6 papers in the library · 48 citations · publishing 2023-2026
JAMA August 31, 2023 Rachel Yehuda, Amy Lehrner 33 citations
Interest is growing among clinicians and researchers in using psychedelic drugs to treat mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and addictions.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 7, 2025 Amy Lehrner, Heather Jackson, David S. Mathai et al. 11 citations
Among 679 adults using psilocybin in naturalistic settings, 68.2% reported acute feelings of shame or guilt during the experience, which were difficult to predict. The ability to constructively work through these feelings predicted wellbeing 2-4 weeks later. On average, psilocybin produced a small but significant decrease in trait shame maintained 2-3 months after use (Cohen's dz = 0.37), though trait shame increased in 29.8% of participants. The activation of self-conscious emotions with psychedelics warrants further attention as a challenging experience subcategory relevant to psychological outcomes, potentially creating a unique learning condition for shame-related memory reconsolidation.
Psychedelics January 8, 2026 Rachel Yehuda, Amy Lehrner, Miryam Sperka et al. 2 citations
The original manual for MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for PTSD, developed by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), introduced concepts like “inner healing intelligence” from transpersonal traditions, which lacked clear grounding in trauma science and were difficult to standardize. In response, a new model called Integrative MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy (IMAP) is proposed. IMAP is a principle-guided, patient-driven approach rooted in humanistic and trauma-focused psychotherapy. It offers flexible, relationally attuned support for nonlinear therapeutic processes, drawing on contemporary PTSD theories and evidence-based trauma interventions while retaining experiential approaches. The model invites empirical study to determine essential therapeutic elements in psychedelic contexts.
Psychedelic Medicine March 10, 2026 Amy Lehrner, Miryam Sperka, Lauren Lepow et al. 1 citation
MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder has shown strong clinical effects, high response rates, and low dropout when using a principle-guided, patient-directed model that includes nondrug preparatory and integrative sessions. This perspective argues that embedding MDMA into highly structured, manualized cognitive-behavioral treatment protocols may misapprehend the therapy's synergistic nature, blunt its transformative effects, and potentially cause harm. The field should prioritize research on real-world evidence, treatment optimization, and mechanisms of action of this distinct patient-directed model rather than immediately adapting existing protocols.
Journal of traumatic stress May 7, 2025 Mark Creamer, Richard Bryant, Amy Lehrner et al. 1 citation
A panel of clinicians and researchers at the 2024 ISTSS annual meeting discussed psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Despite diverse views, they largely agreed the approach is an exciting possibility for patients who have not responded to existing evidence-based treatments. However, they also agreed that considerably more rigorous research is needed before definitive conclusions about its components and efficacy can be drawn. Ethical concerns, especially regarding accessibility, will pose a significant challenge for provider organizations.
October 14, 2023 David S. Mathai, Daniel E. Roberts, Sandeep M. Nayak et al. preprint
A longitudinal study of 679 adults planning to use psilocybin in naturalistic settings found that while most users (89.7%) described the experience as positive, acute feelings of shame or guilt were commonly reported (68.2% of users) and difficult to predict. The ability to constructively work through these feelings predicted wellbeing 2-4 weeks after use. Psilocybin produced a small but significant average decrease in trait shame that lasted 2-3 months, but trait shame increased in a notable minority (29.8%) of participants. The activation of shame-related experiences with psychedelics may pose a unique learning condition for both therapeutic and detrimental forms of memory reconsolidation.