Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: Where is the psychotherapy research?
November 6, 2023 Jacob S. Aday, David P Horton, Gisele Fernandes‐osterhold et al. 5 citations preprint
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) combines a psychedelic substance with psychotherapeutic support, yet the specific role and necessary components of the psychotherapy itself remain understudied. This review examines current PAP clinical trial models and theoretical frameworks, then draws lessons from traditional psychotherapy research on standardizing treatments, identifying mechanisms of change, and optimizing trial designs. The authors conclude that PAP is a unique transdisciplinary intervention and call for increased research on its psychotherapeutic component to inform best practices and federal guidelines.