Psychiatry is undergoing a renaissance in the use of psychedelic substances to treat treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD. A look at their history, prohibition, and the recognition owed to the indigenous peoples who preserved this knowledge for centuries.
MDMA, first synthesized in 1912, has moved from recreational use to becoming the focus of growing scientific interest for its therapeutic potential. Discover how it works, its role in PTSD treatment, and what other clinical applications are currently being explored.
Ketamine therapy has gained relevance in mental health as an option for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Discover how it works, what a session involves, and why it’s often combined with psychotherapy as part of a comprehensive approach.
Medical cannabis is playing an increasingly relevant role in mental health thanks to its interaction with the endocannabinoid system. Discover what it is, how it works in the body, and when it may form part of a personalized treatment plan.
What if, instead of fighting difficult emotions, we learned to greet them? Navarasa is an ancient Indian practice that invites us to recognize nine fundamental emotional states — from joy to anger — and consciously make room for them, without letting them run the show.
For centuries we believed personality was fixed, carved in stone by adulthood. A new systematic review — analyzing 48 studies on psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca — suggests otherwise: our deepest traits, from Openness to Neuroticism, may be far more malleable than we thought. We explore five key findings from psychedelic science and the philosophical questions they raise about the “self.”
First training seminar on psilocybin-assisted therapy in Spain. Three days of clinical training in Madrid, November 2026. Organised by Clínica Synaptica.
This years Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy training expands theoretical and experiential learning for health professionals. In this blog we go over our Foundations one-day KAP course. Join us to learn more!
Nitrous oxide is a gas that has been used in various fields for many years. Recently, new research points to its potential for treating depression, with rapid action and short, transient side effects.
We listen to Josep Maria Fericgla, anthropologist, writer, and founder of the Can Benet spirituality center, recount the experiences that have shaped his life.
Dr. Joan Obiols shares his more than 50 years in psychiatry, marked by a transcultural perspective, his father’s legacy, and his experience with innovative therapies such as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. It’s a journey through a person-centered approach to mental health, open to new perspectives.
This blog explores what a psychedelic experience might feel like through a symbolic fable. Using metaphors and imaginary characters, it tells a story that invites reflection on what is truly important in the psychedelic journey.
New therapies and treatments for depression and other mental health disorders are constantly being researched and developed. One of the most promising avenues currently under investigation is psychotherapy with 5-MeO-DMT, a short-acting psychoactive substance.
In this engaging interview conducted by Dr. Joan Obiols, Phil Wolfson, founder of the Ketamine Research Foundation, speaks passionately about the pivotal events in his life and what led him to become a world-renowned expert in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Ketamine’s clinical journey spans more than six decades, evolving from a battlefield anesthetic to a groundbreaking therapeutic tool in mental health. Its history reflects a convergence of neurobiological discovery, clinical intuition, and unmet therapeutic needs, leading to its current role in the treatment of depression, addiction, and treatment-resistant conditions. This article explores the key milestones that have shaped ketamine’s evolution and its relevance in contemporary psychiatric practice.
Anxiety disorders are increasingly prevalent and often respond poorly to standard treatments such as SSRIs or benzodiazepines. Growing evidence suggests ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may offer rapid relief, particularly in treatment-resistant anxiety. By modulating glutamate via NMDA and AMPA receptors, ketamine enhances neuroplasticity and may reduce pathological worry within hours or days. Clinical trials show benefits in social and generalized anxiety, and real-world studies report sustained symptom reduction and decreased suicidal ideation. When combined with psychotherapy and integration, ketamine may help consolidate meaningful and lasting change.
Recent research suggests ayahuasca-assisted psychotherapy may support people facing acute grief. In a structured therapeutic setting, ayahuasca was associated with reduced grief severity, fewer prolonged-grief symptoms, and greater post-traumatic growth. The study compared ayahuasca-assisted therapy, psychotherapy alone, and no intervention, finding the strongest improvements when ritual, psychotherapy, and community support were combined. Results indicate ayahuasca may help integrate loss by easing pain while preserving emotional connection to the deceased, offering a humane complement to existing grief care within ethically guided clinical frameworks.
Ketamine therapy can be delivered intravenously or intramuscularly, each offering distinct therapeutic experiences. IV administration provides gradual delivery, precise titration and close monitoring, often preferred in acute settings. IM administration offers rapid onset, high bioavailability and a more immersive experience, with simpler logistics and greater comfort for many patients. Research shows both routes are similarly safe and effective for depression, anxiety, PTSD and pain, especially when combined with psychotherapy and structured integration. Patient preference, clinical goals and context should guide route selection.
Depression, anxiety and chronic stress are associated with the loss and retraction of dendritic spines, disrupting communication between key brain regions involved in emotion, memory and decision-making. This disconnection reduces cognitive flexibility and promotes rumination and rigid negative patterns. Ketamine and other psychedelics have been shown to rapidly enhance neuroplasticity by increasing the formation and stabilization of dendritic spines, reopening critical learning periods. When combined with psychotherapy and supportive habits, this window of plasticity can facilitate lasting emotional and behavioral change.
Treatment-resistant depression affects up to one third of patients with major depressive disorder and is linked to severe impairment and suicide risk. Real-world clinical data show that ketamine offers rapid antidepressant effects, with meaningful symptom reduction in nearly half of treated patients and remission in around one third. Benefits often appear within hours or days and can be maintained over time with follow-up treatment. Evidence also indicates good tolerability, low risk of symptom worsening and effectiveness in both unipolar and bipolar depression.
This article explains the key differences and similarities between ketamine and esketamine in the treatment of resistant depression. It reviews their shared glutamatergic mechanisms, distinct stereoisomeric forms, routes of administration and side effect profiles. Evidence from preclinical and clinical studies suggests racemic ketamine and R-ketamine may offer longer lasting antidepressant effects and fewer adverse reactions than S-ketamine. The text also addresses subjective experiences, dissociative effects, cost, regulatory issues and why many clinics prioritize racemic ketamine in personalized, evidence based care.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can use several routes of administration, each with different pharmacokinetic profiles. This article explains bioavailability and half-life, and compares intramuscular, intranasal and oral ketamine. Intramuscular administration offers very high bioavailability, rapid onset and longer half-life, while intranasal delivery has moderate bioavailability and shorter duration, and oral use shows slower onset and lower absorption. Based on these factors, the clinic prioritizes intramuscular injection as a balanced option combining efficacy, predictability, patient comfort and clinical safety in routine ketamine-assisted psychotherapy settings.
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in certain mushrooms with a long history of ritual use. Research shows it can alter perception, mood and sense of self, often producing meaningful or mystical experiences. Recent studies highlight potential benefits for depression, anxiety, addiction and grief, linked to temporary increases in brain connectivity and neuroplasticity. Evidence supports structured, high-dose sessions combined with psychotherapy, while microdosing lacks solid support. Despite advanced clinical trials in the US and Europe, psilocybin remains illegal in Spain and is not offered clinically.
This article introduces the speakers for the Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy training program taking place in Barcelona in 2025. The program brings together internationally renowned professionals in psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, and psychedelic therapies. The instructors contribute decades of clinical experience, scientific research, and the development of innovative therapeutic models. Understanding their backgrounds allows us to appreciate the academic, clinical, and humanistic rigor of the training, as well as the diverse approaches that converge in this unique educational offering.
Microdosing psychedelics involves taking sub-perceptual doses of substances such as psilocybin or LSD with the aim of improving mood, cognition and emotional wellbeing. This article reviews current scientific evidence on microdosing, including proposed neurobiological mechanisms, potential benefits for depression and anxiety, cognitive and motivational effects, safety considerations and the role of placebo. While observational studies suggest possible benefits, controlled trials show mixed results, highlighting important limitations and the need for further rigorous research before clear clinical recommendations can be made.
This article compares ketamine and psilocybin-assisted therapies, outlining differences in legality, mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, safety profiles and patient experience. Ketamine is legally available and offers rapid symptom relief through glutamatergic modulation, making it useful in acute depression and suicidality. Psilocybin, currently illegal outside trials in Spain, acts via serotonin receptors and is associated with longer-lasting psychological change. The article highlights clinical considerations to help patients and professionals choose the most appropriate treatment based on current research and clinical practice.
Group psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach in which individuals meet regularly with trained therapists to explore emotional challenges through shared experience and interaction. This article explains how group therapy works, the role of the therapist, and the unique benefits of peer support, feedback, and social learning. It also highlights the value of group therapy for integrating psychedelic experiences, offering a safe space to process insights that are often difficult to verbalize, and describes the group therapy format offered at Clínica Synaptica in Barcelona.
Holotropic Breathwork is an experiential method developed by Stanislav and Christina Grof that uses accelerated breathing, music, bodywork, art and group integration to access expanded states of consciousness. The article explains its origins in psychedelic research, its development after LSD prohibition, and the therapeutic principles behind it. It describes the emotional, physical and transpersonal benefits reported by participants, clarifies that it complements but does not replace psychotherapy, and outlines how Holotropic Breathwork workshops are structured and offered at Clínica Synaptica in Barcelona.
The Ketamine Research Foundation, led by Dr. Phil Wolfson, has published a comprehensive guide for the safe and ethical use of ketamine. The document addresses responsible personal use, clinical application within ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and a professional ethical code developed by the Ketamine Psychotherapy Associates. It offers practical guidance for preparation, accompaniment, and integration, aiming to minimize risks and maximize therapeutic benefit. The guide reinforces KRF’s leadership in setting high ethical, clinical, and educational standards for ketamine-assisted therapy worldwide.