Patient perspectives and experiences with psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression: a qualitative study
Scientific Reports February 5, 2024 Alistair Niemeijer, Erwin Krediet, Jeanine Kamphuis et al. 50 citations
Patients with treatment-resistant depression who received psilocybin in a clinical trial described challenges with trust-building and expectation management, the need to navigate intense experiences often guided by music, and a desire for a more comprehensive treatment including multiple psilocybin sessions and sustained therapy. Distrust in mental healthcare generally, but trust in study therapists, was a key subtheme. The findings suggest that optimizing psilocybin treatment for this population requires individualized preparation, investment in trust-building, additional sessions, and access to ongoing psychotherapy with trusted therapists.