Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of major depression: a synthesis of phenomenological explanations.
Medicine, health care, and philosophy June 1, 2022 Riccardo Miceli Mcmillan, Christopher Jordens 15 citations
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) may treat major depressive disorder by inducing broadened pre-intentional possibility, which produces sudden, profound, and enduring changes in how patients experience their bodies, self-narratives, and social connections. Drawing on phenomenological accounts, the paper argues that depression involves three forms of alienation or unhomelike being-in-the-world: illness suffering (embodiment), existential suffering (self-narratives), and political suffering (social relationships). PAP counteracts the loss of pre-intentional possibility that characterizes depression, consistent with a bio-psycho-social model of mental health. This framework supports the plausibility of reported treatment success and justifies further empirical research.