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Client treatment preferences in psychedelic-assisted therapy for depression in participants with depressive symptoms

Alyssa B. Oliva, Mitch Earleywine, Fiona Low, Brianna R. Altman, Joseph A. de Leo

Journal of Psychedelic Studies July 11, 2024 DOI: 10.1556/2054.2024.00334 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed
Sample size 635
Population US adults recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk
Topics Psychedelic-assisted therapy Depression
Keywords Therapeutic fit Patient choice Therapist selection Provider matching Patient preferences Same-gender therapist Same-race therapist Cultural competence Inclusive healthcare Provider representation Diverse therapists Diverse guides Therapeutic results Patient well-being Clinical success Patient experience Outcomes Counseling Behavioral health Psychological treatment Talk therapy Cbt
Key findings Importance ratings for a same-gender practitioner varied by race and gender, with racial and ethnic minority and female participants rating it highest, while same-gender CBT therapists were rated as more important than same-gender PAT guides.

Abstract

AbstractBackground and AimsResearch on psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), a promising treatment option for major depression, has not revealed if potential clients show preferences about the demographic characteristics of providers comparable to those common in other forms of psychotherapy. Previous work suggests that honoring comparable client preferences can enhance therapeutic outcomes. This study aims to investigate the importance ratings for a same-gender and a same-race therapist in both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and PAT.MethodsParticipants (N = 635) responded between December 2020 and January 2021 on Amazon's Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform. Participants rated the import of provider characteristics, including having a provider who is the same-gender or the same-race, for a CBT therapist and a PAT guide.ResultsImportance ratings for a same-gender practitioner varied by both race and gender; racial and ethnic minority and female participants had the highest importance ratings for a same-gender practitioner. A same-gender CBT therapist was more important than a same-gender PAT guide. Importance ratings for a same-race practitioner did not differ by therapy type or gender and only varied by race; racial and ethnic minority participants rated a same-race practitioner as more important than White participants.ConclusionsAccommodating client preferences appears important, particularly for members of racial, ethnic, and gender minority groups. A concerted effort to train diverse CBT therapists and PAT guides to meet this demand seems justified.

Comparable studies

Other cross-sectional and survey studies on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic 2020 Cross-sectional survey n = 985
Psychedelic Treatment for Trauma-Related Psychological and Cognitive Impairment Among US Special Operations Forces Veterans U.S. Special Operations Forces Veterans who completed a psychedelic clinical program in... 2020 Survey n = 51
Population Survey Data Informing the Therapeutic Potential of Classic and Novel Phenethylamine, Tryptamine, and Lysergamide Psychedelics Respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2008–2017, weighted to... 2020 Cross-sectional survey n = 260,964,827
Examination of the Phenomenology of the Ibogaine Treatment Experience: Role of Altered States of Consciousness and Psychedelic Experiences. Individuals who used ibogaine in the past 2017 Retrospective survey n = 27
American Psychiatrists' Opinions About Classic Hallucinogens and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications: A 7-Year Follow-Up Survey. American Psychiatric Association members (resident-fellows and attending psychiatrists) 2024 Survey n = 131

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Psychedelic-assisted therapy Depression