Future directions for clinical psilocybin research: The relaxed symptom network.
Psychology & Neuroscience May 26, 2022 Evan Lewis-Healey, Ruben Laukkonen, Michiel van Elk 4 citations
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy may treat depression by weakening the connections between symptoms in a complex dynamic network, according to a theoretical model called the Relaxed Symptom Network. Drawing on the Network Theory of Mental Disorders, which views depression as an emergent phenomenon from strong symptom interactions, the authors propose that successful therapy reduces these connections, making patients less vulnerable to developing or relapsing into depression. The article summarizes clinical trials showing antidepressant effects of psilocybin when embedded in psychotherapy, reviews contested mechanisms, and offers practical guidance for integrating network theory into future clinical research.