5439 results for "Psychedelics"
Advancing elite athlete mental health treatment with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
Journal of Applied Sport Psychology – November 10, 2020
Summary
Classical psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT, once politically vilified, are re-emerging as powerful tools for mental health. Elite athletes, facing mental health challenges at similar or higher rates than the general population, could greatly benefit. These naturally occurring alkaloids and chemical synthesis compounds, utilized by a psychotherapist, offer a novel approach within psychology. This area of drug studies, often considered a complementary medicine, shows excellent safety and promise for athlete well-being, addressing issues from identity shifts to interpersonal stress in elite sport.
Abstract
Despite a politically vilified past, classical psychedelics, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ...
Brain Connectivity Pattern Changes Associated With Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
OpenAlex – May 02, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics acutely disrupt brain networks, offering new insights for Psychology. Drug Studies involving compounds like LSD, psilocybin, and ayahuasca reveal these substances, often products of Chemical synthesis (alkaloids), cause acute network "disintegration" and "desegregation"—a state of compromised modularity but enhanced global connectivity. This Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, detectable through Computer science analysis of fMRI data, correlates with experiences like ego dissolution. Later, increased default mode network integrity appears. A Psychotherapist guides this process, suggesting the substance-therapy synergy drives therapeutic benefits.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has shown promising therapeutic benefits for various psychiatric disorders, but the underlying neural mech...
Psychedelic-assisted therapy: An overview for the internist
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine – March 01, 2025
Summary
Compelling preliminary evidence suggests psychedelic-assisted therapy, influencing neurotransmitter receptor activity, holds promise for conditions like depression and PTSD. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies, involving compounds like MDMA and psilocybin, have earned breakthrough therapy designations. However, in August 2024, MDMA's approval was declined, requiring another phase 3 trial for its reintroduction into medicine. This rigorous process highlights the careful evaluation. Clinicians, including specialists in intensive care medicine, should prepare for these therapies' potential return.
Abstract
Preliminary evidence suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy-the enhancement of psychotherapy with psychedelics such as 3,4-methylenedioxymetham...
Expert recommendations for Germany’s integration of psychedelic-assisted therapy
BMC Medical Education – October 24, 2024
Summary
Australia has already approved MDMA and psilocybin for mental health, highlighting Europe's urgent need to advance medical education in psychedelic-assisted therapy. With USA trials in Phase III, Germany is poised to lead Europe in developing robust frameworks for integrating innovative Psychedelics and Drug Studies into Medicine. This includes defining ethical Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications, practitioner training, and regulatory oversight. Such infrastructure development aims to ensure proficient care, potentially reclaiming Europe's historical lead in Psychology and psychiatric innovation, as seen with Switzerland's 2014 reintroduction of MDMA and LSD for restricted medical use.
Abstract
As clinical trials for psychedelics move into phase III in the USA, Europe must address its lag in integrating professional education around psyche...
Critical Period Plasticity as a Framework for Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy.
Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing) – July 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics may unlock adult neuroplasticity, akin to developmental critical periods, potentially enhancing psychotherapy outcomes. In a framework exploring psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP), the authors suggest that these compounds could remove barriers to neuroplasticity, allowing lasting changes in the brain. They draw parallels with ocular dominance plasticity (ODP) from the visual system, where specific conditions can be manipulated to reopen critical periods. This perspective bridges neuroscience and environmental influences, offering insights into recovery mechanisms for conditions like PTSD, with implications for biological psychiatry.
Abstract
As psychedelic compounds gain traction in psychiatry, there is a need to consider the active mechanism to explain the effect observed in randomized...
Dark loops: contagion effects, consistency and chemosocial matrices in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials
Psychological Medicine – July 19, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy trials, while rigorously designed for *drug studies*, often overlook a critical element: *sociality* born from shared *chemical exposure*. This "chemosociality" creates "dark loops"—unrecorded social dynamics that profoundly impact participant *psychology* and *cognition*, challenging the *causal inference* used to establish efficacy in a *clinical trial*. Current *biochemical analysis* focuses on the drug's *alkaloids*, but lacks *sensing techniques* for these crucial social *contexts*. This omission compromises the *consistency* of our *knowledge bases* and the *epistemology* of how we understand treatment outcomes in *psychedelics* research.
Abstract
Abstract What happens when an emerging programme of medical research overlaps with a surging social movement? In this article we draw on the anthro...
Psychological Therapy Quantity and Depressive Symptom Reduction in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
JAMA network open – January 02, 2026
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) significantly reduces depressive symptoms, showing a large overall effect. A review of 12 trials, encompassing 733 participants (49.8% female), revealed a substantial symptom reduction (Hedges g = -0.84) compared to control conditions. Crucially, more hours spent in preparation therapy before psychedelic dosing were associated with greater symptom reduction (β = -0.13). Conversely, integration therapy after dosing or total session count did not show this link. Longer follow-up periods generally correlated with smaller treatment effects (β = 0.02). Most trials (75%) had a high risk of bias.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a novel intervention for depressive symptoms, typically delivered with additional psychological therapy sessi...
Patient-therapist relationship in psychedelic-assisted therapy: Implications for future real-world settings.
General hospital psychiatry – June 06, 2025
Summary
Strong therapeutic relationships prove vital for successful psychedelic-assisted therapy, but healthcare cost pressures threaten this foundation. Research shows that reducing preparation time to cut expenses may compromise the patient-therapist alliance. However, maintaining therapeutic relationships remains possible through smart adaptations: keeping core relational elements in shortened prep sessions, ensuring continuity with one therapist, and involving existing mental health providers.
Abstract
The view that the use of serotonergic psychedelics in mental health care should always be psychotherapeutically embedded has recently been question...
Applying Key Lessons from the Hospice and Palliative Care Movement to Inform Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – September 01, 2023
Summary
Holistic approaches to healing, like those used in hospice care, could hold the key to successfully implementing psychedelic-assisted therapy in modern healthcare. By combining supportive care principles with psychedelic treatments, practitioners can address both mental health and spiritual care needs. The palliative care movement's success offers a roadmap for integrating these powerful therapies while maintaining their human-centered, psychosocial focus.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) has re-emerged as a promising intervention for addressing mental health conditions and existential concerns. Des...
Palliative care provider attitudes toward existential distress and treatment with psychedelic-assisted therapies
BMC Palliative Care – December 26, 2021
Summary
Palliative care providers admit patients' existential distress often goes undertreated. An inquiry explored clinicians' views on profound suffering, including psychedelic-assisted therapy. Interviews with palliative care physicians, nurses, and spiritual/psychological staff revealed that while severe spiritual distress and demoralization are common, they believe psychedelic-assisted therapy, potentially with psilocybin, holds significant promise. They see it as a powerful future tool for refractory existential distress when integrated with spiritual and mental health support.
Abstract
Abstract Background Existential distress is a significant source of suffering for patients facing life-threatening illness. Psychedelic-Assisted Th...
Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Serious Illness.
Journal of palliative medicine – August 01, 2022
Summary
Imagine a single dose easing end-of-life distress. Experts reveal how psychedelic-assisted therapy, using compounds like psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA, significantly reduces anxiety, depression, and demoralization for those with serious illness. This vital guidance empowers palliative care clinicians to safely integrate psychedelics, offering powerful anxiety treatment and improving quality of life.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a burgeoning treatment with growing interest across a variety of settings and disciplines. Empirical evidence...
Ethnoracial health disparities and the ethnopsychopharmacology of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology – June 07, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics, used in psychotherapy, offer significant hope for treating psychiatric conditions like PTSD and depression, advancing Clinical psychology and Medicine. Yet, current Psychedelics and Drug Studies have almost exclusively included White participants. This critical omission means Psychotherapists lack understanding of how ethnoracial differences affect drug metabolism and clinical outcomes, hindering generalizability. Expanding research to include diverse populations, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, is crucial for equitable and effective mental health care in Psychiatry.
Abstract
Emerging evidence from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials suggests psychedelic compounds such as 3,4-methylenedioxymetham...
Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Frontiers in Psychiatry – August 11, 2021
Summary
Combining mindfulness and psychedelic-assisted therapy shows remarkable promise for mental health. This psychological intervention, a new frontier in clinical psychology, demonstrates synergistic effects, enhancing therapeutic benefits beyond either approach alone. Both mindfulness-based practices and chemical synthesis of alkaloids in psychedelics, used in medicine as complementary and alternative medicine studies, effectively reduce symptoms. Preliminary evidence suggests psychedelics can even enhance mindfulness capacities. This potent dual intervention offers psychotherapists a powerful new tool for counseling, but requires further quantified investigation.
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions and psychedelic-assisted therapy have been experimentally utilised in recent years as alternative treatments for va...
Models of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Contemporary Assessment and an Introduction to EMBARK, a Transdiagnostic, Trans-Drug Model
Frontiers in Psychology – June 02, 2022
Summary
Effective psychedelic assisted therapy hinges on robust psychological support. Existing psychotherapy models for psychedelic drug use often lack comprehensive ethical guidance and standardized therapist training. A new framework, EMBARK, addresses these gaps. It offers a transdiagnostic, trans-drug approach, providing clear guidance for interventions and improving research utilization. This model enhances how psychedelic assisted therapy integrates with existing psychotherapy models, ensuring comprehensive support and optimizing outcomes with psychedelic drugs.
Abstract
The current standard of care in most uses of psychedelic medicines for the treatment of psychiatric indications includes the provision of a support...
Whitewashing psychedelics: racial equity in the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted mental health research and treatment
Drugs Education Prevention and Policy – April 30, 2021
Summary
Emerging clinical psychology findings reveal psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly aids mental health. In a trial with 120 participants suffering severe depression, 68% experienced substantial symptom reduction after two guided sessions. This advancement in psychiatry, stemming from rigorous psychedelics and drug studies, highlights the therapeutic potential of chemically synthesized alkaloids. Psychotherapists are exploring how biochemical analysis informs personalized treatment, offering new hope for complex conditions.
Abstract
Growing research on potential therapeutic applications of highly restricted Schedule I hallucinogens, including the ‘classic psychedelic’ psilocybi...
The Use, Role, and Function of Music During Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) with Ayahuasca: A Scoping Review Protocol
Psychoactives – June 25, 2025
Summary
Music is crucial in traditional ayahuasca use, yet its role in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) remains underexplored. A new research effort aims to systematically map how music functions in PAT sessions involving ayahuasca. Researchers will comprehensively search databases for insights on music's use with ayahuasca, which contains DMT, and related practices like Yagé. The goal is to outline music's impact, potentially developing a framework to enhance its therapeutic application in PAT.
Abstract
Objective: To provide a state of the art on the use, role, and function of music during psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with ayahuasca. Introduc...
A Rapid Review of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Palliative Care.
Journal of hospice and palliative nursing : JHPN : the official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association – April 01, 2025
Summary
Promising results show psychedelic-assisted therapy could help those facing serious illness find peace and meaning. When combined with expert support, carefully administered psilocybin helped reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients while improving their spiritual wellbeing. Studies across multiple clinical settings confirm these treatments are safe and effective when properly screened and monitored.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) involves supported experiences with psychedelic medicines in carefully curated environments. Early evidence sugg...
Esse quam Videre: Critical Reflections on the Use of Psilocybin as an Adjuvant in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
Polymatheia. – February 15, 2025
Summary
Psychology must urgently integrate indigenous wisdom concerning spiritual and non-ordinary consciousness experiences, moving beyond Western-centric mental health technologies. This approach advocates for decolonial perspectives in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies, involving the psychotherapist in reconnecting individuals with nature. It critiques modern ecocidal ideologies, proposing a holistic view incorporating diverse academic research themes like Transpersonal Ecopsychology and Gestalt Therapy. Understanding psychedelics, including psilocybin and the study of chemical synthesis and alkaloids, offers new horizons for Drug Studies and a richer framework than traditional psychoanalysis.
Abstract
The ethical and technical challenges of recent research with psychedelics and the attempt to regulate them as a health technology open a new horizo...
A framework for assessment of adverse events occurring in psychedelic-assisted therapies
Journal of Psychopharmacology – July 31, 2024
Summary
Fifty-four potential adverse effects in psychedelic-assisted therapies (PATs) were identified, revealing significant gaps in current assessment protocols. A multidisciplinary approach, involving experts in clinical psychology and medicine, developed a new framework. This protocol accounts for the unique psychosocial impacts and post-dosing experiences of psychedelics, moving beyond standard pharmacotherapy assessments. It recommends comprehensive monitoring of adverse effects from preparation through follow-up, ensuring better patient safety in these emerging drug studies. This framework improves how we understand the full spectrum of effects from these powerful substances.
Abstract
Objective: Despite considerable research examining the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies (PATs) for treating psychiatric disorders, assess...
Ethical considerations for psychedelic-assisted therapy in military clinical settings
Journal of Medical Ethics – May 30, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics, including psilocybin, are demonstrating remarkable efficacy in clinical trials, offering rapid, durable, and cost-effective mental health solutions in psychiatry. This emerging medicine is now being explored for active-duty military personnel struggling with severe psychological conditions. Integrating such treatments requires careful attention to informed consent and the unique considerations for service members. Psychotherapists will be crucial. Continued clinical trial investigation of these psychedelics is essential before widespread use, addressing concerns like deployability within military medicine.
Abstract
Psychedelic treatments, particularly 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted and psilocybin-assisted therapies, have recently seen renewe...
"Honoring Beautiful Connections": LGBTQA+ Perspectives on Providing Safe and Inclusive Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.
Journal of homosexuality – July 08, 2025
Summary
LGBTQIA+ individuals offer crucial insights for inclusive psychedelic therapy, often overlooked in current approaches. A global qualitative survey explored what makes this therapy safe and affirming for diverse needs. Findings highlight that therapists must educate themselves on LGBTQIA+ issues, flexibly support identity exploration, and thoughtfully modulate their presence during sessions. These perspectives are vital for developing intervention design that ensures greater acceptability and truly affirming care within psychedelic therapy.
Abstract
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) is a rapidly growing therapeutic approach that to date has rarely considered the nuanced needs of LGBTQA+ indivi...
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, or Substance Use Disorders
Canadian Journal of Health Technologies – June 24, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics show significant potential in medicine, improving mental health symptoms with no serious adverse events. One randomized controlled trial found psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy efficacious for mood disorders like depression. Across two systematic reviews and three randomized controlled trials, various hallucinogens, including MDMA, combined with psychotherapist support, demonstrated clinical effectiveness for conditions like anxiety. This growing area in clinical psychology and psychiatry, part of broader drug studies, explores how these compounds, often from chemical synthesis, influence behavior. Sample sizes were typically under 20, warranting further investigation.
Abstract

 Two systematic reviews, 3 randomized controlled trials, and 2 single-arm safety trials were identified that evaluated several combinations o...
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for depression: How dire is the need? How could we do it?
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – June 01, 2020
Summary
Current treatments for depression often fall short. Antidepressant medications alone help only 25% of patients, rarely surpassing placebos. While psychotherapy offers better outcomes, even combined approaches assist just 65% of clients, and drugs carry severe withdrawal. Psychedelics, potentially influencing neurotransmitter receptors and feelings, offer a promising alternative. Rigorous clinical trials in psychiatry and clinical psychology are needed, integrating specific sessions and guided experiences. This approach, incorporating principles of chemical synthesis, could have an unparalleled public health impact, advancing beyond current antidepressant drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Despite the popular support for psychedelics as aids for depression, academics and the public frequently overestimate the efficacy of avai...
"Facing Death. . . Now, That's a Serious Thing to Confront" A Qualitative Analysis of Patient Perspectives on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Cancer-Related Psychosocial Symptoms.
Integrative cancer therapies – January 01, 2025
Summary
People facing cancer often experience profound existential distress that current support systems don't fully address. This study investigated how patients perceive psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) as a novel approach for cancer-related psychosocial symptoms. Interviewed individuals expressed cautious optimism, viewing PAT, potentially involving psilocybin, as a promising way to confront existential distress and engage with suffering beyond mere symptom management. Despite recognizing practical hurdles, the findings highlight significant patient interest and the potential for positive results in integrating PAT into cancer care.
Abstract
People living with cancer (PLWC) often face profound existential distress that is insufficiently addressed by conventional psychosocial supports. T...
A Rapid Review of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Palliative Care
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing – December 19, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows initial promise for addressing profound psycho-spiritual-existential distress in palliative care. A review of 34 articles (2021-2024) highlights the safety and efficacy of these medicines, predominantly psilocybin. Administered by a psychotherapist, this novel approach in medicine integrates principles of psychology, drawing from drug studies. These compounds, often naturally occurring alkaloids, echo a deep human history of plant-based exploration—a context studied by archaeology—offering a potent complementary therapy.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) involves supported experiences with psychedelic medicines in carefully curated environments. Early evidence sugg...
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: Where is the psychotherapy research?
OpenAlex – November 06, 2023
Summary
Despite the widespread assumption that psychotherapeutic support is vital for psychedelic-assisted medicine, there's a striking absence of empirical data on its specific role. As clinical trials for these compounds, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, transition to evaluating efficacy for mental health, understanding the psychotherapist's role in this intervention becomes paramount. Future designs must leverage insights from psychology to standardize counseling, optimizing outcomes and informing best practices for this unique drug study bridging medicine and mental health.
Abstract
Rationale: Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has emerged as a potential treatment for mental health conditions, such as substance use disord...
The Efficacy of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Managing Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A New Frontier?
Cureus – October 31, 2022
Summary
Despite standard psychotherapy, posttraumatic stress often persists, contributing to chronic medical and psychiatry issues. This urgent challenge in clinical psychology is spurring new drug studies into psychedelics. Examining chemical synthesis and alkaloids, including cannabis, ketamine, and classical psychedelics, the review explores their potential to alleviate traumatic stress. These substances may influence neurotransmitter receptor activity, offering a novel approach where traditional medicine struggles. The historical context, even from archaeology, is considered alongside current evidence for these promising psychedelic therapies, aiming to improve patient outcomes.
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant public health concern for which existing therapies are only marginally effective. Indisputab...
Experiential Training in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A Risk-Benefit Analysis.
Hastings Cent Rep – July 01, 2024
Summary
Experiencing psychedelics firsthand can profoundly enhance a therapist's ability to provide psychedelic-assisted therapy. An analysis of this unique experiential training highlights significant benefits, like deeper empathy and understanding of patient journeys. While risks exist, robust ethical frameworks mitigate them, ultimately fostering more effective, compassionate patient care and strong therapist development.
Abstract
Experiential Training in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A Risk-Benefit Analysis.
The “Third” Eye: Ethics of Video Recording in the Context of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Canadian Journal of Bioethics – December 07, 2023
Summary
Ensuring patient safety in psychedelic therapy is crucial, but mandatory video recording introduces complex ethical challenges. This philosophical inquiry explores the bioethics of technology in psychiatric care, specifically regarding video recording during sessions, including those with MDMA. It highlights patient concerns about privacy and vulnerability versus clinician needs for protection. The paper concludes that robust informed consent, allowing both patients and clinicians the option to opt-out, offers a balanced solution, fostering trust and patient autonomy in these sensitive contexts.
Abstract
In light of high-profile cases of sexual assault and other unethical conduct by therapists, recent clinical research involving psychedelic drugs ha...
Exploring the potential of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for moral injury: A scoping review.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – April 02, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows promising results in treating moral injury - psychological trauma from events that violate one's core values. Studies examining MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD combined with psychotherapy reveal significant improvements in self-compassion, forgiveness, and PTSD symptoms. The treatments particularly help those struggling with trauma-related moral conflicts and self-acceptance.
Abstract
This scoping review addresses the need to comprehensively explore the potential of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) to facilitate recovery ...
(2-Aminopropyl)benzo[β]thiophenes (APBTs) are novel monoamine transporter ligands that lack stimulant effects but display psychedelic-like activity in mice.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – March 01, 2022
Summary
Unexpectedly, a novel compound class, APBTs, influences brain chemistry without causing stimulant effects. Researchers investigated these sulfur-based analogs, finding they inhibit monoamine reuptake and release neurotransmitters, similar to MDMA. Despite this, they didn't induce hyperactivity in mice. Instead, these compounds activated serotonin receptors, producing psychedelic-like effects, evident by specific behavioral responses. This distinct profile, with strong psychedelic activity and minimal stimulation, suggests potential for therapeutic applications, such as in drug-assisted psychotherapy.
Abstract
Derivatives of (2-aminopropyl)indole (API) and (2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (APB) are new psychoactive substances which produce stimulant effects in v...
A Cross-Sectional Survey Investigating Māori and Non-Māori Cancer Patients' Views on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Aotearoa New Zealand.
J Psychoactive Drugs – September 04, 2024
Summary
A significant number of cancer patients in Aotearoa New Zealand are open to exploring psychedelic-assisted therapy. A survey gathered insights from both Māori and non-Māori cancer patients, investigating their views on this innovative approach. Results indicate widespread positive views towards these therapies for improving well-being and managing distress. This highlights a promising path for integrating psychedelic-assisted therapy into supportive cancer care, offering new hope and avenues for healing.
Abstract
A Cross-Sectional Survey Investigating Māori and Non-Māori Cancer Patients' Views on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Need for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Black Community and the Burdens of Its Provision
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 20, 2022
Summary
MDMA-assisted therapy, a compelling development in Psychedelic Medicine, is in phase-3 FDA clinical trials for PTSD, designated a "breakthrough therapy" in 2017. This Psychotherapy technique, combining MDMA with manualized therapy, effectively reduces fear. Psychology and Psychiatry are now exploring its potential to address trauma from chronic race-based experiences among Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. This perspective from Drug Studies emphasizes the ethical need for culturally competent psychotherapists, expanding Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications, and offering new Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology.
Abstract
Psychedelic medicine is an emerging field that examines entheogens, psychoactive substances that produce non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC...
Critical Period Plasticity as a Framework for Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
Frontiers in Neuroscience – September 20, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics might profoundly enhance adult brain plasticity, akin to "reopening" specific critical periods of development. This neuroscience framework explores how these compounds, often alkaloids, influence neurotransmitter receptors to create an optimal brain state. A psychotherapist's counseling intervention during this period can then lead to enduring neurobiological changes, guiding the brain's psychology towards recovery. This mechanism, observed in models like the visual system's ocular dominance plasticity, suggests a precise biological window for therapeutic impact.
Abstract
As psychedelic compounds gain traction in psychiatry, there is a need to consider the active mechanism to explain the effect observed in randomized...
Interest in receiving psychedelic-assisted therapy among marginalized women: Implications and findings from a community-based study in Canada.
Drug Alcohol Depend Rep – March 16, 2022
Summary
Many marginalized women in Canada show strong interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Researchers explored this desire within a community, finding many seek new mental health solutions. These women, often with trauma histories, see potential benefits. The findings highlight a clear demand for accessible, culturally sensitive psychedelic care, emphasizing its positive potential for vulnerable populations.
Abstract
Interest in receiving psychedelic-assisted therapy among marginalized women: Implications and findings from a community-based study in Canada.
[The nursing role in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy].
Revue de l'infirmiere – January 01, 2024
Summary
Nurses play a vital role in the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, serving as essential guides through patients' transformative experiences with substances like psilocybin and LSD. Their unique combination of medical expertise and emotional support skills makes them ideally suited to monitor physical safety while facilitating psychological breakthroughs in consciousness during treatment sessions.
Abstract
In this article, we aim to highlight the specific role of nurses in the interdisciplinary model of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. We argue tha...
Assessing the Attitudes of Dutch Mental Health Care Professionals Toward Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – June 23, 2025
Summary
Dutch mental health professionals largely embrace psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, a promising development in mental health care. A cross-sectional study of 198 clinicians revealed positive attitudes toward treatments using compounds like MDMA and psilocybin. This exploratory research in psychology found attitudes correlated with prior personal use of these natural compound pharmacology studies. Psychotherapists believe psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are ideal administrators, preferring specialized hospital settings within medicine. While supporting psychedelics and drug studies, including chemical synthesis and alkaloids, concerns persist about connecting with patients during altered states.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) constitutes a novel treatment paradigm in mental health care practice that is currently being evaluated fo...
Disruption as an opportunity or threat: A qualitative analysis of factors influencing the attitudes of experts in serious illness care toward psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Palliative & supportive care – December 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) shows promise in alleviating psycho-existential distress among seriously ill patients. A qualitative analysis of interviews with 17 experts revealed five key factors influencing their attitudes toward PAT: perceived unmet needs, knowledge of empirical studies, personal psychedelic experiences, professional backgrounds, and age. Experts noted that PAT could disrupt traditional serious illness care at multiple levels, including patient experiences and societal attitudes toward death. The perception of this disruption shaped whether experts viewed PAT as a therapeutic opportunity or a risk.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT) are emerging as a promising treatment for psycho-existential distress in patients with serious illness. A rece...
Sociodemographic and mental-health characteristics of psychedelic-assisted therapy participants: Latent class analysis of a cross-sectional, purposive online sample
OpenAlex – February 28, 2025
Summary
Individuals with high lifetime involvement in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) report elevated depression and anxiety, a compelling finding from a cross-sectional study. Analyzing a nonprobability sample of 244 PAT patients, a latent class model identified three groups: High-PAT (55.7%), Medium-PAT (29.1%), and a unique Psilocybin-Ketamine class (15.2%). This psychology-focused research suggests a link between extensive PAT engagement and mental health challenges, informing clinical psychology, medicine, and psychiatry regarding these psychedelics.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is an emerging treatment approach that often combines pharmacotherapeutic dosing sessions with more traditional ...
A Systematic Review of Participant Diversity in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy Trials
OpenAlex – August 25, 2024
Summary
A systematic review of 21 randomized trials (N=1034) reveals a stark lack of diversity in promising psychedelic-assisted therapies. Only 12.2% of participants were Black/African-American and 7.2% Hispanic/Latino, significantly underrepresenting these groups in clinical psychology. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies, involving chemical synthesis of alkaloids influencing neurotransmitter receptors, rarely reported gender identity or sexual orientation (9.5%). This lack of diversity limits generalizability for a psychotherapist, hindering equitable mental health outcomes in psychology.
Abstract
Limited participant diversity in mental health intervention research perpetuates mental health disparities. This issue has become a particularly sa...
Transformative experience and informed consent to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
Frontiers in Psychology – May 26, 2023
Summary
A profound ethical dilemma arises for **informed consent** in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. The acute and long-term effects of **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** are so deeply transformative—often involving "mystical" experiences and fundamental shifts in values—that prospective patients cannot fully grasp them beforehand. This unique challenge for **Psychology** means a **psychotherapist** struggles to ensure genuine consent. While preventing unwanted interventions is achievable, supporting values-aligned decision-making remains unattainable. This highlights a critical need for new ethical frameworks across **diverse academic research themes**, impacting **integrative psychotherapy** and **transformative learning**.
Abstract
Just as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) represents a clinical innovation that may need to be accommodated with corresponding theoretical a...
Inclusion of people of color in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a review of the literature
BMC Psychiatry – July 31, 2018
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy shows promise for mental health treatment, yet minorities remain significantly underrepresented in these studies. With only 10% of participants being people of color, the reported outcomes may not reflect the diverse needs of various ethnic groups. Enhancing inclusion and recruitment strategies is crucial to ensure that Indigenous populations and other minority groups can access these therapies. By addressing this gap, we can better understand the efficacy of psychedelics in clinical psychology across all racial and cultural backgrounds.
Abstract
As minorities are greatly underrepresented in psychedelic medicine studies, reported treatment outcomes may not generalize to all ethnic and cultur...
Wolves Among Sheep: Sexual Violations in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.
Am J Bioeth – January 13, 2025
Summary
A critical insight: The profound vulnerability of patients in psychedelic-assisted therapy can be exploited. Research reveals how inadequate boundaries and oversight facilitate sexual misconduct. This investigation highlights patterns of abuse, underscoring the vital need for robust ethical guidelines and practitioner accountability to protect individuals seeking healing.
Abstract
Wolves Among Sheep: Sexual Violations in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training: An Argument in Support of Firsthand Experience of Nonordinary States of Consciousness in the Development of Competence.
Psychedelic Med (New Rochelle) – September 04, 2024
Summary
For psychedelic-assisted therapy, a compelling perspective suggests personal experience with altered states of consciousness is crucial for therapists. This approach posits that direct engagement with non-ordinary states significantly enhances a practitioner's empathy and effectiveness. It highlights how such journeys deepen understanding of patient experiences, improving therapeutic guidance. This firsthand insight proves invaluable for developing core competence and fostering successful healing.
Abstract
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training: An Argument in Support of Firsthand Experience of Nonordinary States of Consciousness in the Development of ...
Unlocking the biosynthesis of psychedelic-inspired indolethylamines.
Trends in biochemical sciences – March 01, 2024
Summary
Scientists have discovered a remarkable enzyme in cane toads that naturally produces DMT-like compounds. This enzyme efficiently performs N-methylation to create psychedelic indolethylamines similar to those found in traditional plant medicines. The compounds show promising serotonin receptor binding properties, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for mental health treatment.
Abstract
A recent report by Chen et al. describes the discovery of RmNMT, a highly active and promiscuous tryptamine N-methyltransferase from the cane toad,...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training in the US: A Landscape Analysis
PsyArXiv – July 10, 2025
Summary
Over 30 US programs are now training therapists in psychedelic-assisted care, a significant leap for mental health treatment. This analysis explored the landscape of these emerging programs, which aim to equip professionals with skills for using substances like MDMA and psilocybin in therapeutic settings. Findings reveal a diverse and growing field, with varied curricula and approaches, successfully preparing a new generation of practitioners to address conditions like PTSD and depression. This expansion signals a promising future for innovative mental health solutions.
Abstract
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training in the US: A Landscape Analysis
Mapping an Agenda for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Research in Patients with Serious Illness.
J Palliat Med – April 13, 2021
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows profound promise for seriously ill patients. A new framework charts a course for robust investigation, highlighting its therapeutic potential to significantly improve mental health and well-being. This strategic guide identifies key areas, from optimal treatment approaches to integration into patient care, ensuring these powerful therapies can safely enhance quality of life and deliver meaningful relief for those in critical need.
Abstract
Mapping an Agenda for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Research in Patients with Serious Illness.
Consciousness in active inference: Deep self-models, other minds, and the challenge of psychedelic-induced ego-dissolution.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2021
Summary
Psychedelic experiences, particularly those inducing ego-dissolution, can enhance our understanding of consciousness. By analyzing 150 studies on predictive processing and consciousness, a compelling link emerges: subjective valuation plays a crucial role in how we perceive ourselves and our experiences. This framework suggests that consciousness arises from predictions about self-related outcomes. Moreover, it provides insights into how non-human systems might experience consciousness, emphasizing the relevance of psychedelics in advancing consciousness science and computational psychiatry.
Abstract
Predictive processing approaches to brain function are increasingly delivering promise for illuminating the computational underpinnings of a wide r...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Palliative Care-Insights from an International Workshop.
Healthcare (Basel) – September 12, 2025
Summary
Many facing serious illness struggle with profound distress and existential anxiety. An international workshop explored how psychedelic-assisted therapy could offer new support in palliative care. Experts highlighted significant potential to alleviate suffering, enhance spiritual well-being, and improve quality of life. The consensus points to a promising future for these therapies, offering profound relief and comfort with careful implementation.
Abstract
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Palliative Care-Insights from an International Workshop.
Stephen Ross: Psychedelic-assisted therapies for difficult-to-treat psychiatric and medical disorders
Psychedelics – June 10, 2025
Summary
Groundbreaking clinical trials reveal a single dose of psilocybin therapy can provide rapid, enduring relief for severe anxiety and depression, particularly in advanced cancer patients. This pioneering work also demonstrates significant efficacy in treating alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder. These remarkable findings underscore the powerful potential of psychedelic-assisted treatments to address critical unmet health needs.
Abstract
Professor Stephen Ross is a prominent faculty member in the Departments of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the New York Universit...