Altered States & Sexual Health with Tommaso Barba (Imperial College London)

Behind the Stigma

In this week’s episode, we dive into the intriguing world of psychedelics and intimacy with Tommaso Barba, a PhD student at Imperial College London. Tommaso brings to light his recent research on how psychedelics may revolutionize clinical outcomes outcomes for sexual function in depressed patients—offering an alternative to traditional SSRIs (antidepressants).

We explore the long term effects of these substances on sexual functioning, examining how psychedelics reshape our understanding of intimacy. We also explore the cultural and therapeutic implications of their use; delving into broader impacts on relationships and conflict resolution. Finally, we discuss whether psychedelics should become mainstream and what the future holds for them in mental health care.

This episode is intended for educational and scientific purposes only.
About Tomasso:
Tommaso is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Psychedelic Research in Imperial College London. He is researching the potential of psychedelics for well-being and human flourishing, focusing on the long-term effects of psychedelics on sexual and relationship satisfaction in healthy and depressed people. He has a background in neuroscience and psychoanalysis and completed a Master of Research in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience from Maastricht University.
Research Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-49817-4
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tommaso_barba
About Behind the Stigma: https://behindthestigma.buzzsprout.com/