THE BENEFITS OF PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY FOR MENTAL HEALTH: EXPLORING PSYCHEDELICS
Liliana Irizabal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) May 13, 2022 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6654351 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Psilocybin MDMA |
| Topics | Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Mental health Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Hallucinogen |
| Key findings | Psilocybin and DMT were associated with decreased anxiety and depression, and MDMA was associated with decreased PTSD symptoms. |
Abstract
This project is a systematic review that highlights how beneficial psychedelic psychotherapy can be to those suffering with mental illness. The three mental illnesses chosen to be analyzed in the literature were depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety. The drugs used in the specific articles included Psilocybin, Ayahuasca(DMT), and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; ecstasy or molly). The analyzed literature discussed trials regarding psychotherapy and how these specific psychedelics affected specific mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Significant data showed positive effects of these psychedelics with specific mood disorders. Psilocybin and DMT were seen to be helpful with anxiety and depression, and those levels were decreased when these two psychedelics were administered in specific doses. MDMA was seen to have positive effects on PTSD by decreasing the symptoms of the disorder. Although research is limited and more studies on the topic must be conducted, the published research show promising results, and it is important to further research the impact of psychedelic psychotherapy.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy | 2020 | Systematic review | |
| Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Participants in studies of psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms (Major... | 2023 | Systematic review with meta-analysis | n = 14 |
| Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Patients diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses or major depressive disorder | 2023 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | n = 686 |
| United States National Institutes of Health grant funding for psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials from 2006-2020. | 2022 | Systematic review | |
| Safety and risk assessment of psychedelic psychotherapy: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Human subjects in studies of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | 2024 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | n = 30 |