In this episode, we talk to Max C Wood.

Max is a graduate student studying developmental neuroscience and psychopathology. Max spent last year studying at the Anna Freud Center in London, and is now currently at Yale - researching into the impact attachment styles have on a psychedelic treatment design.

Broadly speaking, his passions lie in the integration of experiential and reductionist approaches - to help alleviate human suffering. He aspires to be a psychotherapist, and set up a holistic healing centre, drawing from multiple perspectives to personalize treatment - with a particular focus on psychedelic healing.

This podcast interview focuses on pharmaceutical studies (including psychedelics) and highlights interpersonal factors within clinical trial design, from the perspective of a clinical researcher.

Max’s fluency in this topic is evident, and he strongly encourages listeners to reach out to him directly.  (Contact: [email protected])!

Time Description:

0:00 History of Anna Freud Research Center, From children’s orphanage to University Central London Center

5:26 Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology Program and
the history of Psychopathology and Psychoanalysis

10:46 1 year at UCL in academia and 1 year at Yale doing research. How UCL pairs students with mentor in a field of common interest. How Max found himself at Yale doing Ketamine research on patients suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder.

12:47 His responsibilities as a masters student on a double blind clinical trial with psychedelics, an active placebo, and psychotherapy.

16:19 Max describes what elements of his current clinical research has inspired his potential thesis that focuses on the symptom-relief in the placebo group. (Bonus: A great conversation with a placebo group participant).

29:48 Why did Max choose the Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology at UCL Masters of Research Program? Why understanding develop is foundational to understanding psychedelics and crucial to properly help treat adults.

37:38 How has the Masters of Research program so far informed Max’s outlook on the future of the psychedelic field, and how neuroscience or psychodynamics may play key roles. How healing goes beyond the patient and to the systems that they operate within, understanding the healing potential of systemic therapy.

54:49 What’s next for Max’s clinical psychedelic research future?

57:42 Advice to the Audience!

Resources:

Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology Masters of Research Program at University of Central London

(https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/developmental-neuroscience-and-psychopathology-mres)

Anna Freud Biography & Center

(https://psychoanalysis.org.uk/our-authors-and-theorists/anna-freud)

(https://www.annafreud.org/ucl-postgraduate-study/ucl-postgraduate-programmes/)

Internal Family Systems Institute

(https://ifs-institute.com/)

Peter Fonagy Biography

(https://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychoanalysis/people/peter-fonagy)

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Music by: https://www.alexkahnmusic.com/

Presented by Psychedelic Grad.