Quality of reporting on psychological interventions in psychedelic treatments: a systematic review.
Carolina Seybert, Nina Schimmers, Lucio Silva, Joost J Breeksema, Jolien Veraart, Bárbara S Bessa, Dora d'Orsi, Robert A Schoevers, Albino J Oliveira-Maia
The lancet. Psychiatry January 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(24)00333-x via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractReporting on the psychological intervention component of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is mostly incomplete and inconsistent across studies, limiting replicability and clinical translation. A systematic review of 45 original studies on psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, or ayahuasca for mental disorders found that descriptions of psychotherapy varied widely and completeness of information was generally low, based on an adapted Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist. Studies involving MDMA showed more homogeneous psychotherapy and more procedural details. Improved reporting on psychological interventions would support replicability, generalisability, and accurate interpretation of research, as well as enhance feasibility and safety of future clinical research and real-world implementation.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 45 |
| Population | Original studies on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for mental disorders |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Mental health treatment Therapeutic protocols Clinical research |
| Citations | 26 |
| Key finding | Completeness of reporting on psychological interventions in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy studies is mostly low, with MDMA studies showing more homogeneous and detailed reporting. |
Abstract
Although studies of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy are accumulating, there is no consensus regarding best practice of the psychotherapeutic component. In this systematic review, we summarised the quality of reporting on psychological interventions in research about psychedelic treatments. The design followed PRISMA guidelines and was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42022319221). We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase for original studies on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and included 45 studies assessing psilocybin, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), lysergic acid diethylamide (known as LSD), or ayahuasca, for the treatment of mental disorders. Psychological interventions were done heterogeneously across studies, and completeness of information reported about these interventions was mostly low, according to an adaptation of the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist. In studies including MDMA, psychotherapy was more homogeneous and more procedural details were provided. Improved reporting on psychological interventions of psychedelic treatments will support replicability, generalisability, and accurate interpretation of research, while enhancing feasibility and safety of future clinical research and real-world implementation of treatments.