Psilocybin-assisted therapy and HIV-related shame
Scientific Reports – August 02, 2024
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy significantly reduced HIV-related shame, a major mental health barrier. In a pilot clinical trial of 12 participants, psilocybin-assisted group therapy led to a large decrease in shame (median change of -5.5 points, effect size r = -0.75) over three months. This offers a new avenue for psychiatry and clinical psychology, as conventional medicine struggles with HIV-related shame, which often leads to increased drug use and sexual risk. While promising for HIV care, two participants experienced increased sexual abuse-related shame, highlighting careful psychotherapist consideration in psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract As a proposed mediator between stigma-related stressors and negative mental health outcomes, HIV-related shame has been predictive of increased rates of substance use and difficulties adhering to antiretroviral treatment among people with HIV. These downstream manifestations have ultimately impeded progress toward national goals to End the HIV Epidemic , in part due to limited success of conventional psychotherapies in addressing HIV-related shame. In a pilot clinical trial (N = 12), receipt of psilocybin-assisted group therapy was associated with a large pre-post decrease in HIV-related shame as measured by the HIV and Abuse Related Shame Inventory, with a median (IQR) change of − 5.5 (− 6.5, − 3.5) points from baseline to 3-months follow-up ( Z = − 2.6, p = 0.009, r = − 0.75). A paradoxical exacerbation of sexual abuse-related shame experienced by two participants following receipt of psilocybin raises critical questions regarding the use of psilocybin therapy among patients with trauma. These preliminary findings carry potential significance for the future of HIV care.