Exploring psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder
Jonathan Brett, Elizabeth Knock, Paul Liknaitzky, P. Todd Korthuis, Kevin S. Murnane, Christopher R. Nicholas, James C. Patterson, Christopher S. Stauffer
Frontiers in Psychiatry March 14, 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1123424 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Methamphetamine Psychotherapist Hallucinogen Psychological intervention Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | No studies have yet been published on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder, but the review provides rationale and practical considerations for its potential use based on early trial design experience. |
Abstract
Methamphetamine use disorder is a chronic relapsing condition associated with substantial mental, physical, and social harms and increasing rates of mortality. Contingency management and psychotherapy interventions are the mainstays of treatment but are modestly effective with high relapse rates, while pharmacological treatments have shown little to no efficacy. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is emerging as a promising treatment for a range of difficult-to-treat conditions, including substance use disorders; however, no studies have yet been published looking at psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder. Here we review the rationale for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a potential treatment for this indication, and describe practical considerations based on our early experience designing and implementing four separate clinical trials of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder.