A Systematic Review of Reporting Practices in Psychedelic Clinical Trials: Psychological Support, Therapy, and Psychosocial Interventions
July 18, 2023 Bill Brennan, Alex R. Kelman, Alexander Belser 4 citations preprint
A systematic review of 33 published psychedelic clinical trials found that many reports inadequately describe the psychosocial interventions provided alongside the drugs. Over 80% did not report assessing treatment fidelity, more than half did not mention using a therapy manual, and nearly half omitted the duration or number of therapy sessions. This underreporting, worse than in non-psychedelic trials, undermines research standardization and the ability to understand how these interventions affect outcomes. The authors recommend improved reporting practices to clarify the role of psychological support in psychedelic treatment.