Agnieszka D. Sekula

Swinburne University of Technology

2 papers in the library · 28 citations · publishing 2022-2024

Papers

Virtual Reality as a Moderator of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Frontiers in Psychology March 4, 2022 Agnieszka D. Sekula, Luke Downey, Prashanth Puspanathan 27 citations

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PP) shows promise for treating PTSD, anxiety, addiction, and depression, relying heavily on participant mindset and therapeutic environment. Virtual reality (VR) may enhance PP by aiding relaxation, reducing anxiety, promoting mindfulness, inducing altered states of consciousness, and evoking mystical experiences. However, VR's role remains speculative due to a lack of empirical evidence on combined use. Potential disadvantages include sensory overstimulation, cyber-sickness, and triggering traumatic memories. A balanced, evidence-based approach is needed for design and implementation across treatment phases.

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.813746 Psilocybin Meditation Anxiety Mindfulness +6

Producing Altered States of Consciousness, Reducing Substance Misuse: A Review of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, Transcendental Meditation and Hypnotherapy

Psychoactives March 25, 2024 Agnieszka D. Sekula, Prashanth Puspanathan, Luke A. Downey et al. 1 citation

A review of three interventions that produce altered states of consciousness—psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, Transcendental Meditation, and hypnotherapy—finds that the first two are linked to significant reductions in substance misuse and improvements in emotional, cognitive, and social functioning, motivation, self-identity, and meaning. Hypnotherapy, despite wider acceptance, shows mixed and minimal results for substance misuse treatment. The review notes common phenomenological, psychological, and neurobiological features among the interventions, suggesting possible convergent mechanisms, but also highlights mixed findings and methodological issues. Key research gaps and promising future directions are outlined.

DOI: 10.3390/psychoactives3020010 Addiction Mindfulness Psychotherapist Psychological intervention +6