Can Psychedelics Help Treat Chronic Pain Disorders? - Dr. Peter Hendricks, Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Alabama Birmingham
“I feel like I'm living a dream in many ways. It's really gratifying to be working in this area,” says
Dr. Peter Hendricks, a clinical psychologist at University of Alabama Birmingham who is pursuing a long-held interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. In addition to being chair of Psychiatry there, he is also a professor in the Center for Addiction and Pain Prevention and Intervention which explains why he is researching the use of psilocybin in patients with fibromyalgia, a condition which commonly involves chronic pain. “Pain involves a physiological sensation but also a psychological reaction to that pain. If we can alter psychological processes, we might be able to help people better cope with the experience of pain,” he tells host Michael Carrese. Although Hendricks has been excited about the prospect of being able to add this “new” tool to help treat addictions, PTSD, depression and other mental health conditions that are not well served by current therapies, he realizes the dangers of hype and the need for a balanced perspective. “I think it’s important to note that those of us who were enthusiastic were never under the impression that this would cure everything for everybody. It could really change your life or it may not -- and that's OK -- but it would be nice for that to be an option for those who could benefit from it.” Tune in for a super thoughtful Raise the Line episode on both the promise and challenges of psychedelics and the daunting amount of work left to be done to develop sustainable therapeutic protocols and business models.
Mentioned in this episode: https://www.uab.edu/cappi/