The purpose of the psychosocial protocol in the psychedelic-assisted therapy: A scoping review
Flavia Giaffone de Paiva Ferreira, João Ariel Bonar Fernandes, Renato Filev, Dartiu Xavier Da Silveira, Thiago Marques Fidalgo
Journal of Psychopharmacology June 26, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/02698811261453850 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 62 |
| Population | Studies involving psychedelics as psychiatric treatment |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychosocial Categorization Observational study Flexibility engineering Protocol science Mental health Sociocultural evolution Conceptual framework Operationalization Applied psychology Clinical psychology Multidisciplinary approach Research design Medline Psychotherapist Extant taxon Diversity politics Evidence-based practice Psychological intervention |
| Key findings | Seven categories of psychosocial protocols were defined, reflecting distinct emphases on the substance, participant, research team, and sociocultural context, with limited reporting and heterogeneity as methodological challenges. |
Abstract
With growing research on the use of psychedelics to treat mental health conditions, greater attention to the psychosocial procedures accompanying substance administration is warranted. This scoping review aims to categorize psychosocial protocols used in research involving psychedelics as psychiatric treatment according to their purpose, denomination, format, therapeutic orientation, formalization, and duration. Experimental and observational studies were identified through online search platforms, covering Ayahuasca, Dimethyltryptamine, 5-methoxy- N,N -dimethyltryptamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Ibogaine, Mescaline, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Psilocybin, and 4-hydroxy- N,N -diisopropyltryptamine, yielding 62 eligible studies that were also assessed for methodological quality. Seven categories were defined, reflecting distinct emphases on the substance, participant, research team, and sociocultural context. Although limited reporting and heterogeneity remain methodological challenges, these features reveal divergent research intentions and contextual constraints. The proposed parameters suggest a shared language to describe, compare, and examine psychosocial protocols across studies and reduce conceptual uncertainty in the field. This review may facilitate research decision-making and support the development of structured and replicable study designs, while predicting flexibility to accommodate individualized, culturally responsive, and population-specific care. Ultimately, researchers explicitly defining the intended purpose of psychosocial protocols may improve its transparent reporting, and evaluation. Future research should balance methodological rigor with attention to real-world studies, interdisciplinary perspectives, and demographic diversity for responsible advancing.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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and 178 more in the library