Psychedelics and Evidence-based Psychotherapy: A Systematic Review with Recommendations for Advancing Psychedelic Therapy Research.
Lewis Leone, Bryan McSpadden, Annamarie Demarco, Lauren Enten, Rachel Kline, Gregory A. Fonzo
Psychiatric Clinics of North America June 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2024.02.006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Evidence-based treatment Psychedelics Treatment development |
| Key findings | There is no consensus on how to best integrate the psychedelic experience with evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatment, and the review provides recommendations for combining psychotherapy with psychedelics. |
Abstract
Administration of psychedelics for mental health treatment, typically referred to as "psychedelic-assisted therapy," is a broad term with a very heterogeneous implementation. Despite increasing interest in the clinical application of psychedelic compounds for psychiatric disorders, there is no consensus on how to best integrate the psychedelic experience with evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatment. This systematic review provides a timely appraisal of existing approaches to combining psychotherapy with psychedelics and provides clear recommendations to best develop, optimize, and integrate evidence-based psychotherapy with psychedelic administration for straightforward scientific inference and maximal therapeutic benefit.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy | 2020 | Systematic review | |
| Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy—A Systematic Review of Associated Psychological Interventions | 2022 | Systematic review | |
| Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Participants in studies of psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms (Major... | 2023 | Systematic review with meta-analysis | n = 14 |
| Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Patients diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses or major depressive disorder | 2023 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | n = 686 |
| Treating posttraumatic stress disorder with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy: A preliminary meta-analysis and comparison to prolonged exposure therapy Patients with PTSD | 2016 | Meta-analysis |
Citations in the library
Cited by 15
- Harnessing neuroplasticity with psychoplastogens: the essential role of psychotherapy in psychedelic treatment optimization. Frontiers in Psychiatry April 8, 2025
- Ethical Considerations Regarding Psychedelics for Clinical Pain Research. Journal of Pain Research 2024
- Stepping back into life: How Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy transforms the way of life of the terminally ill General Hospital Psychiatry December 10, 2025
- Mapping cognitive-behavioral approach in psychedelic-assisted treatment: a systematic review across phases with classic and non-classic psychedelics European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience March 28, 2026
- Meaning and Psychedelics in Palliative Care: A Narrative Review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management March 1, 2026
and 10 more in the library
Cites 49
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
and 44 more in the library