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John Perna

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.

3 papers in the library · 51 citations · publishing 2024-2025

Papers

A framework for assessment of adverse events occurring in psychedelic-assisted therapies

Journal of Psychopharmacology July 31, 2024 Roman Palitsky, Deanna M. Kaplan, John Perna et al. 32 citations

A multidisciplinary working group identified 54 potential adverse events that warrant systematic assessment in psychedelic-assisted therapies, finding that existing measurement tools substantially fail to cover these constructs. The group developed recommendations for when and how to assess these adverse events across preparation, dosing, integration, and follow-up phases, and demonstrated a preliminary assessment protocol. The framework addresses the need to capture post-acute dosing adverse events, accounting for both the pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy components of psychedelic-assisted therapy, as well as documented impacts on worldviews and spirituality.

Prolonged adverse effects from repeated psilocybin use in an underground psychedelic therapy training program: a case report

BMC Psychiatry February 28, 2025 John Perna, Justin Trop, Roman Palitsky et al. 15 citations

A case report describes tensions between legal and underground psychedelic use within therapy training programs, psychiatry, and neo-shamanism. It details how psychiatric interventions like electroconvulsive therapy and energy medicine were used to address prolonged adverse effects from psychedelics. The report urges clinicians to recognize conflicts between psychiatric views of these adverse effects and frameworks in psychedelic communities, which can affect patients' symptoms, decisions, and emotional struggles.

A Framework for Assessment of Adverse Events Occurring in Psychedelic Assisted Therapies

March 5, 2024 Roman Palitsky, Deanna M. Kaplan, John Perna et al. 4 citations preprint

A multidisciplinary working group identified 53 potential adverse events (AEs) specific to psychedelic-assisted therapies (PATs) that current assessment tools miss. Existing measures cover only a fraction of these constructs. The group recommends new assessment methods—including patient, clinician, and informant reports—and specifies when to measure AEs across preparation, dosing, integration, and follow-up phases. The framework addresses gaps in capturing post-acute dosing effects, including changes in worldview and spirituality, which distinguish PAT from other treatments.