Preparing Social Work for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.

MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin have received 'Breakthrough Therapy' designation from the FDA and are moving into Phase 3 clinical trials, bringing legal administration for mental health treatment closer. Research from Lykos, Usona Institute, Mindmed, Compass Pathways, and Johns Hopkins shows promising efficacy when psychedelic compounds are paired with psychotherapy, with participants no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for conditions like major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and PTSD compared to placebo groups also receiving psychotherapy. Several states, including Oregon and Colorado, have legalized supervised therapeutic use of psilocybin, and other states consider decriminalizing plant-based medicines, creating demand for therapy providers with varying levels of psychedelic familiarity.

Study at a glance

Abstract

With MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin receiving “Breakthrough Therapy” designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and moving into Phase 3 clinical trials, we are closer than ever to legal administration of these compounds for mental health treatment. Research from Lykos, Usona Institute, Mindmed, Compass Pathways, and Johns Hopkins, among others, has shown promising efficacy of the administration of psychedelic compounds with psychotherapy, with participants no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for various mental health diagnoses (major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and PTSD, among others) when compared with those in placebo control groups, also paired with psychotherapy (Goodwin et al., 2022; Mitchell et al., 2023; Raison et al., 2023). As FDA approval and rescheduling of these compounds are anticipated, several states, including Oregon and Colorado, have legalized supervised therapeutic use of psilocybin, while other states consider ballot measures to decriminalize psychoactive plant-based medicines. There is an evident demand for therapy providers with various levels of familiarity with psychedelics, from general literacy to specialized providers administering these treatments in therapeutic settings.