Frontiers in Pharmacology
March 31, 2022
Roberta Murphy, Roberta Murphy, Hannes Kettner et al.
229 citations
In a trial comparing psilocybin-assisted therapy to escitalopram for moderate-to-severe depression, a stronger therapeutic alliance with the therapist predicted greater emotional breakthrough and mystical-type experiences during psilocybin sessions, and these experiences in turn predicted larger reductions in depression symptoms six weeks after treatment. Emotional breakthrough during the first session strengthened the alliance before the second session, while a weaker alliance before the second session directly predicted higher depression scores at the endpoint, independent of the acute psychedelic experience. The findings suggest the therapeutic relationship plays a key role in shaping both the quality of the psychedelic experience and clinical outcomes.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
October 20, 2021
Meg J. Spriggs, Hannah Douglass, Rebecca J. Park et al.
78 citations
Anorexia nervosa is a severe psychiatric condition with few approved treatments. This paper describes how individuals with lived experience of anorexia nervosa helped shape a pilot study of psilocybin-assisted therapy through two online focus groups involving eleven people, and presents the protocol for that study at Imperial College London. Twenty female participants aged 21–65 with a body mass index of 15 kg/m² or above will receive three oral doses of psilocybin (up to 25 mg) over six weeks, supported by psychological preparation and integration, with a 12-month remote follow-up.
Cambridge University Press eBooks
May 28, 2021
Tim Read
2 citations
Clinical research suggests significant efficacy for psychiatric disorders that have traditionally been hard to treat, with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy moving from a fringe subject to a significant new treatment method that all psychotherapists should be aware of and some may develop into a special interest.
Neuroscience Applied
January 1, 2023
Hannah Douglass, Merle Spriggs, Kate Godfrey et al.
1 citation
No Summary
Br J Psychiatry
July 8, 2026
Hannah Douglass, Meg J. Spriggs, Kate Godfrey et al.
In a small pilot study, 21 women with anorexia nervosa received three doses of psilocybin (COMP360) over six weeks, combined with talk therapy and usual care. The treatment was well tolerated; common side effects were headache, nausea, and dizziness. Two serious adverse events (suicide attempts) occurred in one participant during the 6–12 month period. Eating disorder symptoms significantly improved at six months, and motivation to change improved at twelve months, though individual responses varied widely. The findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility and safety of psilocybin therapy in this population, but larger, more rigorous studies are needed.
Transpersonal Psychology Review
January 1, 2008
Tim Read
William James argues that ordinary waking consciousness is only one type among many potential forms of consciousness, which are separated from it by a thin barrier. These alternate states can be accessed through appropriate stimuli, revealing themselves fully when triggered. The text presents a philosophical claim about the nature of consciousness, suggesting that human experience is broader than rational awareness alone.