uniMIND Central Session: The Role of Relaxation and Subjective Drug Effects in Antidepressant Response

We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming uniMIND Central Session, where we will be joined by Abigail Calder, a doctoral researcher in medical neuroscience at the University of Freiburg, Switzerland, and research coordinator at the ALPS Foundation in Geneva.

Abigail’s research focuses on the neuroplastic and therapeutic effects of psychedelics, as well as their potential to enhance well-being. She also investigates adverse effects, examining how they manifest and influence individuals over time.

In this session, we will discuss her recent study on the experiences of patients with depression undergoing psychedelic-assisted therapy. The research highlights an intriguing finding: while patients and healthy volunteers report similar overall effects of psychedelics, patients experience less ego dissolution. Most notably, the study reveals that the degree of relaxation during the session is the strongest predictor of improvement in depression symptoms—suggesting that fostering relaxation could be a crucial factor in optimizing therapeutic outcomes.

Looking forward to your participation!

Link to ZOOM meeting