New on Blossom
In February, three studies advanced our understanding of psychedelic treatments. An open-label trial found that a single dose of psilocybin (25mg) helped people with severe alcohol use disorder, reducing heavy drinking days by 37.5% and decreasing daily alcohol consumption over 12 weeks, with only mild side effects reported.
Another study revealed that people taking SSRI antidepressants may not need to discontinue their medication before psychedelic therapy. The research showed that paroxetine reduced negative LSD effects like anxiety while preserving beneficial aspects of the experience, despite increasing LSD blood levels by 40-50%.
Looking at mechanisms, researchers used MRI to discover that psilocybin decreases cerebral blood flow and internal carotid artery diameter, while a serotonin 2A receptor blocker had no comparable effect, suggesting an asymmetric relationship that may help explain psychedelics' therapeutic effects.
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"Blossom is my go-to resource for the latest in research" - Rick Strassman
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A comprehensive overview of all psychedelic research that has come out this year. We cover the research per month and provide a one-sentence summary for each new publication. After the full summary is added, a link to Blossom's review is added to the papers included in our database.
Schizophrenia affects approximately 24 million people worldwide, representing about 0.3% of the global population. Current standard treatments primarily involve antipsychotic medications combined with psychosocial support, though roughly 30% of patients show limited response to existing medications.
Recent research into psychedelic compounds for schizophrenia treatment has entered early clinical trials, with most studies in Phase I/II stages. Due to concerns about psychosis risk, researchers have focused on non-hallucinogenic compounds like ketamine and selective serotonin receptor antagonists. Biotech companies are actively developing novel psychedelic analogues designed to improve patient outcomes while minimising side effects, and continued interdisciplinary research using advanced neuroimaging techniques is expected to drive future breakthroughs in personalised treatments.
Spotlight
Our latest report, "Reimbursement Pathways for Psychedelic Therapies in Europe," represents six months of detailed exploration into one of the biggest barriers to bringing psychedelic therapies from clinic to patient—reimbursement. Across Europe, each country has distinct reimbursement protocols, complex health technology assessments, and significant infrastructure gaps. Without a clear path to reimbursement, even approved psychedelic therapies risk remaining inaccessible to many patients who need them most.
The report doesn't just highlight challenges—it also proposes tangible solutions. We advocate for early engagement with healthcare payers, innovative outcome-based pricing models, and proactive use of pilot studies and real-world data collection. By addressing economic hurdles and infrastructure requirements head-on, we aim to unlock a sustainable model for market access.
Personally, as someone deeply engaged in psychedelic research and advocacy, it's crucial for me that these groundbreaking treatments become realistically accessible, not just theoretically promising. This report is a call-to-action for developers, policymakers, payers, and patient advocates alike—let’s collaborate now to ensure psychedelics transform mental healthcare.
Explore the full report and insights here: https://psychedelicsandreimbursement.com
Breaking Convention returns to the University of Exeter from 17-19 April 2025, bringing together scientists, researchers, artists and curious minds interested in psychedelics. This three-day conference offers talks by leading researchers, panel discussions, workshops and artistic performances that explore different perspectives on the psychedelic experience.
What makes this gathering particularly valuable is the diverse mix of attendees from different disciplines - you might find yourself in conversation with a neuroscientist, therapist and someone who approaches psychedelics from a spiritual perspective, all in the same day.
Whether you're interested in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, their cultural significance or simply have a personal curiosity, this is a welcoming space to learn and connect. Remember to use code BLOSSOM10 for 10% off your ticket.
ps The afterparty last time was amazing, and I hear it's going to be an even bigger celebration this time around!