Scientific reports • July 11, 2026 • Monnica T Williams, Sonya C Faber, Jordan Sloshower et al.
A small preliminary study of five diverse individuals found that MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduced trauma symptoms related to discrimination. Scores on the Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale dropped by an average of 38% after treatment, a large effect. All participants, who had experienced multiple forms of discrimination including gender, racial, and sexual orientation bias, reported marked improvement. The results suggest MDMA-assisted therapy may help alleviate discrimination-related trauma in marginalized populations, though the small sample size calls for cautious interpretation and further research with larger, more diverse groups.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs • July 3, 2026 • Miguel Joaquim Soares Teles Couceiro, Victor José da Conceição Teixeira Amorim Rodrigues, Nuno Manuel Correia Torres
In a patient with generalized anxiety disorder and migraines, mystical-type experiences during ketamine-assisted psychotherapy appeared to contribute to therapeutic improvements. After four intramuscular sessions (0.5-0.9 mg/kg), greater gains followed sessions with higher scores on the Hood Mysticism Scale. The patient attributed progress to the psychological and spiritual impact of the experiences, highlighting the importance of the therapeutic relationship and integration process. This case suggests that subjective mystical experiences may play a meaningful role in therapeutic change during ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology • July 1, 2026 • Karthika Kasiviswanathan, Dinuli Nilaweera, M Morando et al.
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP) may help treat not only PTSD but also complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder. A systematic review of 24 studies involving 335 participants found that most reported reduced PTSD symptoms after MDMA-AP, with some noting decreased dissociative symptoms at higher doses. Although no studies directly assessed MDMA-AP for complex PTSD or borderline personality disorder, improvements in emotional regulation, interpersonal functioning, identity coherence, and abandonment concerns were reported. Adverse drug reactions were mild to moderate, though specific safety concerns remain. These findings offer preliminary insights for future research and clinical considerations.
Current opinion in oncology • July 1, 2026 • Fatima Zohra Moujahid, Olivier Taymans
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) may offer a new approach to address the multidimensional nature of psychological and existential distress common across the cancer trajectory. PAT combines psychedelic compounds with structured psychotherapeutic support, including preparatory sessions, a supervised dosing experience, and post-session integration. Psychedelics are thought to enhance neuroplasticity and emotional flexibility, potentially supporting sustained psychological change. Recent trials in advanced cancer populations report improvements in anxiety, depression, pain-related distress, and quality of life following one or two dosing sessions. However, current evidence is limited by small and demographically narrow samples, variable treatment protocols, and potential expectancy effects, and implementation faces practical challenges such as training requirements and resource intensity.
Journal of Psychopharmacology • June 26, 2026 • Flavia Giaffone de Paiva Ferreira, João Ariel Bonar Fernandes, Renato Filev et al.
A scoping review categorized psychosocial protocols used in psychedelic research for mental health treatment. Seven categories were defined, reflecting distinct emphases on the substance, participant, research team, and sociocultural context. Although limited reporting and heterogeneity remain methodological challenges, the proposed parameters suggest a shared language to describe, compare, and examine psychosocial protocols across studies, reducing conceptual uncertainty. The review may facilitate research decision-making and support structured, replicable study designs while allowing flexibility for individualized and culturally responsive care. Explicitly defining the intended purpose of psychosocial protocols could improve transparent reporting and evaluation.
Frontiers in Psychiatry • June 24, 2026 • Kathryn Fletcher, Nadine Ezard, Krista J. Siefried et al.
People with methamphetamine use disorder who underwent ketamine-assisted psychotherapy described the treatment as a multi-stage process rather than a simple drug effect. Participants reported that ketamine created a temporary state of reduced emotional and cognitive reactivity, which they called 'psychological space,' making them more receptive to psychotherapy. However, behavioral changes—including reduced methamphetamine use—were variable and depended on ongoing therapeutic engagement, personal motivation, and life context. Participants were uncertain whether improvements came from the ketamine, the therapy, or the supportive environment. Acceptability was generally high when treatment occurred in a structured clinical setting.
Psychotherapy and psychosomatics • June 19, 2026 • Judith Rohde, Tyler M Moore, Kathryn Walker et al.
A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of 12 studies (533 participants) found that higher baseline PTSD severity was the most robust predictor of symptom reduction after combined ketamine and psychotherapy. More psychotherapy sessions, more ketamine sessions, and shorter treatment duration were also associated with greater improvement, but these findings are tentative because most studies were of poor quality. The analysis showed that for each additional psychotherapy session, PTSD symptoms improved by an average of 1.03 points on the PCL-5, and for each additional ketamine session, improvement was 1.15 points. The results require confirmation in well-designed prospective trials.
Journal of Clinical Psychology • June 15, 2026 • Lucas Cruz, Fernando R. Beserra, Julia M.k. Freind et al.
Music is frequently used in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, but there is no standardized protocol for selecting or implementing it. A systematic review of 36 articles found that 25 mentioned music, mostly in studies of psilocybin and MDMA for depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Procedures varied widely across studies, partly because different disorders and substances were investigated, and partly because no uniform guidelines exist. Identifying which features of music are prioritized may help guide future clinical practice and research.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies • June 12, 2026 • Zuzana Postránecká, Matyáš Lucký, Viktor Mravčík et al.
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) shows cautious clinical potential for treating substance use disorders, but the evidence remains heterogeneous and largely from observational, open-label, or historical studies rather than strong randomized controlled trials. In the Czech Republic, recent developments include ketamine-assisted psychotherapy initiatives, inclusion of PAP in national addictology guidance, publication of national psychiatry guidelines for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, and a 2025 legislative reform introducing psilocybin for medical use from January 2026. Broader integration will require clearer indications, accredited training, longitudinal outcome monitoring, and transparent communication of benefits and risks.
Psychopharmacology • June 10, 2026 • Julian Kirsch, C. Poppe, Anne Beck et al.
Most people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are aware of psychedelic research and would be willing to try psychedelic therapy, but their openness depends heavily on expecting it to succeed. In a mixed-method study of 112 participants from two non-psychedelic clinical trials and 10 patients from addiction outpatient services, 62.5% knew about psychedelic research and 64.3% were willing to join a psychedelic therapy trial. Willingness was strongly linked to higher expectations of research success, not to age or knowledge alone. Interviews revealed a spectrum of attitudes shaped by perceived therapeutic potential, fears of addiction or loss of control, personal and societal experiences with substances, and media exposure. Expectation of benefit was central to openness.
JAMA Psychiatry • August 24, 2022 • Michael P. Bogenschutz, Stephen Ross, Snehal Bhatt et al. • 668 citations
Two doses of psilocybin, given alongside psychotherapy, substantially reduced heavy drinking in people with alcohol use disorder compared to an active placebo (diphenhydramine) plus psychotherapy. Over 32 weeks, heavy drinking days averaged 9.7% in the psilocybin group versus 23.6% in the placebo group—a mean difference of 13.9 percentage points. Daily alcohol consumption was also lower with psilocybin. No serious adverse events occurred in the psilocybin group. The findings support further research into psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder.
Nat Med • April 11, 2022 • 432 citations
A single dose of psilocybin therapy increased global brain integration in people with depression, with effects lasting for weeks. The brain's regions communicated more broadly and flexibly after treatment, a pattern linked to reduced depressive symptoms. This neural change suggests psilocybin may help reorganize brain networks that become rigid in depression.
ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci • December 10, 2020 • 534 citations
Classic psychedelics induce altered states of consciousness that people often find meaningful. In human studies, when the overall intensity of drug effects is statistically controlled, specific subjective experiences—not just neurobiological changes—predict therapeutic and other positive outcomes. The authors argue that these subjective effects are necessary for lasting benefits and account for most of the improvement, while underlying brain mechanisms are likely necessary but insufficient on their own.
Journal of contextual behavioral science • January 1, 2020 • Alan K Davis, Frederick S Barrett, Roland R Griffiths • 369 citations
Acute subjective effects of psychedelics, particularly mystical and insightful experiences, are linked to reductions in depression and anxiety. In a cross-sectional survey of 985 people who had used a psychedelic, increases in psychological flexibility fully mediated the relationship between these acute effects and decreases in depression and anxiety. This suggests that psychological flexibility may be a key mechanism through which psychedelics produce therapeutic benefits. Future prospective studies are needed to test this directly.
Psychopharmacology • September 1, 2019 • Michael C Mithoefer, Allison A Feduccia, Lisa Jerome et al. • 364 citations
A pooled analysis of six phase 2 trials found that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in adults. Participants receiving active MDMA (75-125 mg) during manualized therapy sessions showed a large treatment effect (Cohen's d = 0.8) compared to those receiving placebo or low doses (0-40 mg). After two sessions, 54.2% of the active group no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria versus 22.6% of the control group. Depression symptoms also improved more in the active group, though this difference was not statistically significant. MDMA was well tolerated with expected side effects. These findings supported advancement to phase 3 trials and FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation.
Lancet Psychiatry • May 1, 2018 • 443 citations
A randomized, double-blind, phase 2 clinical trial tested MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers. Participants were randomly assigned to receive different doses of MDMA during psychotherapy sessions. The findings revealed that the active dose of MDMA led to significant and lasting reductions in PTSD symptoms compared to the lower dose, indicating that this innovative therapeutic approach can effectively treat this condition and provide significant relief for individuals with profound trauma.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) • November 8, 2017 • 978 citations
In an open-label trial, twenty patients with severe, treatment-resistant major depression received two oral doses of psilocybin (10 mg and 25 mg, one week apart) in a supportive setting. Depressive symptoms dropped markedly within the first five weeks, with large effect sizes (Cohen's d = 2.2 at week 1 and 2.3 at week 5). Nine patients responded and four achieved remission at week 5. Improvements remained significant at three and six months (Cohen's d = 1.5 and 1.4). No one sought conventional antidepressants within five weeks. The quality of the acute psychedelic experience predicted symptom reductions at five weeks. Tolerability was good, and psilocybin appears promising for unresponsive depression, though double-blind trials are needed.
Journal of Humanistic Psychology • June 19, 2017 • Rosalind Watts, Camilla Day, Jacob Krzanowski et al. • 582 citations
In an open-label trial, 20 patients with treatment-resistant depression described their experiences six months after psilocybin treatment. They reported two main shifts: from feeling disconnected from themselves, others, and the world to feeling connected, and from avoiding emotions to accepting them. Patients contrasted psilocybin with conventional treatments like medications and short-term talking therapies, which they said reinforced disconnection and avoidance, whereas psilocybin encouraged connection and acceptance. The findings suggest psilocybin may work through a novel mechanism opposite to standard antidepressants and some therapies.
Neuropsychopharmacology • April 26, 2017 • 680 citations
Psychedelic drugs, once a focus of psychiatric research before being banned, are now being reinvestigated for their therapeutic potential. The review traces the history of psychedelic research from the 1950s through the present resurgence, highlighting early clinical studies that suggested benefits for conditions like alcoholism and anxiety. It discusses modern controlled trials showing psilocybin and MDMA can reduce depression and PTSD symptoms, often after just one or two sessions. The authors argue these substances may work by disrupting rigid brain patterns and enhancing neuroplasticity. They call for larger, rigorous studies and careful integration into clinical practice, noting that while risks exist, the therapeutic promise is substantial.
Journal of Psychopharmacology • November 11, 2014 • Peter Gasser, Katharina Kirchner, Torsten Passie • 458 citations
In patients with anxiety linked to life-threatening diseases, LSD-assisted psychotherapy produced lasting benefits. Twelve months after treatment, none of the ten participants reported adverse reactions, and significant reductions in anxiety (measured by the STAI) were sustained. Qualitative interviews revealed that most participants experienced insightful, cathartic, and interpersonal encounters; 77.8% reported reduced anxiety and 66.7% reported improved quality of life. Subjective accounts pointed to facilitated access to emotions, confrontation of unknown anxieties and resources, and intense peak experiences as key psychological mechanisms. These experiences helped restructure emotional trust, situational understanding, habits, and worldview. The findings suggest that medically supervised LSD therapy can be safe and yield enduring benefits.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease • March 4, 2014 • Peter Gasser, Dominique Holstein, Yvonne Michel et al. • 752 citations
In a small pilot study, 12 patients with anxiety related to life-threatening diseases underwent two sessions of LSD-assisted psychotherapy, receiving either a full 200-microgram dose or a low 20-microgram active placebo, with the placebo group later crossing over to the full dose. At a 2-month follow-up, trait anxiety decreased with a large effect size, and state anxiety also dropped significantly. These anxiety reductions persisted for 12 months. No serious adverse effects occurred beyond one day after treatment. The findings suggest that, under careful medical supervision, LSD can reduce anxiety, supporting the need for larger controlled trials.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) • January 1, 2013 • Michael C Mithoefer, Mark T Wagner, Ann T Mithoefer et al. • 377 citations
In a long-term follow-up of the first completed trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD, all 19 original participants took part, and 16 completed all outcome measures 17 to 74 months after their final MDMA session (average 45.4 months). The mean CAPS score at follow-up (23.7) was nearly identical to the mean score at study exit (24.6), indicating that the substantial symptom relief achieved during the trial was maintained over time. Although two participants relapsed, the majority sustained clinically significant improvements, and no one reported harm from participation.
Journal of Psychopharmacology • October 31, 2012 • Peter Oehen, Rafael Traber, Verena Widmer et al. • 407 citations
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant PTSD can be safely administered in a clinical setting. In a randomized, double-blind, active-placebo controlled pilot trial, 12 patients received either a low dose (25 mg plus 12.5 mg supplemental) or a full dose (125 mg plus 62.5 mg supplemental) of MDMA during three experimental sessions, combined with weekly non-drug psychotherapy. No serious drug-related adverse events occurred. While clinician-rated PTSD symptoms (CAPS) did not show statistically significant reductions (p = 0.066), self-reported improvement (PDS) was clinically and statistically significant (p = 0.014). CAPS scores further improved at one-year follow-up, and three MDMA sessions were more effective than two (p = 0.016).
Psychopharmacology • December 1, 2011 • Roland R Griffiths, Matthew W Johnson, William A Richards et al. • 938 citations
Psilocybin can produce mystical-type experiences that lead to lasting positive changes in attitudes, mood, and behavior. In a double-blind study, 18 adults (17 with no prior hallucinogen use) received 0, 5, 10, 20, or 30 mg/70 kg psilocybin in five sessions under supportive conditions. At the two highest doses, 72% of volunteers reported a mystical-type experience, and 39% experienced extreme anxiety or fear. One month later, participants rated these sessions as having substantial personal and spiritual significance, with the ascending dose sequence showing greater positive effects. At 14 months, these positive ratings remained undiminished and were consistent with observer reports. The effects generally increased with dose.