Psychedelic-assisted grief therapy: a mixed-method case study
Pablo Sabucedo, Chris Evans, Donald W. Nicholson, Magı́ Farré, Débora González
Mortality December 5, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/13576275.2024.2434456 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Qualitative Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A woman in her thirties grieving her father's death from cancer |
| Interventions | Ayahuasca-assisted grief therapy Meaning Reconstruction Therapy psychedelic integration session |
| Duration | 9-session process, three-month follow-up |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Grief Psychotherapist Psychoanalysis |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca-assisted Meaning Reconstruction Therapy prevented complicated grief in a grieving woman, with improvement linked to meaning reconstruction, psychological flexibility, and a continuing bond with the deceased. |
Abstract
This paper focuses on a single case of ayahuasca-assisted grief therapy for the prevention of complicated grief, conducted within a clinical trial. The participant, a woman in her thirties who lost her father to cancer, completed a 9-session process of Meaning Reconstruction Therapy (MRT) organised around two ayahuasca sessions. Following each psychedelic experience, she also completed a psychedelic integration session. The case study investigates the effect of the intervention, the observed changes in the participant, and the potential processes of change which may account for this improvement. The analysis relies on a qualitative narrative approach to examine the content of each therapy session, as well as on the psychometric measures completed at baseline, post-treatment, and at the three-month follow-up. These results are linked to emerging theories in the field, with a particular focus on the role of meaning reconstruction, psychological flexibility, and a continuing bond with the deceased.