2024. He then presented it to a group of researchers from varying…

psychedelicalpha.com

1 2 4

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · May 14

This is all notwithstanding the more interesting claims of the article such as the difficulty of 'true' RCT's, and I'm a huge fan of Michael.

1 1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · May 14

......imagine if hospital staff gave a could give someone in acute psychiatric care medication on arrival, and >50% might need to be hospitalised for the next week, but it doesn't mean the medication caused it.

1 1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · May 14

Another aspect here is the fact that in one study 25% of participants reported suicidal ideation, but its also worth noting this was for people who had treatment resistant depression. It doesn't mean psychedelics caused such an outcome......

1 1

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · May 14

The data is fairly solid on a more deflationary claim than "psychedelics fix things", namely that "psychedelic may prompt a window in which evidence based psychological therapy may be more efficacious". I haven't met many (if any) people in the field claiming the former.

1 2

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · May 14

Interesting read, although slightly inflammatory and somewhat unsubstantiated claims on the potential for psychedelics to be addictive.

Michael Inzlicht @minzlicht.bsky.social · May 14

New post: Examining the gap between psychedelic promises and scientific reality. Small, transient effects with major methodological issues don't justify the revolutionary claims. Recreational use? Fine. Mental health miracle? Not so fast. Evidence just isn't there.
open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...

Against Psychedelics

I can already hear your gears turning, dear reader: “Wait, you’re pro-booze, pro-cannabis but anti-psychedelics?

open.substack.com

1 1 3

Hugh McGovern PhD @htmcgovern.bsky.social · Apr 1

Could we say both are a problem? In psychiatry more generally, and in psychedelic trials? Although perhaps with different potential resolutions given the more radical subjective effects from psychedelics.

1

Reposted by Hugh McGovern PhD

Nature @nature.com · Mar 24

A paralysed man can stand on his own after receiving an injection of neural stem cells to treat his spinal cord injury

https://go.nature.com/41YLmhC

Paralysed man stands again after receiving ‘reprogrammed’ stem cells

Another man also regained some movement, but two others experienced minimal improvement.

go.nature.com

35 170