Podcast: Psychedelic research in Australia with Dr Margaret Ross

Last week, UK Podcast “Drug Science”, hosted by Professor David Nutt, interviewed Australian researcher Dr Margaret Ross who is a Senior Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist from Melbourne. Dr Ross is the chief investigator on a study in Melbourne using psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) to treat depression and anxiety in people who are terminally ill with cancer. Dr Ross shares her journey of working with a cohort of oncology patients who were experiencing existential distress in the face of their diagnosis and who were not responding to traditional treatment for their distress. She explains how this led to a desire to seek alternative treatments which led to psychedelic therapy. Many current treatments have limitations and this study is attempting to replicate similar research from overseas that has found psilocybin to be effective.

Listen to “Psychedelic research in Australia with Dr Margaret Ross” (40 minutes)