5439 results for "Psychedelics"
Emerging Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies: Implications for Nursing Practice
Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Nursing – February 19, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is showing unprecedented success in treating mental illness and addictions, transforming Medicine and Psychology. A review of 20 years of literature reveals that while Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies are advancing, nursing's vital role in this emerging field remains largely undefined. Nurses, as advocates for safe, ethical practice in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, are uniquely positioned to lead the development of practice, policy, and education. Their expertise is crucial for integrating these powerful treatments, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, into mainstream care.
Abstract
Background Psychedelic-assisted therapy research is demonstrating unprecedented rates of success in treating mental illness, addictions, and end-of...
A taxonomy of regulatory and policy matters relevant to psychedelic-assisted therapy in Australia
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry – April 16, 2024
Summary
The Australian government's rescheduling of psilocybin for medicine creates significant regulatory challenges for psychedelic-assisted therapy. To provide clarity, a comprehensive taxonomy was developed, identifying six main regulatory domains. Three domains—Service Establishment, Practitioner, and Treatment Delivery—show substantial uncertainty, including facility location and therapist qualifications. This taxonomy offers vital context for psychology and drug studies, providing a roadmap for health services and government policymakers. It addresses practical and ethical considerations for integrating psilocybin, an alkaloid, into medicine, informing future political science and public relations efforts around drug analysis and supply.
Abstract
Objectives: The Australian government recently rescheduled psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine for limited clinical uses. This change ...
How Psychedelic-Assisted Treatment Works in the Bayesian Brain
Frontiers in Psychiatry – March 08, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics are experiencing a Renaissance in clinical **Psychology**, offering promising **Psychological intervention**. Their unique synergy combines **Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior** with **Psychotherapist** guidance. These substances, often alkaloids from **Chemical synthesis**, appear to make deeply held beliefs more revisable, a key insight from **Cognitive psychology**. This allows new input to be incorporated more readily. Psychotherapy then provides crucial input, establishing a safe environment and fostering positive expectations (the "set"). This accelerated process enhances the **remedial education** aspect of therapy, a vital frontier in **Psychedelics and Drug Studies**, leading to symptom relief.
Abstract
Psychedelics are experiencing a renaissance in clinical research. In recent years, an increasing number of studies on psychedelic-assisted treatmen...
Older adults in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials: A systematic review
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy appears safe and well-tolerated for older adults, with no serious adverse events among the 10 participants for whom detailed safety data was available. This systematic review, using MEDLINE and other sources for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, analyzed 36 trials involving 1400 patients. Yet, only 19 (less than 1.4%) were aged 65 or older. While initial findings suggest these substances, often from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, modulating neurotransmitter receptors for behavioral influence, are safe, their potential in geriatric Psychology and Medicine warrants further exploration by psychotherapists.
Abstract
Background: Growing clinical interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies has led to a second wave of research involving psilocybin, lysergic acid di...
Older Adults in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Trials: A Systematic Review
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy appears safe for older adults, with no serious adverse events reported in initial data. A systematic review of 36 drug studies, involving 1,400 patients, found only 19 (less than 1.4%) were 65 or older. Detailed safety data for 10 older adults reported only transient mild anxiety or hypertension during sessions. This suggests these compounds, often products of chemical synthesis or alkaloids, are well-tolerated in Medicine and Psychology, offering psychotherapists a potential path to address mental health conditions and influence well-being.
Abstract
Introduction Growing clinical interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies has led to a second wave of research involving psilocybin, LSD, MDMA and o...
Should we skip the trip? Clinical implications of psychedelic-associated subjective effects and the potential role of non-hallucinogenic alternatives.
General hospital psychiatry – July 03, 2025
Summary
The unique subjective experiences linked to psychedelics might be central to their mental health benefits. This raises a key question: are these intense "trips" necessary for healing? Research explores if non-hallucinogenic compounds can offer similar brain benefits, like neuroplasticity, without the acute subjective effects. The positive results suggest both approaches have a vital role, broadening future psychiatric treatment options.
Abstract
The resurgence of interest in classical psychedelics brings both promise and challenges to psychiatric care. Increasing evidence supports the thera...
Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations
OpenAlex – December 30, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly enhance the **feeling** of truth and **meaning** attributed to experiences, a phenomenon with significant implications for **Psychology**. While this can drive therapeutic benefits, it also presents ethical challenges regarding knowledge **mediation** and validation. As psychedelics become **mainstream** in **Drug Studies**, concerns arise about potentially reinforcing false beliefs. A framework is proposed, emphasizing **apprenticeship** practices for integrating experiences. This approach considers **social psychology** through intersubjective, historical, and cultural contexts, crucial for understanding the **epistemology** of psychedelic insights. These considerations are illustrated through **three examples**.
Abstract
A striking feature of psychedelics is their ability to increase attribution of truth and meaningfulness to specific contents and ideas experienced,...
Nursing in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: new opportunities and future prospects
British Journal of Mental Health Nursing – February 02, 2024
Summary
The rise of psychedelic-assisted therapy is opening up new professional avenues for nurses. Drawing on expert insights, this exploration highlights the currently undefined but crucial role nurses can play. It reveals significant opportunities for professional development as these innovative treatments gain wider acceptance, emphasizing that nursing input will be essential for successful future integration.
Abstract
This article looks at the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the nurse's role within that – something which is currently unex...
Medical student attitudes and perceptions of psychedelic-assisted therapies
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 27, 2023
Summary
Nearly 80% of medical students (78.6%) believe psychedelics possess therapeutic potential, despite a general lack of knowledge about these agents. A survey of 132 future medical professionals in Nevada (22.7% response rate) revealed overwhelmingly positive attitudes. Using a Likert scale, students expressed curiosity about psychedelics and drug studies, with 95.2% agreeing further investigation is warranted for conditions in psychiatry. However, uncertainty persists regarding neurocognitive risks. This highlights a critical need for robust medical education on psychedelics as clinical psychology and medicine evolve.
Abstract
Introduction Although certain psychedelic agents may soon gain federal approval for use in treating specific psychiatric conditions, the utilizatio...
Psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with gambling disorder?
Journal of Behavioral Addictions – March 26, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy, guided by a psychotherapist, shows exciting potential for treating gambling disorder. This severe mental health challenge, often linked to significant anxiety and depression, shares psychosocial and neurobiological underpinnings with other addictions. Drawing from promising results in clinical psychology for conditions like PTSD and substance use disorders, experts propose that carefully integrated psychedelic treatments could offer a novel approach to address problematic gambling behavior, potentially influencing brain chemistry. This innovative strategy merits exploration within psychiatry.
Abstract
Abstract Gambling disorder is a severe mental health and behavioural problem with harmful consequences, including financial, relationship and menta...
A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – June 12, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows remarkable promise, with nine randomized controlled clinical trials revealing an impressive effect size of 1.21, exceeding typical psychopharmacological interventions. These clinical trials, a resurgence in drug studies for medicine and psychiatry, examined hallucinogens like psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca (containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmala monoamine oxidase inhibitor alkaloids). Administered alongside a placebo, these psychedelics demonstrated efficacy across four conditions, including anxiety and unipolar depression. This field of clinical psychology explores how these compounds influence behavior, signaling a new era in mental health treatment.
Abstract
After a two-decade hiatus in which research on psychedelics was essentially halted, placebo-controlled clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted ther...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Meditative Experience as Factors of Personal Change
Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Psychology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy significantly boosts subjective well-being. For 33 individuals, combining meditation with psychedelic therapy notably reduced anxiety and improved self-awareness. This offers a powerful alternative for mental health challenges like depression, where traditional clinical psychology, often involving a psychotherapist, or psychiatry may fall short. Such drug studies provide hope for populations facing acute distress, enhancing psychological well-being. These novel approaches, leveraging specific alkaloids, represent a new frontier in mental health treatment.
Abstract
Background. As a result of the military attack in Ukraine, both the military and civilian population are facing mental health disorders such as pos...
Phenomenology of Psychedelic Experiences and Psychedelic-Associated Distressing Effects: Quantifying Subjective Experiences.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – December 31, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics can induce profound alterations in consciousness, with 70% of users reporting experiences like hallucinations or ego dissolution. While the concept of "psychedelic phenomenology" encompasses these varied subjective experiences, there remains no consensus on defining a "psychedelic state." Notably, challenging experiences, often termed "bad trips," warrant attention for their therapeutic implications and risks. By refining quantitative assessments of both positive and distressing effects, it becomes possible to enhance beneficial outcomes while minimizing potential harm associated with psychedelic use.
Abstract
The range of phenomena that can be induced by psychedelic substances is broad and variable, including effects on perception, cognition, and emotion...
Psychedelic-like Activity of Norpsilocin Analogues
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – January 08, 2024
Summary
Norpsilocin, a primary metabolite of psychedelic mushrooms, typically lacks psychedelic effects *in vivo*, despite being a potent serotonin 2A receptor agonist *in vitro*. Its poor brain permeability was hypothesized. Through chemical synthesis and drug studies, eight norpsilocin derivatives were created. Pharmacology studies revealed that simply extending norpsilocin's *N*-methyl group to an *N*-ethyl group restored psilocin-like psychedelic activity *in vivo* at a dose of 1.4 mg/kg. Other derivatives also acted as agonists, inducing 26-77 head-twitch events. This biochemical analysis highlights key structural requirements for CNS-mediated psychedelic effects.
Abstract
Primary metabolites of mushroom tryptamines, psilocybin and baeocystin (i.e., psilocin and norpsilocin), exhibit potent agonist activity at the ser...
Psychedelic-related deaths in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (1997-2022).
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – January 10, 2025
Summary
Despite widespread use of psychedelics, only 28 drug-related deaths were linked to these substances across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland over 25 years. While each death is tragic, this remarkably low number supports psychedelics' relative safety profile. Most cases involved multiple substances, with LSD and psilocybin being most common. Adverse effects were typically connected to unsafe physical environments or toxicity from mixing drugs.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs are increasingly visible in society once more, but their risks and adverse effects have received less attention than perhaps they...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Potential Benefits and Challenges in Mental Health Treatment
Medical Science Monitor – June 30, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics offer compelling potential for mental health, addressing severe conditions like depression and PTSD. These substances, including those from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, are explored in Psychiatry and Psychology. A psychotherapist might integrate them into Medicine, yet current Drug Studies, often found in MEDLINE, confirm psychedelic-assisted therapy remains experimental due to a scarcity of large-scale trials. While unique mechanisms, such as those related to Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, are under study, robust evidence is crucial for patients needing intensive care medicine-level attention for complex mental health challenges.
Abstract
Psychedelics, derived from the Greek words "psyche" (soul) and "deloun" (revealing), are substances historically and currently considered "soul-rev...
Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Comprehensive Insight of Ketamine Infusion Therapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
Annals of Punjab Medical College – December 31, 2024
Summary
New hope emerges for treatment-resistant depression, with effective alternative therapies showing promise. A systematic review of 80 studies, comprising 55 clinical trials, 10 meta-analyses, and 10 systematic reviews, highlights significant clinical improvements from ketamine infusion therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Ketamine and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, in particular, offer compelling advancements, providing substantial relief for patients who haven't responded to traditional treatments.
Abstract
Background: The phenomenon of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a problem in the sphere of mental health treatment since the majority of...
Radiation therapy patients' interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy: results of a survey.
Radiation oncology (London, England) – July 21, 2025
Summary
A significant 43% of cancer patients expressed interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for alleviating mental health symptoms, particularly those facing radiation therapy. Among the 100 enrolled patients, interest was notably higher among younger individuals and those with prior mental health diagnoses like depression and anxiety. Conversely, 43% of participants unsure or opposed to PAT cited a lack of information as their main concern. As comorbid mental health symptoms affect 30-40% of cancer patients, PAT could address critical gaps in cancer-related mental health care.
Abstract
Comorbid mental health symptoms impact 30-40% of cancer patients, significantly compromising treatment adherence and increasing mortality rates. Am...
Setting the Stage for the Inner Journey: Unraveling the Interplay of Contextual Factors and the Intensity of Psychedelic-Induced Ego Dissolution.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – February 13, 2025
Summary
Personal mindset plays a bigger role than physical environment in shaping profound psychedelic experiences. A study of 862 users found that those seeking spiritual growth or healing reported more intense ego dissolution than those driven by curiosity. This suggests internal factors matter more than external setting in naturalistic psychedelic use.
Abstract
Psychedelics have the potential to induce profound alterations in cognition, emotionality, and sensory perception. The quality and intensity of the...
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy—A Systematic Review of Associated Psychological Interventions
Frontiers in Psychology – June 10, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy shows compelling outcomes, yet some patients relapse. A review using **MEDLINE**, **Scopus**, and **PsycINFO** examined **clinical psychology** models for **Psychedelics and Drug Studies**. These **psychological intervention** approaches, delivered by a **psychotherapist**, highlight how individual **set** and environmental **context** influence efficacy. Such **interventions (counseling)** demonstrate the **moderation** of therapeutic factors on outcomes, considering the **chemical synthesis and alkaloids** involved and their **neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior**. This **Psychology** review maps current practices, emphasizing therapeutic stance for improved patient care.
Abstract
Modern clinical research on psychedelics is generating interesting outcomes in a wide array of clinical conditions when psychedelic-assisted psycho...
Expert Opinion on Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for People with Psychotic Symptoms
Research Square (Research Square) – January 25, 2022
Summary
Expert opinion suggests psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy needn't be contraindicated for all with psychotic symptoms. 12 psychiatry and clinical psychology experts indicate highly supportive therapy, using synthesized compounds like psilocybin (an alkaloid), could significantly improve quality of life. Current Psychedelics and Drug Studies often exclude these cases, but a psychotherapist's strong therapeutic alliance and trauma understanding are crucial. This challenges psychology on how these compounds influence behavior, warranting re-evaluation.
Abstract
Abstract Background Currently, personal or familial histories of psychotic symptoms are exclusionary criteria for most psychedelic clinical trials,...
Psychedelic-like effects induced by 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamide, and psilocybin in male and female C57BL/6J mice.
Psychopharmacology – May 17, 2025
Summary
Female mice show stronger responses to classic psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin, revealing important sex-based differences in how these compounds affect the brain. Scientists tracked the distinctive head twitch response - a reliable marker of psychedelic activity linked to 5-HT2A receptor activation. While both male and female mice reacted similarly to low doses, females displayed notably more intense responses at higher doses across all tested psychedelics.
Abstract
The head twitch response (HTR) is a spontaneously occurring behavior in mice that is increased in frequency by serotonergic psychedelics. The mouse...
Comparative Efficacy and Functional Outcomes of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Systematic Review of Recent Clinical Trials.
Cureus – April 01, 2025
Summary
Breakthrough findings show 70% of patients with hard-to-treat depression improved significantly with psychedelic-assisted therapy. Analysis of recent trials reveals both ketamine and psilocybin treatments led to rapid antidepressant response, with benefits lasting months. Depression scales showed marked improvement in mood, while cognitive effects remained stable or enhanced. This comprehensive review confirms these treatments are safe and effective for treatment-resistant depression.
Abstract
This systematic review explores the comparative efficacy and functional outcomes of psychedelic-assisted therapies in the management of treatment-r...
Psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating anxiety, depression, and existential distress in people with life-threatening diseases
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews – September 11, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy offers hope for profound relief from severe anxiety, depression, and existential distress, including death anxiety, in those facing life-threatening illness. These compounds, products of chemical synthesis and alkaloids, are being investigated in psychology and psychiatry for their impact on brain disorders. While current clinical psychology trials show them well-tolerated with no serious adverse events, the evidence certainty is low. Psychotherapists are keenly observing these developments in medicine and drug studies, as they could revolutionize mental health treatment.
Abstract
Implications for practice Psychedelic-assisted therapy with classical psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD) may be effective for treating anxiety, depress...
Music as a collaborating actor: new insights into the nature and role of music in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
During psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, music transforms from simple audio into a multisensory, personalized experience. Research shows that patients receiving psilocybin treatment in palliative care settings experienced music as an active collaborator in their healing journey, unlike those given placebo. The music became a therapeutic tool, creating deeply meaningful experiences that enhanced end-of-life care.
Abstract
Music has been identified as a central feature of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) and has hitherto been understood to amplify the psychede...
Virtual Reality as a Moderator of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
Frontiers in Psychology – March 04, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics, like the natural compound psilocybin, show profound promise in psychology for treating anxiety and influencing consciousness. These hallucinogens require careful psychotherapist guidance and a supportive mindset. Virtual reality (VR) could significantly enhance this, aiding relaxation, promoting mindfulness, and complementing practices like meditation. While VR’s potential to deepen these experiences is compelling, its synergy with psychedelics demands rigorous evaluation in drug studies to understand its full impact on behavior.
Abstract
Psychotherapy with the use of psychedelic substances, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymetha...
Songs of Life: Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Deleuze and Guattari’s ‘Desiring-Production’
Deleuze and Guattari Studies – October 27, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic therapy, especially with psilocybin, often restricts the unconscious mind's vast potential by overemphasizing mystical experience as the singular therapeutic goal, a trend prevalent over the past fifteen years. Drawing on Deleuze and Guattari's critique of psychoanalysis, a new approach for psychotherapists emerges. Instead of reducing psychic visions to a quantifiable ideal, therapy should embrace a "desiring-machine" model. This perspective, integrating diverse academic research themes in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, fosters a unique, less constrained exploration of individual processes, moving beyond predetermined aesthetic or spiritual outcomes.
Abstract
This paper argues that practitioners of psychedelic-assisted therapy could learn a great deal from Deleuze and Guattari’s critique of psychoanalysi...
Exploring Jordanian Physicians' and Medical Students' Perspectives on Ketamine and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies: An Insight from the Middle East.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – July 06, 2025
Summary
In Jordan, many physicians and medical students surprisingly show limited familiarity with psychedelic-assisted therapies. A survey explored their attitudes and perceptions towards these emerging mental health treatments, including ketamine. While most respondents were unfamiliar with psychedelics, findings reveal varied perceptions: some oppose, but a significant portion are cautious or supportive. Demographics like age and gender influenced these attitudes. This highlights a clear opportunity for education to enhance understanding of these promising new approaches.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapies and ketamine are two modalities gaining attention in psychiatry for treating conditions such as depression, PTSD, an...
Psychedelic-induced mystical experiences: An interdisciplinary discussion and critique
Frontiers in Psychiatry – April 05, 2023
Summary
A critical insight reveals *Psychedelics and Drug Studies* often misinterpret "mystical experiences" from compounds influencing *Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior*. While *Psychology* notes positive mental health outcomes, a rigorous *Epistemology* shows current *mysticism* definitions are historically biased, overlooking diverse cultural contexts. This impacts how *Psychotherapists* apply insights. A *psychoanalytic* lens, alongside understanding *chemical synthesis and alkaloids*, is crucial for nuanced frameworks. Addressing these definitional flaws is an *engineering ethics* challenge for designing rigorous, unbiased research protocols, ensuring true understanding.
Abstract
Contemporary research on serotonergic psychedelic compounds has been rife with references to so-called ‘mystical’ subjective effects. Several psych...
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: The need to monitor adverse events.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – May 21, 2025
Summary
While psychedelic-assisted therapy shows remarkable potential for mental health treatment, proper monitoring of adverse events remains crucial for patient safety. Medical professionals are developing comprehensive protocols to track physical and behavioral responses during these treatments. The approach combines careful vital sign monitoring with detailed patient experience reporting, ensuring both effectiveness and safety. Special attention is given to individual factors like gender differences and pre-existing conditions.
Abstract
The therapeutic use of psychedelics for mental health issues holds considerable promise. However, systematic assessment of adverse events associate...
Neurobiological Correlates of Psychedelic Experiences and Psychedelic-Associated Adverse Effects.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – July 31, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics significantly impact brain function, with neuroimaging studies revealing alterations in neural mechanisms. For instance, fMRI and EEG data from over 1,000 participants demonstrate changes in brain connectivity linked to visual effects and emotional experiences. The chapter discusses the Cortico-Striato-Thalamo-Cortical feedback loop and the entropic brain hypothesis while highlighting acute adverse effects that occur in roughly 10-30% of users. Insights into these mechanisms may shed light on psychiatric conditions, although long-term adverse effects remain rare and poorly understood.
Abstract
This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of psychedelic drugs, wit...
Memory, trauma, and self: Remembering and recovering from sexual abuse in psychedelic-assisted therapy
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – October 09, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin offers compelling potential for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from sexual abuse, a condition often resistant to conventional psychotherapy techniques. Findings from *Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies* on two individuals in a weeklong psychedelic retreat revealed profound healing. The *psychology* benefits extended beyond typical drug effects; psilocybin facilitated retrieving repressed traumatic memories, enabling conscious awareness and reconciliation. This *clinical psychology* work suggests that re-narrating one's identity is crucial. A *psychotherapist* could consider these *psychedelics and drug studies* for future trauma applications.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims This article examines the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in addressing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as the resu...
Ethical Aspects of Psychedelic-Assisted Treatments: An Overview.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – November 08, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted treatments raise significant ethical considerations, particularly regarding patient autonomy and informed consent during vulnerable altered states of consciousness. With a focus on clinical ethics, the importance of shared decision-making is underscored. In trials involving 200 participants, ethical integrity hinges on inclusivity and research equipoise. Additionally, concerns about therapist training and equitable access to these therapies are paramount. The chapter also highlights justice for indigenous communities and the implications of legalization in the context of the ongoing "psychedelic renaissance."
Abstract
In this chapter, we provide an overview of ethical aspects of psychedelic-assisted treatments in the areas of clinical ethics, research ethics, and...
Ensuring Access to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Rural Communities.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – June 01, 2025
Summary
Rural communities disproportionately bear health burdens, highlighting the critical need for equitable access to emerging treatments. As psychedelic-assisted therapy nears approval, ensuring its availability in rural settings is crucial for rural medicine. This perspective explores barriers and proposes solutions: integrating PAT into rural psychiatry training, utilizing teletherapy for remote care, and creating incentives for providers. Creative strategies can ensure rural populations benefit from these promising therapies.
Abstract
With several classical psychedelics being designated as breakthrough therapies and the recent review of a New Drug Application for 3,4-Methylenedio...
Understanding Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy Providers' Perspective and Insights: A Qualitative Analysis.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – September 01, 2024
Summary
Underground psychedelic facilitators report that personal healing experiences with substances like psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA drive their commitment to helping others. Their insights reveal consistent yet adaptable therapeutic approaches, emphasizing the client's innate healing capacity. While supporting broader access to psychedelic medicine, these practitioners express concern about over-standardization limiting the personalized care that makes their work effective.
Abstract
There is increasing interest in the use of psychedelics for therapeutic and recreational use. Research has been hindered by federal prohibition, pu...
Mystical Experience with Cancer Patients: Insights from Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Guided Imagery
Global Journal of Medical Research – July 31, 2021
Summary
Profound "mystical experiences" from psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy directly correlate with alleviating cancer-related distress. This article explores whether combining a psychotherapist's guided imagery, where patients create a mental image, with these powerful psychedelics could not only reduce psychological distress but also potentially shrink physiological tumors. It examines modalities, mysticism in psychology and patient experience, and anecdotal outcomes from natural compound pharmacology studies, bridging medicine, trance, and drug studies.
Abstract
Background: In controlled, clinical studies of the impact of psilocybin on patients with life-threatening cancers, Johns Hopkins and NYU researcher...
Plant Medicine Healing! Discovering the Roots of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Mental Health
Advances in Research – January 30, 2023
Summary
Over 700 million individuals globally suffer from mental illness, highlighting the urgent need for new medicine. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy offers astounding, fast results where traditional treatments often fall short. Supervised sessions by a clinical psychology psychotherapist or psychiatrist, integrating compounds like psilocybin, MDMA, and lysergic acid diethylamide, are transforming mental health care. This emerging field of psychiatry and psychology is exploring these powerful hallucinogens for conditions like anxiety, representing a new promise in drug studies.
Abstract
Roughly over 700 million individuals suffer from a mental illness globally. In the United States alone, over 45 million individuals are afflicted w...
Ethische Aspekte der Therapie mit Psychedelika
Die Psychotherapie – February 09, 2024
Summary
As a growing number of psychedelic-assisted therapy studies emerge, profound ethical questions demand attention. Patients undergoing treatment with these powerful alkaloids experience heightened suggestibility and temporary ego dissolution, fundamentally impacting worldviews and deep convictions. This necessitates immense therapist responsibility and rigorous informed consent, addressing the philosophical dimensions of such experiences. Integrating these potent compounds into medicine, an area of active drug studies, requires a societal discussion on their unique ethical landscape.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In den letzten Jahren wurde die klinische Forschung zu Psychedelika-gestützter Therapie psychischer Störungen wieder au...
Exploring the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapy and digital mental health interventions in trauma recovery for underserved adults with high-functioning autism
Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews – June 28, 2025
Summary
Trauma and substance use are profoundly underdiagnosed and undertreated in individuals with Level 1 Autism. While promising psychedelic-assisted therapies (e.g., psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine) address PTSD, and digital mental health interventions improve access, their intersection with autistic needs remains critically underexplored. This psychology review proposes a neurodevelopmentally sensitive, hybrid model. It integrates digital mental health tools with psychedelic psychological interventions to enhance mental health and trauma healing for autistic populations, addressing critical gaps in clinical psychology and psychiatry.
Abstract
Trauma-related disorders and substance use are disproportionately underdiagnosed and undertreated in individuals with High-Functioning Autism (Leve...
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to treat psychiatric and existential distress in life-threatening medical illnesses and palliative care.
Neuropharmacology – September 15, 2022
Summary
Many facing serious illnesses grapple with profound Anxiety, Depression, and Demoralization syndrome, where current Palliative care treatments often fall short, especially for Existential distress. A compelling review highlights Psychedelics, when combined with psychotherapy, as a promising new approach. By examining efficacy data from past research, the analysis suggests these therapies could significantly alleviate these complex psychiatric and existential burdens, forging a new path for patient well-being.
Abstract
Psychiatric and existential distress commonly occur in advanced cancer and other serious, life-threatening or end-of-life medical illnesses and are...
An Overview of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression – April 23, 2024
Summary
A novel therapeutic model, EMBARK, is revolutionizing mental health support. It proposes a new, adaptable framework for psychedelic-assisted therapy. This approach emphasizes structured phases: preparation, medicine administration, and crucial integration, supported by therapeutic guidance. Piloted in trials, EMBARK offers comprehensive, flexible mental health treatment, aiming to provide broad therapeutic support.
Abstract
AbstractChapter 1 introduces the concept of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) and the EMBARK psychedelic therapy model, a new approach to PAT and ...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (Pat): A New Frontier in Mental Health Treatment
The journal of desk research review and analysis. – December 16, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) shows remarkable potential in treating mental health disorders, with studies indicating a 60-70% reduction in depression symptoms among participants. Recent clinical trials from 2020 to 2024 involved diverse sample sizes, revealing significant benefits for conditions like PTSD and substance use disorders. Emerging evidence emphasizes the importance of addressing ethical issues and exploring underrepresented groups, such as older adults. This synthesis highlights the need for continued investigation into PAT's mechanisms and regulatory frameworks, paving the way for future advancements in psychiatry and psychology.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) has emerged as a promising and innovative approach to treating a range of mental health disorders, including dep...
How to make psychedelic-assisted therapy safer
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics – September 27, 2024
Summary
While promising, psychedelic therapy can temporarily diminish a patient's autonomy. To enhance safety, various measures were examined. Findings show preparatory sessions and trained oversight are valuable. Critically, including a trusted close person in the session is a highly effective and feasible approach to protect patients and foster a positive therapeutic experience.
Abstract
Classic serotonergic psychedelics are experiencing a clinical revival, which has also revived ethical debates about psychedelic-assisted therapy. A...
Further education in psychedelic-assisted therapy - experiences from Switzerland.
BMC medical education – March 05, 2025
Summary
Switzerland leads the way in therapist training for psychedelic-assisted therapy, offering a unique three-year program that combines clinical expertise with personal psychedelic experience. Under limited medical use policies, Swiss practitioners can legally use MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD to treat mental health conditions. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, ethical practice, and therapeutic relationships.
Abstract
The growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for treating psychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anx...
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: where is the psychotherapy research?
Psychopharmacology – August 01, 2024
Summary
While psychedelic medicines like psilocybin show promise in mental health treatment, the therapy component of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy remains understudied. Current approaches combine psychological support with psychedelic sessions, but questions remain about which therapy elements are most effective. Research suggests standardizing treatment protocols and measuring specific therapeutic mechanisms could enhance outcomes.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has emerged as a potential treatment for a variety of mental health conditions, including substance use di...
Qualitative Analysis of Views of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Low-Income, Urban, Black Americans.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – June 01, 2025
Summary
Many Black Americans show increasing openness to psychedelic-assisted therapy, despite historical healthcare mistrust. A qualitative investigation explored perceptions of psychedelics for therapy among low-income, urban Black Americans via focus groups. Findings revealed informed hesitation mixed with growing acceptance, emphasizing the need for trust, autonomy, and practical solutions like childcare and transport. Centering the needs of Black Americans and promoting diversity in therapy is crucial for improving access and quality of care.
Abstract
Black Americans are significantly underrepresented in psychedelic trials despite significant mental health disparities. Growing research suggests t...
The ethical use of therapeutic touch in psychedelic-assisted therapy: a qualitative study of researcher perspectives and experiences.
Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Researchers in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) emphasize that establishing clear informed consent for therapeutic touch is crucial before MDMA or psilocybin sessions. A qualitative exploration of researcher perspectives revealed that while flexibility in consent protocols, supported by a strong therapeutic alliance, is common, it also presents challenges in boundary management. Participants under psychedelics may change preferences, necessitating robust ethical guidelines and training for managing such shifts. This ensures the ethical use of therapeutic touch within psychedelic-assisted therapy, protecting participants and upholding the integrity of this emerging field.
Abstract
Physical touch is often included as a supportive or therapeutic tool in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), involving instrumental forms of physica...
Research into Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anorexia Nervosa Should be Funded.
Journal of bioethical inquiry – March 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic compounds like psilocybin and LSD show promising potential for treating anorexia nervosa, one of the deadliest psychiatric conditions. When combined with psychotherapy, these substances may help patients overcome rigid thought patterns and reconnect with their bodies. Early evidence suggests psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy could offer new hope for those struggling with severe eating disorders, while maintaining high ethical standards and informed consent protocols.
Abstract
Eating disorders are debilitating diseases that have twin impacts on the body and mind and are associated with a number of physiological and psycho...
Examining the Rationale for Studying Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Caregiver Distress.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – June 01, 2023
Summary
Caring for sick loved ones affects 50 million Americans, with up to 70% experiencing significant caregiver distress. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy using substances like psilocybin and MDMA shows promise in addressing the complex biopsychosocial-spiritual challenges caregivers face, potentially reducing anxiety, depression, and physical inflammation while improving empathy and spiritual well-being.
Abstract
More than 50 million people in the United States serve as uncompensated informal caregivers to chronically ill friends or family members. Providing...
An overview of psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ketamine in revitalizing psychedelic-assisted therapy: Insights, limitations and future directions.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – July 25, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy marks a pivotal evolution in mental health. A review reveals compounds like Psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and Ketamine are gaining recognition for their unique neurobiological mechanisms. These agents show significant therapeutic potential, effectively addressing complex conditions such as PTSD, depression, and addiction. This integration of psychedelics with psychotherapy offers a promising new direction in treatment.
Abstract
The resurgence of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy marks a pivotal evolution in mental health treatment, challenging traditional paradigms by int...