Exploration of attitudes towards the mystical experience in the context of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy amongst psychiatry trainees based in the West of Scotland
Consciousness, Spirituality & Transpersonal Psychology October 31, 2024 Cassie Maguire
Psychiatry trainees in the West of Scotland expressed openness to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and to the therapeutic potential of the mystical experience, but also showed a biomedical focus consistent with the prevailing medical model. Through interviews with five core trainees, four themes emerged: general knowledge about mystical experiences, openness to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, implications for psychiatry, and concerns. Trainees recognized the need for training in its delivery. As psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy gains credibility, a holistic approach integrating modern psychiatry with transpersonal aspects may be valuable.