Patient-therapist relationship in psychedelic-assisted therapy: Implications for future real-world settings.
General Hospital Psychiatry June 6, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2025.06.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Clinical rapport Financial constraints Economic pressures Cost pressure Preparation Relationship Therapeutic alliance Patient-therapist bond |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | Argues that cost-saving measures that frame PAT as a purely pharmacological intervention risk undermining the patient-therapist relationship, and proposes three strategies to preserve it. |
Abstract
The view that the use of serotonergic psychedelics in mental health care should always be psychotherapeutically embedded has recently been questioned. One argument against this model concerns the high costs it entails, which could limit the accessibility of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT)-a concern likely to gain traction if PAT is officially approved in the future. This paper analyzes the implications of a reductionist approach that primarily frames PAT as a pharmacological intervention, focusing on a key component of the treatment: the patient-therapist relationship. It first reviews evidence highlighting the therapeutic and ethical significance of this relationship in PAT. It then argues that shortening the preparation phase is a probable cost-saving measure that risks undermining the development of a strong patient-therapist relationship. Finally, the paper outlines three strategies to strengthen this relationship even in real-world PAT settings under cost pressure: retaining some relational elements during preparation, maintaining continuity by involving the same therapist throughout all phases, and, where possible, integrating the patient's regular therapist into the process.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on 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 | |
| Learning to Let Go: A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Awe: a putative mechanism underlying the effects of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy | 2021 | 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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Key competencies for psychedelic treatment in real-world mental health care settings. General Hospital Psychiatry 2025
- Not a Standalone Treatment: Considerations for Psychedelic‐Assisted Therapy Brain and Behavior April 1, 2026
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy: a survey on the clinical methods of Swiss physicians. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology 2026
Cites 28
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Journal of Humanistic Psychology June 19, 2017
- Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder JAMA August 31, 2023
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Therapy in Patients With Anxiety With and Without a Life-Threatening Illness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Study. Biological Psychiatry February 1, 2023
and 23 more in the library