Background: Shame is a component that contributes to psychopathology yet few interventions target it directly. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has been investigated as an intervention targeting shame and its associated burden. As part of psychedelic efficacy is mediated by expectation effects the true effect a psychedelic intervention may provide is unknown. Here we examined whether a psychedelic...
The intensity of altered states of consciousness (ASC) induced by a psychedelic represents a key mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT). However, growing evidence suggests that expectations may contribute significantly to therapeutic effects of PAT. The present study examined whether a psychedelic placebo could induce an ASC in a PAT- analogous...
Background: Despite significant advancements in the treatment of depression, challenges such as inadequate response rates and high placebo effects highlight the need for improved therapies and a deeper understanding of treatment expectations. Patient expectations play a crucial role in treatment outcomes but have not been systematically investigated in the context of novel interventions like...
Abstract Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent (8–15%), severely disabling disorder and is associated with enormous socioeconomic impact. Antidepressant medication for the treatment of MDD has proven effective in RCTs; however, placebo response is also substantial. Given the potential benefits of modulating the placebo response in patient care and pharmacological...