Does Psychedelic Therapy Have a Transdiagnostic Action and Prophylactic Potential?
Rita Kočárová, Jiřı́ Horáček, Robin Carhart‐Harris
Frontiers in Psychiatry July 19, 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.661233
Summary
A compelling new model proposes that psychedelic therapy, a focus of modern drug studies, offers a transdiagnostic solution to mental health challenges. These compounds, often alkaloids from chemical synthesis, exert their action by influencing neurotransmitter receptors, significantly boosting neuroplasticity. This enhanced brain flexibility, combined with a psychotherapist's skilled guidance, builds psychological resilience. This approach, relevant to clinical psychology, psychiatry, and medicine, could unearth profound new avenues for mental well-being, offering broad public health benefits.
Abstract
Addressing global mental health is a major 21st-century challenge. Current treatments have recognized limitations; in this context, new ones that are prophylactic and effective across diagnostic boundaries would represent a major advance. The view that there exists a core of transdiagnostic overlap between psychiatric disorders has re-emerged in recent years, and evidence that psychedelic therapy holds promise for a range of psychiatric disorders supports the position that it may be transdiagnostically effective. Here, we propose that psychedelic therapy's core, transdiagnostically relevant action lies in its ability to increase neuronal and mental plasticity, thus enhancing the potential for change, which we consider to be a key to its therapeutic benefits. Moreover, we suggest that enhanced plasticity via psychedelics, combined with a psychotherapeutic approach, can aid healthy adaptability and resilience, which are protective factors for long-term well-being. We present candidate neurological and psychological markers of this plasticity and link them with a predictive processing model of the action of psychedelics. We propose that a model of psychedelic-induced plasticity combined with an adequate therapeutic context has prophylactic and transdiagnostic potential, implying that it could have a broad, positive impact on public health.