Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
2025
Diana McHerron, Michaela Barber, Rachel Ham et al.
Physical touch is often included as a supportive or therapeutic tool in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), involving instrumental forms of physical contact, supportive touch and somatic techniques. However, participants under the influence of psychedelics have reduced capacity to provide consent, are more suggestible and may experience and interpret therapeutic touch in ways they did not...
J Bioeth Inq
October 4, 2024
Michaela Barber, John Gardner, Adrian Carter
12 citations
Background Psychedelic medicine is a rapidly growing area of research and policy change. Australia recently became the first country to legalize the prescription of psychedelics and serves as a case study of issues that may emerge in other jurisdictions. Despite their influence as a stakeholder group, there has been little empirical exploration of psychedelic researchers' views on the...
Psychol Psychother
September 16, 2024
Michaela Barber, John Gardner, Paul Liknaitzky et al.
3 citations
BACKGROUND: Policy changes in Australia mean that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is now available to consumers outside of clinical trials. Yet, the regulatory frameworks guiding the practice of PAT are underdeveloped, and the evidence base for guiding clinical practice is diverse and emerging, resulting in anticipated challenges in translation to community practice. Mental health clinicians...
SSM - Qualitative Research in Health
November 30, 2022
Michaela Barber, John Gardner, Adrian Carter
5 citations
Clinical and basic science research with psychedelics is a nascent but rapidly growing field. Historically, psychedelics research has faced setbacks due to overenthusiasm, methodological challenges, and conflicting worldviews. This can in part be attributed to the dual heritages of spiritualism and science that ground western psychedelic use. Through semi-structured interviews with Australian...
The International journal on drug policy
September 1, 2020
Michaela Barber, John Gardner, Michael Savic et al.
16 citations
Background Ibogaine is a psychedelic drug used by for-profit clinics and lay-people to treat addiction, despite some reported fatalities and a lack of rigorous clinical research. Little is known about ibogaine therapy from a consumer perspective. Online discussions generate and disseminate information about ibogaine therapy and provide a window into how people understand ibogaine's risks and...