Music as a collaborating actor: new insights into the nature and role of music in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Frontiers in psychiatry January 1, 2025 Justin Dwyer, Robert B Johnston, Clare O'Callaghan et al. 5 citations
Music in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is not merely a predictable amplifier of the experience but undergoes a profound transformation for participants. In a trial of PAP at end of life, participants described music as becoming internally generated, multisensory, deeply personal experiences that arrive fully formed and are instantly known. Some of these experiences become actors that collaborate with the participant and therapist in ongoing psychotherapy. This contrasts sharply with the everyday properties of music reported by the placebo group. The findings suggest that music should not be viewed as something simply administered, with major implications for PAP practice and research.