The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics on Reducing Rumination: A Mini-Review.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) September 1, 2024 Banan Ramarushton, Heidemarie Blumenthal, Anthony Ryals et al. 2 citations
Rumination, a repetitive negative thinking pattern, is a risk factor for depression, anxiety, and other disorders, yet it is often resistant to conventional treatments. A mini-review of six studies found a significant association between psychedelic use and lower levels of rumination, suggesting that reducing rumination via changes in the default mode network may be a key cognitive factor in psychedelic therapy. The review recommends exploring whether identifying ruminative tendencies before a psychedelic session improves adherence to "letting go" during dosing, and notes that booster sessions may help sustain therapeutic effects, though financial costs are high. Understanding rumination's role could inform postdosing integration strategies like rumination-focused cognitive behavior therapy or mindfulness.