Drugs Education Prevention and Policy
March 22, 2026
Jordan J. Negrine, Stephen Bright, Monica J Barratt et al.
Background Following Australia’s landmark 2023 decision to approve psilocybin and MDMA for clinical use, psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is beginning to emerge within regulated mental health settings. This study investigates psychologists’ views on the relevance of psychedelic therapists’ lived-living experience (LLE) with psychedelics. While discussion around LLE is growing, little is known...
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
July 17, 2024
Liam Engel, Sascha Thal, Stephen Bright et al.
4 citations
Abstract Background and aims Online communities provide insights into psychedelic consumption, assisting in identification of trends, informing both harm reduction provisions and clinical research. This study extracts forum data on psychedelic substances, dosages, and administration routes, categorising and analysing self-reported consumption to inform care services and guide clinical work with...
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
December 26, 2023
Sascha Thal, Paris Baker, Jonathon Marinis et al.
1 citation
Abstract Serotonergic psychedelics and related substances have been explored as potential adjuncts in substance‐assisted psychotherapy (SAPT) for treating various disorders. SAPT can be divided into three phases: preparation, administration and integration. Integration is commonly defined as the comprehension and effective application of insights from psychedelic experiences into everyday life....
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
May 3, 2023
Sascha Thal, Michelle Wieberneit, Jason M. Sharbanee et al.
6 citations
While the potential of serotonergic psychedelics and related substances as adjuncts in substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAPT) has been investigated for the treatment of several disorders, evidence for the appropriate therapeutic conduct in administration sessions is sparse. In this article, we discuss the current evidence for best therapeutic practice during administration sessions with...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
October 20, 2022
Sascha Thal, Michelle Wieberneit, Jason M. Sharbanee et al.
23 citations
BACKGROUND: Clinical trials are currently investigating the potential of substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAPT) as treatment for several psychiatric conditions. The potential therapeutic effects of SAPT may be influenced by contextual factors including preparation prior to and integration after the substance-assisted therapy sessions. AIMS: This systematized review outlines recommendations for...
Contemporary Drug Problems
August 29, 2022
Liam Engel, Sascha Thal, Stephen Bright
29 citations
Background: There is limited research on the provision of harm reduction services to people who use psychedelics. Little is known about provision of care to people consuming psychedelics outside of clinical trials. Methods: We investigated how people who used psychedelics discussed their preferences for care (or “trip sitting”) on two online forums: The Shroomery and DMT Nexus. A thematic...
Addiction Research & Theory
May 6, 2022
Sascha Thal, Liam Engel, Stephen Bright
Abstract Contemporary clinical research into the psychotherapeutic administration of psychedelics has primarily emphasized the importance of therapeutic interpersonal interactions to assist clients prepare for and integrate the acute effects of psychedelics. Alternative therapeutic frameworks have encouraged active talk therapy between therapists and clients during the administration phase. We...
Frontiers in Psychology
July 13, 2021
Sascha Thal, Stephen Bright, Jason M. Sharbanee et al.
39 citations
The present narrative review is the first in a series of reviews about the appropriate conduct in substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAPT). It outlines a current perspective onpreconditions and theoretical knowledge that have been identified as valuable in the literaturefor appropriate therapeutic conduct in SAPT. In this context, considerations regarding ethics and the spiritual emphasis of the...
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 26, 2021
Hannah Marie Dressler, Stephen Bright, Vince Polito
12 citations
Abstract Backround and aims Having entered the recent public and research zeitgeist, microdosing involves consuming sub-perceptual doses of psychedelic drugs, allegedly to enhance performance, creativity, and wellbeing. The results of research to date have been mixed. Whereas most studies have reported positive impacts of microdosing, some microdosers have also reported adverse effects. In...
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
2021
Martie S. Underwood, Stephen Bright, B. Les Lancaster
8 citations
Abstract Ibogaine is a psychoactive alkaloid contained in the West African plant Tabernanthe iboga. Although preliminary, evidence suggests that ibogaine could be effective in the treatment of certain substance use disorders, specifically opioid use disorder. This narrative review concentrated on the pharmacological, cultural and psychological aspects of ibogaine that contribute to its reputed...
Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
September 21, 2020
Emily Blatchford, Stephen Bright, Liam Engel
27 citations
Abstract There is increasing evidence that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is effective for a range of psychological conditions. There are likely numerous mechanisms of action that contribute to these clinical effects. One such mechanism of action might involve psychedelics increasing levels of empathic functioning. This paper synthesises research concerning the relationship between...
Drug and Alcohol Review
April 10, 2017
Stephen Bright, M.l. Williams, David Caldicott
5 citations
As recently noted by Strauss, Bright and Williams 1, while much of the Western world has been experiencing a renaissance in research into ‘psychedelic science’ over the past decade 2, there has been no such research conducted in Australia. In Europe and the USA, studies have been conducted into lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) that have improved our understanding of brain function 3 and reduced...
Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry
September 28, 2016
N. Strauss, Stephen Bright, Martin L Williams
10 citations
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 50(11) A recent review in Pharmacological Reviews highlights that over the last decade, a renaissance has occurred in psychedelic drug research in North America and Europe as investigators at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), New York University and Imperial College London have embarked on studies that...
Medical Journal of Australia
September 1, 2013
David Caldicott, Stephen Bright, Monica J Barratt
NBOMe — a very different kettle of fish . . . TO THE EDITOR: We are concerned that recent media reports about a 17-year-old Sydney boy who died after allegedly consuming 25Bor 25I-NBOMe might lead to an increase in the incidence of NBOMe toxicity among patients presenting to emergency departments. NBOMe was reported to be available online for as little as $1.50 per tablet.1 The subsequent media...
Stephen Bright, Eyal Gringart, Emily Blatchford et al.
preprint
Objective: The current study aimed to explore whether the subjective effects of microdosing psychedelics are comparable to those of yoga in relation to psychological wellbeing, depression, anxiety and stress. It also aimed to explore the relationship between yoga, microdosing and personality variables including neuroticism, openness and absorption.Method: The sample comprised 339 participants,...