Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy May Enhance Conservation Values in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder
Psychedelic Medicine November 25, 2024 Noah D. Gold, Broc A. Pagni, Petros Petridis et al. 3 citations
Psilocybin-assisted therapy may shift personal values in people with alcohol use disorder, specifically increasing Conservation—a value domain encompassing security and tradition. In a phase II trial, 93 participants received psychotherapy plus either psilocybin or an active placebo. Those given psilocybin showed significant increases in Conservation, security, and tradition values after treatment, while the placebo group did not. Certain features of the acute psychedelic experience, such as feelings of ineffability and reduced vigilance, correlated with these value changes. However, the shifts in values were not linked to changes in drinking behavior, suggesting that value modification alone does not drive reductions in alcohol use.