Psychedelic Medicine: Past, Present, Future (elective course syllabus)

A syllabus describes an elective course on psychedelic medicine offered by the Yale Psychedelic Science Group from October to December 2020. The course is a reading seminar with participatory group discussions of 2-3 assigned readings per class. It covers indigenous uses of psychedelic plants, early Western research, modern therapeutic applications, proposed mechanisms of action, and future issues including medicalization, equity and access for diverse populations, and potential clinical treatment models.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This is a syllabus of an elective course on psychedelic medicine designed and offered by the authors, via the Yale Psychedelic Science Group. This first iteration is being offered from Octo-Dec 2020. This elective is primarily a reading seminar focused on participatory group discussions of 2-3 assigned readings per class. The course begins with a discussion of indigenous uses of psychedelic plants and early Western research with psychedelic substances. It then explores modern therapeutic applications and proposed mechanisms of action and change. Finally, it examines issues important to the future of the field, including medicalization, equity and access for diverse populations, and potential models for clinical treatment.