Psychedelics in Psychiatric Practice: The Hype, The Hope, The Harm is a one-day virtual CME learning event designed to provide psychiatrists with a balanced, evidence-based overview of psychedelic and psychedelic-adjacent therapies in contemporary psychiatric care. Featuring leading experts in psychopharmacology, clinical research, and translational psychiatry, this program examines the neurobiological mechanisms, clinical efficacy, safety considerations, and ethical challenges associated with substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine/esketamine, LSD, and 5-methoxy-DMT. Through a critical appraisal of emerging data and real-world clinical implications, participants will be equipped to distinguish scientific evidence from hype and thoughtfully evaluate the evolving role of psychedelics in psychiatric practice.
Format
Live Virtual Event
Note: this event is ONLY available to view live on April 7, 2026 from 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of psychedelic and psychedelic-adjacent compounds.
- Evaluate the current evidence base for the use of psychedelics in the treatment of major depressive disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric conditions.
- Differentiate between ketamine and esketamine, including indications, efficacy, safety, and regulatory considerations.
- Identify key safety concerns, risks, and ethical considerations associated with psychedelic-assisted therapies in clinical and research settings.
- Apply evidence-based insights to clinical decision-making while recognizing current limitations, contraindications, and gaps in the literature.
References
- Roth BL, Driscoll J.
Psychedelics and the serotonin system: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications.
Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2024;25(1):45–62.
- Raison CL, et al.
Single-dose psilocybin-assisted therapy in major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial.
JAMA Psychiatry. 2023;80(7):673–684.
- Sanacora G, Frye MA, McDonald W, et al.
A consensus statement on the use of ketamine in the treatment of mood disorders.
American Journal of Psychiatry. 2017;174(4):399–405.
- McIntyre RS, Rosenblat JD, Nemeroff CB, et al.
Synthesizing the evidence for ketamine and esketamine in treatment-resistant depression: Safety and efficacy considerations.
World Psychiatry. 2021;20(2):240–258.
Target Audience
Medical Students, Resident/Fellows, Psychiatrists, Non-psychiatrist Physicians, other mental health professionals.
Instructional Level
Introductory, Intermediate
Estimate Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 8.0 hours (excluding breaks)
Program Start Date: April 7, 2026
Program End Date: April 7, 2026
Credit must be claimed by July 7, 2026.
Schedule:
All times listed are in Eastern Time (ET).
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8:30 am - 9:30 am
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Psychopharmacology of Psychedelics
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9:30 am - 10:30 am
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Psychedelics in People w/ Depression
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10:30 am - 10:45 am
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Coffee Break
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10:45 am - 11:45 am
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MDMA Assisted Therapy in PTSD
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11:45 am - 12:45 pm
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Ketamine vs Esketamine
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12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
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Lunch Break
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1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
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Psychedelics in Bipolar Disorder
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2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
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5-methoxy-DMT-GH001 & LSD
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3:30 pm - 3:45 pm
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Coffee Break
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3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
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Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy
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4:45 pm - 5:45 pm
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Safety of Psychedelics
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5:45 pm - 6:00 pm
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Closing Remarks/ Discussion
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How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ or a certificate of participation may do so by viewing the live presentation and completing the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (other disciplines) showing the event date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 8.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Instructors
- Faculty to be announced soon!
Planners
- Vishal Madaan, MD, APA Deputy Medical Director, Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Roger McIntyre, MD.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance