Psychedelic-Assisted Group Therapy: A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 15, 2019
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
While individual psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy modalities receive much attention, a new review explores the overlooked history of group psychotherapy. Classic hallucinogens like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide, substances derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, were often integrated into group psychotherapy. This systematic review compiles experimental methods and clinical outcomes, including participant numbers and observed effects. Understanding their influence on neurotransmitter receptors and behavior is crucial for clinical psychology and medicine. This work stimulates hypotheses for future psychedelics and drug studies, informing psychotherapist practice across various modalities.
Abstract
Contemporary research with classic psychedelic drugs (e.g., lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin) is indebted to the twentieth-century researchers and clinicians who generated valuable clinical knowledge of these substances through experimentation. Several recent reviews that highlight the contributions of this early literature have focused on psychedelic-assisted individual psychotherapy modalities. None have attempted to systematically identify and compile experimental studies of psychedelic-assisted group therapy. In therapeutic settings, psychedelics were often used to enhance group therapy for a variety of populations and clinical indications. We report on the results of a systematic review of the published literature in English and Spanish on psychedelic-assisted group therapies. Publications are characterized by their clinical approach, experimental method, and clinical outcomes. Given the renewed interest in the clinical use of psychedelic medicines, this review aims to stimulate hypotheses to be tested in future research on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, group process, and interpersonal functioning.