This case highlights the tensions between legal and underground psychedelic use within psychedelic therapy training programs, psychiatry and neo-shamanism, and the use of psychiatric interventions (i.e., ECT) and energy medicine to address prolonged adverse effects from psychedelics. Clinicians should be aware of these potential conflicts between psychiatric conceptualizations of PAEs and...
This article explores the potential of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy to enhance exposure and response prevention in obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment. We discuss the mechanisms of MDMA, including fear extinction, psychological flexibility, and empathogenic effects that may improve adherence and efficacy, as well as highlighting important safety considerations...
medRxiv Preprint ServerFebruary 25, 2025J Cohen, AC Reichelt, R Zamyadi et al.1 citation
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This detailed case report explores the application of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in the treatment of a male patient in their late 30’s with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and depressive symptoms. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine represents a significant breakthrough in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders due to its rapid and robust...
There is a push to shrink the anticipated 17-year research-to-practice gap for psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), offering precarious hope to those with disabling mental health conditions. However, numerous questions regarding how PAT works, how well it works, for whom and in what context remain. Substantial changes to current systems of care, including regulatory approvals, clinical training...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is prevalent and can be disabling. Many patients remain symptomatic despite behavioral and medical therapies. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), in which serotonergic agents like psilocybin are administered in a psychotherapeutic context, has shown promise for refractory psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress...
PolymatheiaFebruary 15, 2025Fábio Nogueira Pereira, Ana Carina Rothechedl Cavalieri, João Paulo Crespo Ferreira et al.
The ethical and technical challenges of recent research with psychedelics and the attempt to regulate them as a health technology open a new horizon for reflections on scientific development and questions about how we experience spiritual and non-ordinary experiences of consciousness and relate to nature. We understand that Psychology needs to resort to psychedelic philosophy and the knowledge...
Research SquareFebruary 13, 2025Ayanna K. Bell, Bianca R. Watt, Arturo S. Lopez Flores et al.1 citation
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Abstract Background Cultural biases within healthcare systems result in inequitable treatment, harms, and mistrust—particularly for individuals with marginalized identities. Cultural humility training is dynamic, reflective, and emphasizes person-centered care and mutual respect. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is an emerging modality for treating psychiatric disorders. Practice manuals and...
Psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health conditions is being researched in clinical trials. There are associated benefits, risks and policy considerations.
Clinical studies with psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy show promising results for the treatment of various mental disorders; however, there still exists a lack of knowledge, rejection and prejudice towards this new form of therapy among doctors, psychotherapists and patients. The aim of this study was to gain a representative impression, as far as possible, of the level of...
Objective: This article outlines recommendations from 30 psychedelic researchers on how to create a better psychedelic safety net. Methods: A survey of 30 psychedelic researchers asked them to identify key critical research gaps around psychedelic harm and safety. Results: The critical research gaps identified by the authors included defining the main types of psychedelic harm, the predictors...
Methamphetamine use disorder is a significant public health concern. No pharmacological treatment options currently exist for methamphetamine use disorder, and psychotherapy is only moderately effective. Preliminary evidence suggests that ketamine-assisted psychotherapy produces sustained improvements in substance use and mental health symptomatology. In addition to direct antidepressant...
There is notable controversy about the role of psychotherapy in clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT). This heated and perpetually evolving debate informs questions such as how much therapy should accompany a psychedelic intervention (Marseille et al. , 2022), what type of therapy most effectively complements psychedelic administration (Cavarra et al. , 2022;Yaden et al. ,...
Objective: To assess the viewpoints of psychedelic practitioners in research settings on approaches to psychological support for psychedelic treatments. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed via email to contacts listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for clinical trials of psilocybin and LSD, personal contacts of authors, and through snowball sampling. The survey included Likert type, multiple...
Ketamine treatment has shown promising effects for different mental disorders. Yet, little is known on how people who receive ketamine for a psychiatric problem subjectively experience undergoing this intervention. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify relevant qualitative research on the first-person experience of undergoing ketamine treatment in a psychiatric context. 24...
This article describes the rationale and the specific methods for an open label pilot trial of 100 mg MDMA in combination with massed exposure therapy for PTSD, a treatment which involves daily exposure therapy sessions for two weeks which has found to be effective. We review the need for novel PTSD treatments and the existing research on MDMA-assisted therapy, and then describe the rationale...
Throughout history, psychedelic compounds have been used for religious, spiritual and recreational purposes. A plethora of studies have reported the use of psychedelic compounds in the treatment of various conditions, such as alcoholism, addictions, depressive state to borderline schizophrenia, personality disorder, among other mental disorders. Psychedelic microdosing, a common technique in...
There is a mental health crisis affecting youth, and the utility of existing treatments is often limited by lack of effectiveness and tolerability. The aim of this review is to report on outcomes of clinical trials for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for adults with depression and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and discuss recommendations for...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) is gaining traction as a novel approach to addressing the psychological and existential distress experienced by patients. This systematic review aimed to investigate the impact of PAT on spirituality, mystical experiences, and spiritual well-being (SpWB) in patients with life-threatening, incurable, or terminal illnesses. A comprehensive search was conducted...
ABSTRACT Australian government approval has been granted for 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐methamphetamine (MDMA) treatment of post‐traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin for treatment‐resistant depression, but the process of translating psychedelic‐assisted therapies (PAT) into more widespread use is complex. Along with establishing the efficacy and feasibility of PATs, their acceptability amongst...
This chapter explores the complex and controversial path of MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other behavioral disorders. It covers MDMA's history from research to recreation to medicine, the pivotal trials, and the challenges faced by researchers. Despite recent setbacks for the clinical application of MDMA, the chapter argues that it holds...