Matthias Liechti

PhD, Post-Doc at Psychopharmacology Research group of Prof. M. Liechti
at University of Basel

Talk date & time :

Saturday 11:00-12:00

Psychedelics substances including LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA are being used in research and with special authorizations also in clinical practice in selected patients. Defining doses for psychedelics is critical for optimizing positive over negative acute subjective effects and therapeutic responses. We have conducted several placebo-controlled dose-finding and dose-equivalence studies in healthy subjects at the University Hospital Basel using mainly LSD, psilocybin, MDMA. The presentation will focus on the acute effect characteristics of these substances and discuss dosing including dose strength, dose equivalence, genetics, concomitant medication, and other factors influencing dosing. We will also address possible interactions of medications and psychedelics. 

Matthias Liechti is a professor of clinical pharmacology and internal medicine at the University Hospital Basel. With his psychopharmacology research team at the Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, Matthias Liechti investigates the pharmacology of psychoactive substances both in vitro and in humans. The group is best known for its work on the acute effects of MDMA (ecstasy) and LSD in humans. The team also conducts Pharmaco-fMRI studies in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry. Further, the group is conducting Phase 2 studies with LSD in patients with cluster headache, major depression, and anxiety disorder in collaboration with the respective disease specialists.