Implications for practice Psychedelic-assisted therapy with classical psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD) may be effective for treating anxiety, depression, and possibly existential distress, in people facing a life-threatening disease. Psychedelic-assisted therapy seemed to be well tolerated, with no treatment-emergent serious adverse events reported in the studies included in this review. However,...
Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that are known to alter perception, alter mood, and affect numerous cognitive processes. Throughout history, psychedelics were utilized in ceremonies and rituals, and in the 20th century, their utilization in psychiatry began. In the 1960s they became a banned substance and are only recently being revisited for their benefits. The main forms of...
Introduction: This perspective on experiential training delves into the potential benefits and counterarguments related to integrating firsthand experience of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PaT) to enhance the competency of trainees. The Case for Experiential Training as a Core PaT Competency: Experiential training serves a dual purpose: promoting therapists' mental wellness and refining their...
People with cancer experience higher rates of psychological dysfunction than the general population, with extreme inequity among indigenous people. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a reemerging area with promising evidence as a treatment for mental health difficulties. The current study aimed to investigate the perceptions of PAT in indigenous (Māori) and non-indigenous cancer patients in...
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, is one of the most widely used illicit substances worldwide. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has become a novel treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed over the past decade. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review and demonstrate the efficacy...
There is increasing interest in the use of psychedelics for therapeutic and recreational use. Research has been hindered by federal prohibition, put in place in 1970. Despite the regulatory difficulty, research has rapidly expanded in the past decade. Multiple states and cities have drafted their own policies regarding the use of psychedelics. Assuming interest in psychedelics continues to...
Psychedelic-assisted therapy involves preparation sessions, a supportive psychedelic session, and integration sessions to reinforce therapeutic insights. Psychological safety is a primary concern with psychedelics, and challenging experiences are managed through non-directive support rather than pharmacological intervention. Psychedelic-assisted therapy's unique paradigm poses challenges,...
There is a psychedelic renaissance with key drugs that alter perception and mood being given breakthrough therapy status as potential treatments for common mental health conditions. If approved, these drugs may be used alongside psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), a therapeutic process supporting learning from taking psychedelics. Nearly 100 companies, mainly across America, Canada, Europe, and...
Existential distress is commonly experienced by patients diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. This condition has been shown to adversely impact quality of life and is correlated with increased suicidal ideation and requests for hastened death. While palliative care teams are experienced in treating depression and anxiety, existential distress is a distinct clinical condition for which...
PsychedelicsAugust 12, 2024Rodolfo Myronn de Melo Rodrigues
Depression is a global public health challenge that represents the world's largest cause of disability, especially in the context of traditional treatments. One potential solution being explored is psilocybin assisted psychotherapy (PAP) which shows promise for treating depression. A recent study by Rosenblat et al. explores the use of psilocybin in clinical mental care with promising results (1).