The metaphysics behind pharmacotherapy: treating depression with conventional and psychedelic drugs
Psicología Conocimiento y Sociedad December 4, 2018 DOI: 10.26864/pcs.v8.n2.2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Reductionism Metaphysics Psychotherapist Context archaeology Psychopathology Objectivity philosophy Magic telescope Politics Epistemology |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key points | Argues that the reductionist paradigm of antidepressants as biochemical correctives was established through a supportive environment of social, political, economic, and metaphysical factors, whereas psychedelics, despite similar success, did not shape views because that environment was absent. |
Abstract
This paper aims to explore and compare the metaphysical entailments of the conventional psychopharmacological approach in the treatment of depression to those of a psychedelic approach. We will examine the thesis by which knowledge of how drugs act upon us shapes our self-image and our understanding of psychopathology––and defend that this process can only take place in a supportive environment. It is commonly claimed that the nature of depression was shaped after the therapeutic success of antidepressants; nevertheless, psychedelic drugs were at least as successful as antidepressants, and they didn’t end up having the same power to influence our views. It was possible for first and second-generation antidepressants to influence our views because of a supportive environment, where social, political, economic and even metaphysical issues were at play to create that result. We will compare the unfolding of the two paradigms elicited by these two kinds of drugs, one where pills are seen as magic bullets aimed to restore biochemical balance, and another where drugs are seen as therapeutic tools capable of inducing a life-changing experience, provided there is an adequate context. We will review different factors that contributed to the establishment of a reductionist paradigm, such as the aspirations of psychiatry and the assumed objectivity of biologically oriented explanations. Finally, we will reflect on the new paradigm that unfolds with contemporary research.