The promise of psychedelics

Available for over a year

With moves to fast-track research into psychedelics to treat serious mental health conditions in the US and a flurry of new scientific studies, we look at the issue here. How convincing is the evidence that drugs like psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, can help with treatment-resistant depression - and after decades of research, are we on the cusp of seeing these treatments in the UK? Claudia discusses the science with Dr James Rucker, consultant psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and she chats with Raya, who took part in one of Dr Rucker's studies to hear about what she experienced. And why do we often miss what’s right in front of us? We hear about inattentional blindness and what we miss from the world around us with mathematician Kit Yates. And Dr Peter Olusoga, senior lecturer in psychology from Sheffield Hallam University, joins us in the studio with a surprise test of attention for our listeners - and brings with him an intriguing new study about why you think your phone is vibrating… ...when it isn’t. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Gerry Holt Editor: Ilan Goodman Production coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth Sound engineer: Andrew Garratt Details of organisations offering support with mental health, or feelings of despair are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.