Psychedelics: Hope or Hype? with Dr. Joshua Siegel, MD, PhD

A Part of SunCloud's CEU Program of Events
In this talk, entitled “Psychedelics: Hope or Hype?”, Dr. Siegel provides a general overview of psychedelic psychopharmacology and the clinical and neuroscientific data that have led to growing interest in psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy. Learning Objectives:
  1. Review hallucinogen pharmacology (including a comparison between classic psychedelics,  MDMA, dissociative anesthetics such as ketamine, deliriants, and other classes of hallucinogens)
  2. Consider strengths and weaknesses of clinical data supporting the use of psychedelics as treatment for mood and addiction disorders
  3. Consider risks and challenges of the use of psychedelics as medicine
  4. Describe the state of science investigating mechanisms of action from the psychological and neurobiological levels
  5. Consider future challenges and impacts that this unique treatment may have on the mental health system.
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Watch the Presentation

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Highlights from the Presentation

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About the Speaker

[one_third]Joshua Siegel, MD, PhD[/one_third] [two_third_last] Dr. Siegel received a BA in Philosophy, Neuroscience and Psychology from Washington University, completed an MD & PhD in systems neuroscience in WUSM’s Physician Scientist Training Program and completed residency in Psychiatry. He joined the WUSM Department of Psychiatry faculty in July 2022. Dr. Siegel has 13 years experience in neuroscience and has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles in the fields of neuroimaging and neuropsychopharmacology. During psychiatry residency, Dr. Siegel initiated Missouri’s first human psychedelics research, using precision functional mapping to study how psilocybin alters brain networks. In addition to conceiving and designing this research program, he served as a psychedelic ‘facilitator’, completing training with Usona Institute in Madison WI. He was selected to be among 12 US recipients of the NIMH Outstanding Resident Award in 2020. His research focuses on using human neuroimaging to understand ketamine, psilocybin, and similar molecules that rapidly stimulate homeostatic plasticity. The central goal is to understand the link between neurotrophic stimulation, brain networks, mood and human behavior. In addition to founding WU’s Program in Psychedelics Research, he has serves as Deputy Editor at the Journal of Psychedelic Psychiatry, created a graduate course “Mechanisms of Rapid Antidepressants”, founded the WU Rapid Antidepressants Journal Club, and served on the advisory board for psychedelics startups. [/two_third_last] [/colorsection]
Presented By:
Joshua Siegel, MD, PhD August 18, 2023

In this talk, entitled “Psychedelics: Hope or Hype?”, Dr. Siegel provides a general overview of psychedelic psychopharmacology and the clinical and neuroscientific data that have led to growing interest in psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Learning Objectives:
  • Review hallucinogen pharmacology (including a comparison between classic psychedelics,  MDMA, dissociative anesthetics such as ketamine, deliriants, and other classes of hallucinogens)
  • Consider strengths and weaknesses of clinical data supporting the use of psychedelics as treatment for mood and addiction disorders
  • Consider risks and challenges of the use of psychedelics as medicine
  • Describe the state of science investigating mechanisms of action from the psychological and neurobiological levels
  • Consider future challenges and impacts that this unique treatment may have on the mental health system.

Video: Watch the Presentation

Presented by:Joshua Siegel, MD, PhD

Dr. Siegel received a BA in Philosophy, Neuroscience and Psychology from Washington University, completed an MD & PhD in systems neuroscience in WUSM’s Physician Scientist Training Program and completed residency in Psychiatry. He joined the WUSM Department of Psychiatry faculty in July 2022. Dr. Siegel has 13 years experience in neuroscience and has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles in the fields of neuroimaging and neuropsychopharmacology.

During psychiatry residency, Dr. Siegel initiated Missouri’s first human psychedelics research, using precision functional mapping to study how psilocybin alters brain networks. In addition to conceiving and designing this research program, he served as a psychedelic ‘facilitator’, completing training with Usona Institute in Madison WI. He was selected to be among 12 US recipients of the NIMH Outstanding Resident Award in 2020.

His research focuses on using human neuroimaging to understand ketamine, psilocybin, and similar molecules that rapidly stimulate homeostatic plasticity. The central goal is to understand the link between neurotrophic stimulation, brain networks, mood and human behavior. In addition to founding WU’s Program in Psychedelics Research, he has serves as Deputy Editor at the Journal of Psychedelic Psychiatry, created a graduate course “Mechanisms of Rapid Antidepressants”, founded the WU Rapid Antidepressants Journal Club, and served on the advisory board for psychedelics startups.

Elizabeth E. Sita, MD
Medical Director of Adult Services

Dr. Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, is a Board Certified psychiatrist specializing in the care of patients with eating disorders. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Chicago and graduated with Highest Honors. She then earned her medical degree at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and was recognized with the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Psychiatry. She subsequently completed residency with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, where she was elected Chief Resident and received the Resident Psychiatrist Leadership & Service Award.
Upon completing her training, Dr. Sita came to Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, where she served as Assistant Medical Director of the Center for Eating Disorders and Director of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Services before transitioning to lead the new inpatient eating disorder unit as Medical Director of Eating Disorder Services at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital – Chicago. In these roles, she has cared for a multitude of adolescents and adults struggling with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders as well as severe, cooccurring mood, trauma, personality, and substance use disorders.
Dr. Sita has been recognized throughout her training and practice for a commitment to excellence in patient care and for her ability to engage patients in their most challenging moments. Her passions include the care of treatment-resistant eating and mood disorders as well as questions of medical capacity and end-of-life decision making.
She believes that, first and foremost, human connection is key to mental health and well-being and strives to share this philosophy in each and every patient encounter. She is excited to bring her expertise to SunCloud Health as the Medical Director of Adult Services!
 
VIDEO: Meet Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, Medical Director of Adult Services


 https://youtu.be/JbmELh2UGXE

Lacey Lemke, PsyD
Assistant Vice President of Clinical Services

Dr. Lacey Lemke (she/her) is a licensed clinical health psychologist with specialized expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and the practice of medical and health psychology. She completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology with a Primary Care emphasis at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Lemke went on to complete both her predoctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship through Ascension Health, where she gained advanced training working with individuals experiencing eating disorders and self-injurious behaviors, as well as within pediatric subspecialty settings including endocrinology, neurology, and adolescent medicine.

Dr. Lemke is deeply committed to providing evidence-based, compassionate care and collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive treatment. Her professional mission is to support patients in achieving their fullest potential by guiding them to the most appropriate level of care and empowering them to make meaningful, sustainable progress toward improved health and well-being.