Understanding subjective experience in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: The need for phenomenology
Riccardo Miceli Mcmillan, Anthony Vincent Fernandez
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry November 17, 2022 DOI: 10.1177/00048674221139962 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Citations | 30 |
| Key points | Proposes that a systematic phenomenological investigation can provide more nuanced descriptions of psychedelic-induced changes to subjective experience than current psychometric scales, and that such characterizations may advance understanding of therapeutic mechanisms and integration therapy. |
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is being investigated as a treatment for a range of psychiatric illnesses. Current research suggests that the kinds of subjective experiences induced by psychedelic compounds play key roles in producing therapeutic outcomes. To date, most knowledge of therapeutic psychedelic experiences are derived from psychometric assessments with scales such as the Mystical Experience Questionnaire. While these approaches are insightful, more nuanced and detailed descriptions of psychedelic-induced changes to subjective experience are required. Drawing on recent advancements in qualitative methods arising from the interdisciplinary field of phenomenological psychopathology, we propose a systematic and comprehensive investigation into how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy alters subjective experience. This research programme aims to characterise the nature of therapeutic psychedelic experiences by drawing on concepts from philosophical phenomenology. Such characterisations should, moreover, contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of psychedelic therapy, the role of integration therapy, and related philosophical debates.
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 29
- Experiential Training in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A Risk-Benefit Analysis. The Hastings Center Report July 1, 2024
- The phenomenology of psilocybin: transformative insights for research and clinical practice Frontiers in Psychology April 25, 2025
- Regulatory Challenges of Integrating Psychedelics into Mental Health Sector Psychoactives April 22, 2025
- Existential feelings as a phenomenological framework for psychedelic therapy Philosophical Psychology October 9, 2024
- Mystical and Affective Aspects of Psychedelic Use in a Naturalistic Setting: A Linguistic Analysis of Online Experience Reports Journal of Psychoactive Drugs November 3, 2023
and 24 more in the library
Cites 30
- Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin Journal of Psychopharmacology October 6, 2015
- Global Street Food: la cocina de la calle Diseño interior 2009
- The Standardized Psychometric Assessment of Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs) in Humans Pharmacopsychiatry July 1, 1998
- The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 10, 2020
- Dose-Response Study of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Humans Archives of General Psychiatry February 1, 1994
and 25 more in the library