Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 12, 2020
Jason B. Luoma, Christina Chwyl, Geoff J. Bathje et al.
206 citations
Placebo-controlled clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health conditions have resumed after a two-decade pause. Nine randomized, placebo-controlled trials published since 1994 examined psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and MDMA. A significant mean between-groups effect size of 1.21 (Hedges g) was found, larger than typical effects for psychopharmacological or psychotherapy interventions. Effects were generally maintained at follow-up in the three studies that maintained a placebo control. Analyses support efficacy across post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety/depression associated with a life-threatening illness, unipolar depression, and social anxiety among autistic adults. Larger trials with more diverse samples are needed to examine moderators and mediators and long-term effects.
Frontiers in Psychology
August 4, 2022
Geoff J. Bathje, Eric Majeski, Mesphina Kudowor
154 citations
Psychedelic integration, the process of making sense of and applying insights from psychedelic experiences, has recently gained attention but remains poorly defined. Therapists, coaches, and individuals offer or engage in integration services, yet the term covers many practices and techniques, causing confusion. This review and concept analysis examines existing definitions, practices, and models of integration, providing a synthesized definition and model along with a comprehensive summary of practices to bring clarity to the subject.
Harm Reduction Journal
April 11, 2021
Brian Pilecki, Jason B. Luoma, Geoff J. Bathje et al.
135 citations
As clinical trials show strong evidence for psychedelic-assisted therapy's benefits, many people are using psychedelics on their own rather than waiting for legal medical access. Therapists have an ethical duty to support these clients, but incorporating psychedelics into traditional psychotherapy poses risks given their prohibited status. This paper explicates these risks and describes ways therapists can mitigate them while practicing within legal and ethical boundaries. A harm reduction approach is emphasized as a useful framework for conducting therapy around clients' psychedelic use. Therapists can meet with clients before and after personal psychedelic experiences to help minimize risk and maximize benefit. Common clinical scenarios in this growing area are discussed.
April 1, 2021
Geoff J. Bathje, Jon Fenton, Daniel Pillersdorf et al.
23 citations
preprint
Western participants in facilitated group ayahuasca experiences reported a wide range of lasting beneficial impacts, including improvements in mental health, substance use, health behaviors, interpersonal relationships, sense of self, and attitude, as well as changes in creativity, somatic sensations, physical health, connection to nature, spirituality, and concern for the greater good. Two of the 41 participants reported problematic experiences tied to set and setting. The findings suggest that ayahuasca can produce sustained therapeutic-like effects beyond those typically addressed in psychotherapy, though the study is qualitative and does not establish causality.