Expectancies for Cannabis-Induced Emotional Breakthrough, Mystical Experiences and Changes in Dysfunctional Attitudes: Perceptions of the Potential for Cannabis-Assisted Psychotherapy for Depression
Cannabis July 11, 2022 Mitch Earleywine, Maha N Mian, Brianna R Altman et al. 11 citations
People who use cannabis expect that a cannabis-assisted psychotherapy session, modeled on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, would reduce depression. Over 500 participants in each of two studies imagined such a session and reported expected antidepressant effects. Expected reductions in depression were linked to anticipated psychedelic-like subjective experiences, such as mystical-type feelings, and also to expected changes in dysfunctional attitudes—a separate pathway that resembles how cognitive therapy works. These findings support calls for clinical trials of cannabis-assisted psychotherapy and indicate that users anticipate it would work through mechanisms similar to both psychedelics and cognitive therapy.