A team at Geneva University Hospitals developed an interdisciplinary model for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) that combines the altered state of consciousness induced by LSD or psilocybin with traditional dialogue-based psychotherapy. Since 2014, Swiss law has allowed exceptional medical authorizations for these substances. From September 2020 to February 2024, the team received 224 personal authorizations (114 for LSD, 110 for psilocybin) and conducted 396 individual sessions. The protocol includes patient selection, preparatory psychoeducation, controlled substance administration, and integration sessions. The authors argue that psychedelic-induced consciousness alteration can act as a catalyst to revive stalled psychotherapeutic processes and call for continued research and broader clinical integration of PAP.
A patient with throat cancer and severe existential distress safely received psychedelic-assisted therapy at home. The patient tolerated the intervention well and reported on measures of anxiety, depression, and distress. This single-case study aligns with previous findings suggesting that psychedelic-assisted therapy can be safely applied to potentially relieve existential distress in people with life-threatening conditions. Because this is one case, generalizations require caution; placebo effects, expectancy, and the natural course of illness may influence outcomes. Controlled trials are needed to confirm efficacy and safety in diverse settings.