Dr. Gokul Raj

Dr. Gokul Raj

MD Psychiatry | Post Doctoral Fellowship in Integrative Psychiatry
drgokulrajmd@gmail.com LinkedIn Profile → Book Online Consultation →

Education & Academic Training

Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Integrative Psychiatry

2022 – 2023
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru
Specialized clinical and research fellowship focusing on integrative mind-body frameworks, yoga therapy protocols for psychiatric disorders, and psycho-spiritual dimensions of mental health. Thesis examined mystical experiences and yoga-based personality traits across clinical and meditator cohorts.

MD Psychiatry

2016 – 2019
Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS)
Postgraduate medical qualification in psychiatry. Rigorous clinical training in adult general psychiatry, consultation-liaison, emergency management, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapeutic modalities.

MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery)

2008 – 2013
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
Premier institute of national importance. Completed preclinical, paraclinical, and clinical rotations followed by a 1-year compulsory rotatory internship.

MDMA-Assisted Therapy Training

2024
Monash University / MAPS International
Specialized residential intensive and didactic coursework covering clinical trial protocols, therapeutic alliance, somatic techniques, non-directive facilitation, and structured integration models.

Clinical & Professional Experience

Post-MD Senior Resident

March 2024 – May 2026
Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bengaluru
Served across clinical rotations including Addiction Psychiatry (Centre for Addiction Medicine), Community Psychiatry (NMHP/DMHP outreach programs), General Adult Units, and Perinatal Psychiatry:
  • Managed acute psychiatric admissions, clinical triage, and high-risk crisis presentations.
  • Administered and supervised brain stimulation protocols (rTMS, Deep TMS, tDCS) and supervised ketamine therapy.
  • Supervised and mentored junior residents, psychiatric social workers, and clinical psychology trainees.
  • Conducted precision psychiatry investigations (whole-exome sequencing, auto-antibody panels, PET/fMRI diagnostics).

Psychiatrist / Medical Officer

May 2019 – March 2024
Department of Health, Government of Kerala
Public sector psychiatric and clinical health delivery across community health centres, taluk hospitals, and tribal specialty facilities (CHC Nanniode, Taluk Hospital Neendakara, Tribal Specialty Hospital Kottathara):
  • Led outpatient and inpatient psychiatric services for underserved rural, Indigenous, and tribal populations.
  • Delivered addiction management services, alcohol de-addiction programs, and community-level mental health outreach.
  • Consultant tele-psychiatrist on the National Teleconsultation Service (e-Sanjeevani).
  • Served frontline medical roles in COVID-19 intensive care and emergency medical care.

Post-Doctoral Fellow & Senior Resident (Integrative Psychiatry)

July 2022 – June 2023
Integrative Medicine Unit, NIMHANS, Bengaluru
Led multidisciplinary clinical care combining evidence-based psychopharmacology with therapeutic Yoga and Ayurveda protocols:
  • Implemented individualized yoga therapy modules for refractory psychiatric conditions and metabolic side effects.
  • Delivered consultation-liaison care with Neurology for neuropsychiatric manifestations in ALS, Parkinson's, and stroke.
  • Resource faculty for teaching courses on yoga therapy basics for mental health professionals.

Consultant Psychiatrist

June 2026 – Present
Independent Clinical Practice
Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, evidence-based medication management, outpatient psychotherapeutic interventions, and integrative care planning.

Consultant Psychiatrist

September 2026 – Present
Arka Anugraha Multispecialty Hospital, Bangalore
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, comprehensive diagnostic formulation, evidence-based medication management, judicious de-prescription, and integrative care planning.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

The Hopkins-Oxford Psychedelics Ethics (HOPE) Working Group Consensus Statement

The American Journal of Bioethics, 24(7): 6–12 (2024)
Co-author. Multi-institutional global ethical and clinical consensus establishing regulatory and safe conduct frameworks in human psychedelic research.
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Understanding the relationship between mystical experiences and yoga-based personality traits in meditators, patients with psychosis, and psychedelic users: A cross-sectional study

Journal of Applied Consciousness Studies, 14(1): 26–30 (2026)
Lead author. Empirical evaluation correlating mystical state dimensions with Vedic-yogic personality constructs (Gunas) across distinct populations.
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Psychedelic use in India, its pattern and personal significance - findings from an online survey

Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 64(4): 428–429 (2022)
Lead author. Naturalistic survey detailing demographic profiles, usage contexts, and subjective psychological impact among Indian participants.
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Manuscripts Under Review

Integrating Yogic wisdom for the development of a psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy module for the Indian population

Under Review | Advances in Integrative Medicine

Mystical Experiences, Psychosis, and Psychedelics: A Case Series on Meditation and Psychedelic-Induced Altered States

Under Review | International Journal of Yoga

Integrative Psychiatry: Reflections on the NIMHANS Model

Under Review | Global Advances in Integrative Medicine

Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Clinical, Regulatory, and Implementation Challenges with a Focus on India

Under Review | BJPsych Open

Conference Presentations & Invited Talks

Speaker: Culturally Sensitive Therapy Module for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research (ICPR 2026) | Haarlem, Netherlands

Panelist: Blending Tradition and Innovation: Integrating Yogic Wisdom for Development of a Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Module for Depression

Psychedelic Science 2025 | Denver, USA

Speaker: Understanding Relationship Between Mystical Experiences and Yoga-Based Personality Traits

Psychedelic Medicine Israel 2024 | Tel Aviv, Israel

Speaker: Blueprint for Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy in India

First Hopkins-Oxford Psychedelic Ethics Workshop | Oxford, UK (August 2023)

Expert Panel: Bringing Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy to India

Shroom Sabha (2024)

Panelist: Indigenous Perspectives on Psychedelics: Tradition, Appropriation & Advocacy

Global Psychedelic Week

Poster: A Case of Nicotine Dependence Treated with Magic Mushrooms

IPSOCON (Indian Psychiatric Society South Zone Annual Conference)

Paper: Reasons for Choosing Alternative Treatment Methods among Patients Visiting Psychiatry OPD

World Association of Social Psychiatry (WASP) Regional Conference

Licensure, Examinations & Memberships