A single, brief virtual-reality-supported mindfulness practice—watching a 360-degree forest video with a guided audio voiceover—improved state mindfulness and reduced negative affect and anxiety in people with mood or anxiety disorders. Among 28 participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or an anxiety disorder, measures of curiosity and decentering (Toronto Mindfulness Scale) increased significantly (Cohen d=1.3 and 1.51), while negative affect (Cohen d=0.62) and state anxiety (Cohen d=0.84) decreased significantly. Positive affect did not change. Qualitative interviews revealed that the VR experience felt effortless, convenient, and safe, and participants saw potential for using VR mindfulness to manage emotions and mental health symptoms.
This systematic review will collect and summarize studies on the psychological processes that may explain how psychedelic therapy helps treat depression. The review will search four databases for research involving classic psychedelics in adults with depression, focusing on studies that report or propose psychological mechanisms behind symptom improvement. Two reviewers will independently screen and assess the studies, then synthesize findings separately for empirical and non-empirical work. Because this is a new field, the review expects to find limited empirical research and variation among studies. The goal is to map the current evidence, identify gaps, and suggest variables for future investigation.
Experts in psychedelic-assisted therapy agree that the treatment works for depression through a combination of psychological, neurobiological, and contextual mechanisms, with the therapeutic relationship and set and setting playing crucial roles. The Delphi study gathered consensus among specialists, who emphasized that the drug-induced experience alone is insufficient; integration sessions and a supportive environment are essential for lasting improvement. Practical implications include the need for trained therapists, careful screening of patients, and structured protocols. The findings suggest that psychedelic-assisted therapy requires a holistic approach rather than focusing solely on pharmacological effects.
A planned systematic review will identify and summarize psychological processes that may explain how psychedelic therapy reduces depression symptoms. The review will search Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science for studies on classic psychedelics used to treat depression in adults, focusing on proposed psychological mechanisms of symptom change. Two authors will independently screen studies, assess quality, and extract data. Empirical and non-empirical research will be analyzed separately using narrative synthesis. The review aims to present the current state of evidence, identify gaps, and generate candidate variables for future research, acknowledging limitations such as study heterogeneity and a lack of empirical work.