How Is Music Selected for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy? An Exploratory Survey Study of Practitioners and Patients
Milo Moskovitz
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science October 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.6c00402 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Practitioners and patients involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy who completed anonymous online surveys |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Key findings | The authors report notable differences in music practices across practitioners, patient experiences, settings, and session phases. Post-session playlist listening was common and perceived as beneficial by both practitioners and patients, a practice the authors say had not previously been studied empirically. They describe these as exploratory insights requiring further investigation. |
Abstract
Abstract: Music is well established as a central component of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), yet few empirical studies have investigated how music is selected and utilized for treatment. This study explores current practices and perspectives regarding PAT music selection using anonymous online surveys completed by practitioners and patients. Surveys investigated playlist creation, optimal musical qualities, lyric usage, genre, familiarity, in-session adjustments, the use of silence, and post-session playlist listening. Notable differences were found across practitioners, patient experiences, settings, and session phases. Post-session playlist listening was common and perceived as beneficial by both practitioners and patients, a practice not previously studied empirically. While important limitations are noted, overall, these findings provide exploratory insights into PAT music practices and highlight several areas that require further empirical investigation.
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