Pharmacological assistance for psychotherapy

This narrative review examines the potential of short-acting pharmacotherapies—d-cycloserine, propranolol, and psychedelics—delivered alongside psychotherapy for anxiety, mood, and substance-dependence disorders. It outlines the basic science supporting their use, particularly neurobiological learning and memory theories. Although efficacy remains under investigation, the authors suggest these medically-assisted psychotherapies may offer advantages over traditional treatments, including fewer chronic side effects, lower toxicity and abuse potential. Some clinical research indicates that adjunctive pharmacotherapies may strengthen the psychotherapeutic alliance and yield better long-term outcomes. If proven clinically efficacious and safe, these approaches could expand treatment options for mental health patients.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Recent interest has emerged regarding the use of several short-acting pharmacotherapies that may be explicitly delivered in the context of psychotherapy for anxiety, mood and substance-dependence disorders. Our objective in this narrative review is to highlight the potential of medically-assisted psychotherapy by outlining the current state of research on some of these drugs, including d-cycloserine, propranolol, and psychedelics, and describing the basic science that supports their use. The neurobiological learning and memory theories that correspond to the manner in which these drugs function are also discussed. Although the efficacy of the medically-assisted psychotherapies reviewed is still under investigation, we propose that these novel treatment approaches may be preferred over traditional psychopharmacological treatments for many reasons, including the presence of fewer chronic side effects, as well as a lesser toxicity and abuse potential. Furthermore, some clinical research suggests that adjunctive pharmacotherapies may help to reinforce the psychotherapeutic alliance and may ultimately yield better long-term treatment outcomes for this reason, alone. If at least some of the adjunctive pharmacotherapies outlined in this review are found to be clinically efficacious and safe, mental health patients will benefit from having more treatment options available to them in the future.