The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has, from July 1 2023 approved prescription of psilocybin for treatment resistant depression and MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder. There are limited conditions under which these drugs can be used. Dr Steve Kisely (1) and others have raised many questions about this decision. They include: accessibility, cost (15 to 35 thousand dollars), strength of evidence for and against, and “dangers of psychological harm if these agents are given to unsuitable patients, or by psychiatrists…..
Is this a record of the dying experience? In the 30 seconds to two minutes after supported breathing ceased, two out of four comatose patients who had EEGs recorded after their respirators were turned off showed a surge in gamma waves, particularly at the temporo-parietal junction in their brains. What does this ‘mean’ or does it mean anything? Were these people ‘conscious’ for that brief time? There is no way of knowing, but some have suggested that these EEG recordings…..