CORE168 Psychedelic drugs in science and therapy

Faculty of Medicine
spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Petra Amchová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Petra Amchová, Ph.D.
Department of Pharmacology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: Mgr. Petra Amchová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Pharmacology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Timetable
Mon 23. 2. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 2. 3. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 9. 3. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 16. 3. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 23. 3. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 30. 3. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 13. 4. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 20. 4. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 27. 4. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 4. 5. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 11. 5. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 18. 5. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 25. 5. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 1. 6. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 8. 6. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 15. 6. 17:00–18:40 B11/234, Mon 22. 6. 17:00–18:40 B11/234
Prerequisites
MAXATR(3, core)
The course requires no prerequisites. It is lectured in the Czech language.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 100 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 98/100, only registered: 71/100, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/100
Abstract
Psychedelics are shrouded in many myths. Historically, they have gone through different periods of social perception and regulation. In this course, we will look at the issue from a comprehensive neurobiological, toxicological, pharmacological, and psychological perspective. We will focus on current trends in psychedelic research and the use of these substances in the treatment of various diseases. Psychedelics also have their limits so that we will map their risks and side effects. The course aims to increase the knowledge of this group of agents.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student will know the different mechanisms of action of psychedelics on the human body and will know the conditions, benefits, and risks of psychedelic therapy.
Key topics
1) Introduction, distribution, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics; 2) Risks, contraindications, natural sources of psychedelics, ethnobotany; 3) Non-pharmacological variables, set, setting psychedelics in palliative care; 4) Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy; 5) Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy; 6) MDMA-assisted psychotherapy; 7) Psychedelics in trauma work, psychedelics and harm reduction; 8) Psychedelics in Palliative Care and Oncology ; 9) Medicalization of psychedelics (the path from experiment to pharmacopeia); 10) Psychedelics in the treatment of addictive diseases
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Lectures, class discussion
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
The course is completed after the end of the lecture series. To graduate, it is necessary to  pass a test. The test is in the form of ROPOT, it has 10 questions, for successful completion it is necessary to answer at least 8 correctly.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
Students have the opportunity to discuss with psychiatrists and psychologists who work therapeutically with psychedelics.
The course is also listed under the following terms spring 2025.
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  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/med/spring2026/CORE168