Reports of self-compassion and affect regulation in psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder: An interpretive phenomenological analysis.
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors June 5, 2023 Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Elizabeth M Nielson, Michael Zingman et al. 42 citations
In a small qualitative study of the first randomized controlled trial of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for alcohol use disorder, participants reported that the treatment helped them process emotions tied to painful past events, fostered self-compassion, self-awareness, and feelings of interconnectedness. The acute drug sessions laid the groundwork for more self-compassionate regulation of negative affect. Participants also described newfound belonging and improved relationship quality. The findings suggest psilocybin increases the malleability of self-related processing, reduces shame and self-critical thoughts, improves affect regulation, and lowers alcohol cravings, indicating that integrating self-compassion training with psychedelic therapy may enhance AUD treatment outcomes.