Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) is a form of therapy encompassing the supervised use of a psychedelic substance like MDMA, Psilocybin or LSD. In the last two decades this field is blooming: the modern research methods are finally being used to unravel the mysteries of the profound and transformative effects of these substances for the psyche and the brain. In fact psychedelic substances have a very safe toxicity profile. Also, psychedelic treatments for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and depression have received a breakthrough designation from the FDA in 2017 and 2019. Today, Switzerland holds an eminent role in the developing of this international field of studies: 6 Swiss universities have dedicated research programs related to this field and psychiatrists in Switzerland can apply for an exceptional therapeutic use of these illegal substances in their own private practices.
The goal of this presentation is to give an overview of this field and to answer the following questions:

How does PAP works?
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What are the effects induced in the brain by these substances?

What about their psychological subjective effects?

How come these substances can have profound positive impacts for a variety of problems related to mental illness?

Why does PAP has been banned in the seventies?

Why the Swiss inventor of the LSD lived out in good health until his 102th birthday?