Non-hallucinogenic psychedelic psychotherapy: Decreasing risk and increasing access, or missing the point?
Journal of Psychedelic Studies May 27, 2024 DOI: 10.1556/2054.2024.00385 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Open-label Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that the necessity of hallucinatory experiences for psychedelic therapeutic action remains an open question, and invites reflection on the purpose of phenomenological experience more broadly. |
Abstract
AbstractOver the past decade, numerous open-label studies and early clinical trials have shown that psychedelics hold promise for the fast and possibly lasting relief of a wide range of conditions ranging from major depressive disorder, end-of-life anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder to smoking, alcohol use, and eating disorders. Among the questions still to be resolved in this endeavor are questions related to the importance of the metaphysical and phenomenological aspects of the psychedelic experience. Are the hallucinatory experiences engendered by classical psychedelics necessary to their therapeutic action, or could a trip that doesn't go anywhere have the same effect on depression and other conditions? This commentary considers the value of the phenomenological psychedelic experience and asks the larger question, what are any of our phenomenological experiences for?