Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Maria Eleni Eleftheriou, Emily M Thomas
Frontiers in Psychiatry August 11, 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.707057 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychological intervention Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Intervention counseling |
| Citations | 37 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions and psychedelic therapy share mechanisms and show synergistic therapeutic benefit when combined. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions and psychedelic-assisted therapy have been experimentally utilised in recent years as alternative treatments for various psychopathologies with moderate to great success. Both have also demonstrated significant post-acute and long-term decreases in clinical symptoms and enhancements in well-being in healthy participants. These two therapeutic interventions share various postulated salutogenic mechanisms, such as the ability to alter present-moment awareness and anti-depressive action, via corresponding neuromodulatory effects. Recent preliminary evidence has also demonstrated that psychedelic administration can enhance mindfulness capacities which has already been demonstrated robustly as a result of mindfulness-based interventions. These shared mechanisms between mindfulness-based interventions and psychedelic therapy have led to scientists theorising, and recently demonstrating, synergistic effects when both are used in combination, in the form of potentiated therapeutic benefit. These synergistic results hold great promise but require replication in bigger sample groups and better controlled methodologies, to fully delineate the effect of set and setting, before they can be extended onto clinical populations.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 32
- Prevalence and associations of challenging, difficult or distressing experiences using classic psychedelics. Journal of Affective Disorders April 1, 2023
- A century of research on psychedelics: A scientometric analysis on trends and knowledge maps of hallucinogens, entactogens, entheogens and dissociative drugs. European Neuropsychopharmacology November 1, 2022
- Mindfulness meditation and psychedelics: potential synergies and commonalities Pharmacological Reports November 6, 2023
- Lasting increases in trait mindfulness after psilocybin correlate positively with the mystical-type experience in healthy individuals Frontiers in Psychology October 5, 2022
- Decreases in State and Trait Anxiety Post-psilocybin: A Naturalistic, Observational Study Among Retreat Attendees Frontiers in Psychiatry July 7, 2022
and 27 more in the library
Cites 114
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- 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
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
and 109 more in the library