Psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy for treatment‐resistant depression: Which psychotherapy?
Marie Crowe, Jenni Manuel, Dave Carlyle, Cameron Lacey
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing August 17, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13214 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Depression Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychotherapist Interpersonal psychotherapy Social connectedness Clinical psychology Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key points | Proposes that interpersonal psychotherapy and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy align with the psilocybin experience for treating treatment-resistant depression. |
Abstract
Abstract This perspective paper explores the choice of psychotherapy for psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy for treatment‐resistant depression. There is evidence to support the use of some psychotherapies in treating ‘treatment‐resistant’ depression, and emerging evidence for the efficacy of psilocybin. The next step which is the focus of this paper is to identify psychotherapies that are both effective and congruent with the psilocybin experience. The evidence for the efficacy of the psychotherapies is drawn from a Cochrane review and the analysis of their congruence with the psilocybin experience is drawn from a qualitative meta‐synthesis of the experience of psilocybin. The paper will examine whether three one‐to‐one psychotherapies identified as effective in the treatment of treatment‐resistant depression are compatible with the psilocybin experience. Each psychotherapy will be examined in relation to its congruence with the qualitative evidence that suggests the choice of psychotherapy needs to give priority to the subjective experience, facilitate emotional processing, support connectedness with others, acceptance of the self as emotional and support change based on the person's insights into their relationships with others and the world in which they live. We conclude that interpersonal psychotherapy and intensive short‐term dynamic psychotherapy align with that experience, although others are currently being trialled.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations. | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psychedelics and Psychotherapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches as Default | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The influence of therapists’ first-hand experience with psychedelics on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research and therapist training | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Yale Manual for Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy of Depression (using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Therapeutic Frame) | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Psychedelics for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: Interpreting and Translating Available Evidence and Guidance for Future Research. American Journal of Psychiatry 2025
- Why psychedelic-assisted therapy studies in eating disorders risk missing the mark on outcomes: a phenomenological psychopathology perspective. Journal of Eating Disorders September 2, 2025
- Licit use of illicit drugs for treating depression: the pill and the process. Journal of Clinical Investigation June 17, 2024
- Exploring the neurobiological correlates of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in eating disorders: a review of potential methodologies and implications for the psychedelic study design Journal of Eating Disorders December 27, 2024
- A critical literature review of research on attachment and psychedelics: Synergies and research implications Psychedelics December 23, 2025
and 1 more in the library
Cites 26
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later Journal of Psychopharmacology May 30, 2008
- Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Journal of Humanistic Psychology June 19, 2017
- Patient Experiences of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Journal of Humanistic Psychology April 28, 2017
and 21 more in the library