Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by a pervasive pattern of impulsivity, affective dysregulation, and cognitive-perceptual symptoms. Treatment of BPD remains a significant challenge to mental health clinicians. People who suffer from BPD frequently have comorbid psychiatric disorders, which makes treatment more complex. This case study describes a...
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) involves supported experiences with psychedelic medicines in carefully curated environments. Early evidence suggests possible utility of PAT for addressing psychosocial-spiritual-existential concerns, yet gaps remain in understanding findings related to PAT's role in palliative care. This rapid review aims to synthesize current literature on applications of...
CureusApril 1, 2025Ciara Mimms, Kassandra Sotelo, Abdul Saboor Khaliq1 citation
This systematic review explores the comparative efficacy and functional outcomes of psychedelic-assisted therapies in the management of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for randomized controlled...
Mood disorders and existential distress impact those with cancer or a serious illness at higher rates than the general population. There have been limited pharmacological advances in recent years, and available psychological interventions vary in degree of impact and durability as a treatment modality in this population. A recent renaissance in psychedelic research has suggested that this class...
Objective: To compare changes in depression, anxiety, and suicidality symptoms after a single 25 mg oral dose of psilocybin between treatment-resistant depression participants not on antidepressants at screening to participants that discontinued antidepressant medications leading up to receiving psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP). Methods: Participants (n = 27) received at least one 25 mg...
Ketamine has demonstrated early promise for treating substance use disorder (SUD). Despite the emerging evidence for ketamine-based approaches for SUD, little has been published on the integration of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) with existing pharmacologic, psychosocial, and peer-support approaches to treatment and recovery, including 12-step programs. Here, we present the case of a...
This study draws attention to, and provides a description of, a previously unmapped and emerging self-medication phenomenon occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand where psychedelic substances are being used in the absence of clinical supervision to address a wide range of health and wellbeing issues, partly in response to unmet mental health needs. We interviewed 34 individuals who had...
The intensity of the psychedelic experience has been hypothesized as the main predictor of response to a psychedelic treatment. This study aimed to investigate factors that may be associated with the intensity of mystical experiences during naturalistic psychedelic use. The data of this comprehensive sample were aggregated from four previous retrospective surveys, where mystical experience...
Illness anxiety (IA) is characterized by worry or fear in response to living with a chronic illness or a preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious disease in conjunction with absent to mild somatic symptomatology. Death anxiety (DA) may underpin IA and is more common in individuals with life-threatening illness. Treatments for DA and IA, such as psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs,...
Psychedelic-assisted therapies are gaining interest as an innovative treatment for problems with mental health and addictions, and there are several clinical trials in this area currently being conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, many stakeholder groups hold concerns about cultural acceptability and safety. While psychedelic substances have a long history overseas in various Indigenous...
INTRODUCTION: Psychedelics are gaining recognition for their therapeutic potential in mental health treatment, yet societal attitudes remain divided, influenced by both skepticism and curiosity. This study aimed to develop and validate a scale assessing attitudes toward psychedelics. METHODS: Study 1 (n = 1000, convenience sample) explored the factor structure, identifying two dimensions:...
The growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for treating psychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety has led to an increasing demand for specialized training. In Switzerland, MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD are applied in the framework of limited medical use as exceptional treatment options since 2014. The Swiss Medical Association for Psychedelic...
Accumulating psychedelic research has demonstrated a potential for improving mental health and wellbeing, yet studies in the context of eating disorders (EDs) are lim- ited. This study aims to explore the subjective effects of psychedelic experiences to gain insight into the benefits and risks for people with EDs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight adults aged 25–54 (mean age...
The integration of diverse and multicultural perspectives in psychedelic-assisted therapy represents an important element within this emerging field. As the therapeutic potential of psychedelics continues to capture the attention of mental health professionals, it is essential to underscore the critical significance of considering the diverse cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and systemic...
There is increasing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PT) as a mental health intervention; however, there is a long history of stigma associated with psychedelics, which may be a barrier to implementation. For this reason, it is important to examine the acceptability and perceptions of PT among mental health professionals, service users and the wider public. In almost all PT research...
A lack of diverse and representative participant samples in mental health intervention research perpetuates mental health disparities. This issue has become a salient concern in studies of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAT), which is emerging as a promising mental health intervention. This systematic review evaluates the reporting, representation, and analysis of participant...
BackgroundPsychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP) can improve treatment-resistant depression. Its usefulness in Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknown. PD patients may have problems adjusting to their chronic progressive neurological disease. A change from emotional avoidance to acceptance has been reported following psilocybin administration in patients with treatment-resistant...
Preliminary evidence suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy-the enhancement of psychotherapy with psychedelics such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphet-amine (MDMA) and psilocybin-may be efficacious for depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and other conditions. Therapeutic psychedelic research is advancing steadily, with psilocybin, MDMA, and lysergic acid...
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is an emerging treatment approach that often combines pharmacotherapeutic dosing sessions with more traditional psychotherapy. Despite limited formal regulatory approval, treatment seekers can currently access PAT through a variety of avenues, including ketamine treatment centers and “supported adult use” psilocybin centers in the U.S., drug tourism,...
Human service professionals are a vital component of the helping services. Their attitudes toward psychedelics and psychedelic treatments are critical for future integration into community and social service. This descriptive study explored the attitudes about psychedelics used in treatment among 72 human service students, educators, and professionals. Participants expressed uncertain attitudes...