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Special considerations for evaluating psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy in vulnerable populations

Cynthia E. Ortiz, Haley Maria Dourron, Noah W Sweat, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Sarah Maccarthy, B. Anderson, Peter S. Hendricks

Neuropharmacology May 13, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109127 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Topics Psilocybin
Keywords Mental health Context archaeology Alliance Psychotherapist Multiculturalism Competence human resources Hallucinogen Clinical psychology
Citations 26
Key points Argues that vulnerable populations must be included in psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy research, providing recommendations for recruitment, assessment, and study design.

Abstract

Psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy shows potential transdiagnostic efficacy for a range of mental health conditions. Though vulnerable populations bear disproportionate mental health burden, they have been largely neglected in the clinical psilocybin literature. However, if the field is to best respond to the diverse needs of individuals from vulnerable populations, care must be taken to ensure these individuals are represented in the empirical research. This report calls attention to this concern by detailing the challenges and opportunities associated with evaluating psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy in vulnerable populations. First, we show how working with vulnerable populations must be considered in the context of an often-problematic past and differential exposure to and experience with classic psychedelics. We then provide actionable recommendations for future research testing psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy in vulnerable populations, including an emphasis on recruitment strategies, the appropriate communication and assessment of subjective effects, building therapeutic alliance, multicultural competence, and flexible study designs. On these premises we call for future work in this area, underscoring that there is vast room for improvement and expansion in this rapidly advancing field of study.

Comparable studies

Other theoretical and historical papers on psilocybin, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics 2019 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm General population 2016 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. 2024 Theoretical or philosophical paper
What Geometric Visual Hallucinations Tell Us about the Visual Cortex 2002 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depressive disorder using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a therapeutic frame 2020 Theoretical or philosophical paper

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