The Pharmacology and Clinical Applications of Psychedelic Medicines Within Midwifery Practice

Abstract

The research and use of psychedelic medicines to treat common mental health disorders has increased substantially in the past 2 decades. At the same time, knowledge is relatively uncommon among midwives regarding (1) the relative benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy, (2) best practices associated with the delivery of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and (3) responsible integration of this potentially useful intervention into mental health treatment plans. The purpose of this review is to describe current applications of psychedelic medicines to treat common mental health disorders, to describe the current legal status of these medicines used in this context, and to explore the potential for midwifery practice in this area with further training. This article also addresses the disparities regarding LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC populations in relation to this topic and their historical exclusion from research and treatment access in this field.

A roadmap for psychedelic pharmacy in Canada: A proposed policy and operations approach for controlled access to select psychedelics for treatment of mental illness

“…Of note, other health professions beyond psychiatry, including midwives and nurses, are advocating for their involvement in psychedelic treatment (Denis-Lalonde and Estefan, 2020; Stein et al, 2022). I shall first demonstrate in the following section that pharmacy is even more rationally placed for a future where these medicines are utilized for psychopharmacologic mental healthcare.…”

"Vine of the Soul": The Potential of Ayahuasca for Reducing Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Ceremony Participants and the Role of Rumination

“…Furthermore, there is an abundance of research on the efficacy of the hallucinogenic drug ketamine (i.e., a dissociative anesthetic that operates on N-Methyl-D-Aspartate [NMDA] brain receptors) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; an "entactogen" or a psychotropic drug that promotes empathy and connectedness) to treat a number of psychological disorders, including treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Evidence from hundreds of clients and thousands of sessions (Dore et al, 2019;Feduccia et al, 2019) and rigorous Phase 3 clinical trials have helped achieve legalization status for ketamine off-label prescription in the United States, and MDMA's legal status for medical use is expected to soon follow (Stein et al, 2022). Furthermore, a recent renaissance of psychedelic research, specifically, shows promise in addressing treatment-resistant mental health disorders (Kamal et al, 2023).…”