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Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner

13 papers in the library · 2,314 citations · publishing 2020-2026

Papers

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A short-acting psychedelic intervention for major depressive disorder: a phase IIa randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Nat Med February 16, 2026 David Erritzøe, Tommaso Barba, Tiffanie Benway et al. 4 citations

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, yet many patients have inadequate responses to current treatments. Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a serotonergic psychedelic with rapid onset and short duration, shows promise as a potential antidepressant (AD), although clinical evidence in MDD remains limited. We conducted a phase IIa, double-blind, placebo-controlled,...

Navigating groundlessness: An interview study on dealing with ontological shock and existential distress following psychedelic experiences.

PLoS One 2025 Eirini K. Argyri, Jules Evans, David Luke et al. 27 citations

Psychedelic induced mystical experiences have been largely assumed to drive the therapeutic effects of these substances, which may in part be mediated by changes in metaphysical beliefs. However, there is growing evidence that psychedelic experiences can also trigger long lasting distress. Studies of persisting difficulties suggest a high prevalence of ontological challenges (related to the way...

Effect of psilocybin versus escitalopram on depression symptom severity in patients with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder: observational 6-month follow-up of a phase 2, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial

EClinicalMedicine September 23, 2024 David Erritzøe, Tommaso Barba, Kyle T. Greenway et al. 46 citations

The Alexander Mosley Charitable Trust and by the founding partners of Imperial College London's Centre for Psychedelic Research.

Coming back together: a qualitative survey study of coping and support strategies used by people to cope with extended difficulties after the use of psychedelic drugs

Frontiers in Psychology May 28, 2024 Oliver Robinson, Jules Evans, David Luke et al. 24 citations

Introduction A growing body of literature is investigating the difficulties that some individuals encounter after psychedelic experiences. Existing research has explored the nature and predictors of these difficulties; however, a research gap exists in understanding how individuals endeavour to cope with such difficulties. Methods The current study collected data from an international cohort of...

Personality change in a trial of psilocybin therapy v. escitalopram treatment for depression.

Psychological Medicine 2024 Brandon Weiss, Induni Ginige, Lu Shannon et al. 38 citations

Psilocybin Therapy (PT) is being increasingly studied as a psychiatric intervention. Personality relates to mental health and can be used to probe the nature of PT's therapeutic action. In a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, active comparator controlled trial involving patients with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder, we compared psilocybin with escitalopram, over a core 6-week trial...

When the Trial Ends: The Case for Post-Trial Provisions in Clinical Psychedelic Research

Neuroethics November 6, 2023 Edward Jacobs, Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner, Ian Rouiller et al. 23 citations

Abstract The ethical value—and to some scholars, necessity—of providing trial patients with post-trial access (PTA) to an investigational drug has been subject to significant attention in the field of research ethics. Although no consensus has emerged, it seems clear that, in some trial contexts, various factors make PTA particularly appropriate. We outline the atypical aspects of psychedelic...

Extended difficulties following the use of psychedelic drugs: A mixed methods study

PLoS One October 24, 2023 Jules Evans, Oliver Robinson, Eirini K. Argyri et al. 166 citations

Long-term adverse experiences following psychedelic use can persist for weeks, months, or even years, and are relatively unexplored in psychedelic research. Our convergent mixed-method study gained quantitative and qualitative data from 608 participants who reported extended difficulties following psychedelic experiences. Data was gathered on the context of use, the nature and duration of the...

Personality Change in a Trial of Psilocybin Therapy vs Escitalopram Treatment for Depression – CORRIGENDUM

Psychological Medicine July 19, 2023 Brandon Weiss, Induni Ginige, Lu Shannon et al. 1 citation

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ARC: a framework for access, reciprocity and conduct in psychedelic therapies

Frontiers in Psychology May 11, 2023 Hannah Thurgur, Meg J. Spriggs, Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner et al. 13 citations

The field of psychedelic assisted therapy (PAT) is growing at an unprecedented pace. The immense pressures this places on those working in this burgeoning field have already begun to raise important questions about risk and responsibility. It is imperative that the development of an ethical and equitable infrastructure for psychedelic care is prioritized to support this rapid expansion of PAT...

Therapeutic Alliance and Rapport Modulate Responses to Psilocybin Assisted Therapy for Depression

Frontiers in Pharmacology March 31, 2022 Roberta Murphy, Roberta Murphy, Hannes Kettner et al. 229 citations

Background: Across psychotherapeutic frameworks, the strength of the therapeutic alliance has been found to correlate with treatment outcomes; however, its role has never been formally assessed in a trial of psychedelic-assisted therapy. We aimed to investigate the relationships between therapeutic alliance and rapport, the quality of the acute psychedelic experience and treatment outcomes....

Therapeutic Alliance and Rapport Modulate Responses to Psilocybin Assisted Therapy for Depression

Frontiers in Pharmacology March 31, 2022 Roberta Murphy, Roberta Murphy, Hannes Kettner et al. 229 citations

Background: Across psychotherapeutic frameworks, the strength of the therapeutic alliance has been found to correlate with treatment outcomes; however, its role has never been formally assessed in a trial of psychedelic-assisted therapy. We aimed to investigate the relationships between therapeutic alliance and rapport, the quality of the acute psychedelic experience and treatment outcomes....

Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression

New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021 Robin Carhart-Harris, Bruna Giribaldi, Rosalind Watts et al. 1,372 citations

On the basis of the change in depression scores on the QIDS-SR-16 at week 6, this trial did not show a significant difference in antidepressant effects between psilocybin and escitalopram in a selected group of patients. Secondary outcomes generally favored psilocybin over escitalopram, but the analyses of these outcomes lacked correction for multiple comparisons. Larger and longer trials are...

Ayahuasca’s ‘afterglow’: improved mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in ayahuasca drinkers

Psychopharmacology January 11, 2020 Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner, Kirstie Soar 142 citations

The present study supports ayahuasca's ability to enhance mindfulness and further reports changes in cognitive flexibility in the 'afterglow' period occur, suggesting both could be possible psychological mechanisms concerning the psychotherapeutic effects of ayahuasca. Given psychological gains occurred regardless of prior ayahuasca use suggests potentially therapeutic effects for both naïve...