Clinical Interpretations of Patient Experience in a Trial of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder
Frontiers in Pharmacology February 20, 2018 Michael P. Bogenschutz, Samantha K. Podrebarac, Jessie H. Duane et al. 125 citations
After a 40-year pause, clinical research on classic hallucinogens for addiction has resumed. An ongoing double-blind placebo-controlled trial tests psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder, building on a small open-label feasibility study. Descriptive case studies of three participants illustrate treatment trajectories. Pivotal moments during psilocybin sessions are individualized, vivid, and memorable, often extending beyond the clinical problem. Participants experienced lasting shifts in self-perception, consciousness, and relationship with alcohol. Experiences of catharsis, forgiveness, self-compassion, and love were as salient as mystical content. Feelings of increased mindfulness, spaciousness, and control over choices and behavior were reported. The treatment elicits highly variable experiences that appear to meet individual needs.