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Hogan GA, Wagner KE, Tichenor E, Barlott T. An Occupational Perspective on Psychedelic Therapy: A Scoping Review. Can J Occup Ther 2024:84174241228678. [PMID: 38377676 DOI: 10.1177/00084174241228678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Background. Interest in the use of psychedelics for mental health therapy is burgeoning. Qualitative research methods are increasingly used to understand patient's experiences; however, there is a lack of literature that explores psychedelic use from an occupational perspective. Purpose. To conduct a scoping review of qualitative literature on the experiences of psychedelic use for the purpose of mental health therapy, through an occupational lens. Key Issues. Wilcock's occupational perspective of health was employed to analyze the use of psychedelics in mental health from an occupational perspective. Despite heterogeneous therapy contexts and substances used, patients reported comparable benefits regarding occupational engagement, such as increased mindfulness and autonomy in doing, a renewed sense of being, greater motivation to grow and become, and an improved sense of connection and belonging. Implications. This review demonstrates how psychedelic use in the context of mental health support can be experienced as a meaningful occupation and may contribute to overall health. In turn, this review highlights the utility of an occupational perspective for "non-sanctioned" or stigmatized occupations like psychedelic use, as well as the need for more research on psychedelic use from an occupational perspective. Using an occupational perspective of health can help to de-stigmatize psychedelic use as a meaningful occupation, rather than a deviant one, and shed light on how psychedelics may also positively impact one's participation in everyday life and overall health.
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McAlpine RG, Sacchet MD, Simonsson O, Khan M, Krajnovic K, Morometescu L, Kamboj SK. Development of a digital intervention for psychedelic preparation (DIPP). Sci Rep 2024; 14:4072. [PMID: 38374177 PMCID: PMC10876638 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54642-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychedelic substances induce profound alterations in consciousness. Careful preparation is therefore essential to limit adverse reactions, enhance therapeutic benefits, and maintain user safety. This paper describes the development of a self-directed, digital intervention for psychedelic preparation. Drawing on elements from the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing complex interventions, the design was informed by a four-factor model of psychedelic preparedness, using a person-centred approach. Our mixed-methods investigation consisted of two studies. The first involved interviews with 19 participants who had previously attended a 'high-dose' psilocybin retreat, systematically exploring their preparation behaviours and perspectives on the proposed intervention. The second study engaged 28 attendees of an ongoing psilocybin retreat in co-design workshops, refining the intervention protocol using insights from the initial interviews. The outcome is a co-produced 21-day digital course (Digital Intervention for Psychedelic Preparation (DIPP)), that is organised into four modules: Knowledge-Expectation, Psychophysical-Readiness, Safety-Planning, and Intention-Preparation. Fundamental components of the course include daily meditation practice, supplementary exercises tied to the weekly modules, and mood tracking. DIPP provides a comprehensive and scalable solution to enhance psychedelic preparedness, aligning with the broader shift towards digital mental health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalind G McAlpine
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Matthew D Sacchet
- Meditation Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Otto Simonsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Maisha Khan
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Katarina Krajnovic
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Larisa Morometescu
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sunjeev K Kamboj
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
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Gearin AK. Moving beyond a figurative psychedelic literacy: Metaphors of psychiatric symptoms in ayahuasca narratives. Soc Sci Med 2023; 334:116171. [PMID: 37639859 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Metaphors, analogies, and similes commonly appear in narratives of drinking the potent psychedelic "ayahuasca", presenting an intriguing transcultural pattern. Based upon survey and field research at an ayahuasca healing center in Pucallpa, Peru, the article investigates conceptual metaphors in narratives of ayahuasca experiences made by the visiting international guests. Bodily metaphors and visionary analogies frequently appear in narrative plots where they can express the reappraisal, overcoming, and sometimes emboldening of symptoms diagnosed by psychiatry. Moving beyond the literal-figurative divide, the article explores the intrinsic "metaphoricity" of psychedelic experiences and advocates for a literacy of conceptual metaphors regarding both clinical and non-clinical psychedelic narratives. Developing this literacy can broaden approaches in psychedelic psychiatry that analyze and treat syndromes and disorders, while also being applicable to social science and humanities research that examine psychoactive drug use beyond medical frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex K Gearin
- Medical Ethics and Humanities Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, Faculty of Law and LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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4
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Wall MB, Lam C, Ertl N, Kaelen M, Roseman L, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL. Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for depression. J Affect Disord 2023; 333:321-330. [PMID: 37094657 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy with psilocybin is an emerging therapy with great promise for depression, and modern psychedelic therapy (PT) methods incorporate music as a key element. Music is an effective emotional/hedonic stimulus that could also be useful in assessing changes in emotional responsiveness following PT. METHODS Brain responses to music were assessed before and after PT using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and ALFF (Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuations) analysis methods. Nineteen patients with treatment-resistant depression underwent two treatment sessions involving administration of psilocybin, with MRI data acquired one week prior and the day after completion of psilocybin dosing sessions. RESULTS Comparison of music-listening and resting-state scans revealed significantly greater ALFF in bilateral superior temporal cortex for the post-treatment music scan, and in the right ventral occipital lobe for the post-treatment resting-state scan. ROI analyses of these clusters revealed a significant effect of treatment in the superior temporal lobe for the music scan only. Voxelwise comparison of treatment effects showed relative increases for the music scan in the bilateral superior temporal lobes and supramarginal gyrus, and relative decreases in the medial frontal lobes for the resting-state scan. ALFF in these music-related clusters was significantly correlated with intensity of subjective effects felt during the dosing sessions. LIMITATIONS Open-label trial. Relatively small sample size. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest an effect of PT on the brain's response to music, implying an elevated responsiveness to music after psilocybin therapy that was related to subjective drug effects felt during dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Wall
- Invicro London, Hammersmith Hospital, UK; Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK; Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, UK.
| | - Cynthia Lam
- Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Natalie Ertl
- Invicro London, Hammersmith Hospital, UK; Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Mendel Kaelen
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Leor Roseman
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK
| | - David J Nutt
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK; Psychedelics Division - Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, USA
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Modlin NL, Miller TM, Rucker JJ, Kirlic N, Lennard-Jones M, Schlosser D, Aaronson ST. Optimizing outcomes in psilocybin therapy: Considerations in participant evaluation and preparation. J Affect Disord 2023; 326:18-25. [PMID: 36707036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated the promise of psilocybin therapies in creating positive changes for those with poor mental health across multiple diagnostic categories, including major depressive disorder (MDD), end-of-life anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While there may be a large population that is eligible to participate in psilocybin therapy based on psychiatric diagnosis and medical clearance, little attention has been given to intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that might influence patient's readiness (i.e., eligibility and capacity) for psychedelic interventions. This paper proposes that readiness assessment includes both intrapersonal and interpersonal factors in order to improve safety, patient care, and treatment outcomes. While at the present time a reliable and valid instrument has not been developed, we propose that three specific areas of focus - patient presentation, therapeutic alliance, and patient safety - may be used to establish a patient's readiness for psilocybin therapy, thus increasing therapy optimization and personalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadav Liam Modlin
- The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tammy M Miller
- Institute for Advanced Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Sheppard Pratt, Towson, MD, United States of America
| | - James J Rucker
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Danielle Schlosser
- Compass Pathfinder Ltd, London, United Kingdom; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Scott T Aaronson
- Institute for Advanced Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Sheppard Pratt, Towson, MD, United States of America; University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 701 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America.
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6
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Ko K, Kopra EI, Cleare AJ, Rucker JJ. Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2023; 322:194-204. [PMID: 36209780 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychedelic therapy shows promise for Major Depressive Disorder, especially when treatment-resistant, as well as life-threatening illness distress. The objective of this systematic review, inclusive of meta-analysis, is to examine recent clinical research on the therapeutic effects of classic psychedelics on depressive symptoms. METHODS Fourteen psychedelic therapy studies, utilising psilocybin, ayahuasca, or LSD, were systematically reviewed. For the meta-analysis, standardised mean differences were calculated for seven randomised controlled trials. RESULTS The systematic review indicated significant short- and long-term reduction of depressive symptoms in all conditions studied after administration of psilocybin, ayahuasca, or LSD, with psychological support. In the meta-analysis, symptom reduction was significantly indicated in three timepoints out of four, including 1-day, 1-week, and 3-5 weeks, supporting the results of the systematic review, with the exception of the 6-8 weeks follow-up point which was less conclusive. LIMITATIONS The absence of required data for 2 studies necessitated the less precise use of graphical extraction and imputation. The small sample size in all but one study negatively affected the statistical power. None of the studies had long-term follow-up without also utilising the cross-over method, which did not allow for long-term results to be included in the meta-review. CONCLUSIONS This review indicates an association between psychedelic therapy and significant reduction of depressive symptoms at several time points. However, the small number of studies, and low sample sizes, calls for careful interpretation of results. This suggests the need for more randomised clinical trials of psychedelic therapy, with larger and more diverse samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwonmok Ko
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Emma I Kopra
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Anthony J Cleare
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham BR3 3BX, UK
| | - James J Rucker
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham BR3 3BX, UK
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Spriggs MJ, Giribaldi B, Lyons T, Rosas FE, Kärtner LS, Buchborn T, Douglass HM, Roseman L, Timmermann C, Erritzoe D, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL. Body mass index (BMI) does not predict responses to psilocybin. J Psychopharmacol 2023; 37:107-116. [PMID: 36373934 PMCID: PMC9834321 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221131994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psilocybin is a serotonin type 2A (5-HT2A) receptor agonist and naturally occurring psychedelic. 5-HT2A receptor density is known to be associated with body mass index (BMI), however, the impact of this on psilocybin therapy has not been explored. While body weight-adjusted dosing is widely used, this imposes a practical and financial strain on the scalability of psychedelic therapy. This gap between evidence and practice is caused by the absence of studies clarifying the relationship between BMI, the acute psychedelic experience and long-term psychological outcomes. METHOD Data were pooled across three studies using a fixed 25 mg dose of psilocybin delivered in a therapeutic context to assess whether BMI predicts characteristics of the acute experience and changes in well-being 2 weeks later. Supplementing frequentist analysis with Bayes Factors has enabled for conclusions to be drawn regarding the null hypothesis. RESULTS Results support the null hypothesis that BMI does not predict overall intensity of the altered state, mystical experiences, perceptual changes or emotional breakthroughs during the acute experience. There was weak evidence for greater 'dread of ego dissolution' in participants with lower BMI, however, further analysis suggested BMI did not meaningfully add to the combination of the other covariates (age, sex and study). While mystical-type experiences and emotional breakthroughs were strong predictors of improvements in well-being, BMI was not. CONCLUSIONS These findings have important implications for our understanding of pharmacological and extra-pharmacological contributors to psychedelic-assisted therapy and for the standardization of a fixed therapeutic dose in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meg J Spriggs
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK,Meg J Spriggs, Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, 2nd floor, Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Campus 160 Du Cane Road, London, London W12 0NN, UK.
| | - Bruna Giribaldi
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Taylor Lyons
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Fernando E Rosas
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK,Centre for Complexity Science, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Laura S Kärtner
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK,Department of Molecular Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Tobias Buchborn
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK,Institute for Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Hannah M Douglass
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Leor Roseman
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Christopher Timmermann
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David Erritzoe
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK,CNWL-Imperial Psychopharmacology & Psychedelic Research Clinic, St. Charles Hospital, CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - David J Nutt
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK,Psychedelics Division, Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, USA
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8
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Aday JS, Heifets BD, Pratscher SD, Bradley E, Rosen R, Woolley JD. Great Expectations: recommendations for improving the methodological rigor of psychedelic clinical trials. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:1989-2010. [PMID: 35359159 PMCID: PMC10184717 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06123-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Psychedelic research continues to garner significant public and scientific interest with a growing number of clinical studies examining a wide range of conditions and disorders. However, expectancy effects and effective condition masking have been raised as critical limitations to the interpretability of the research. OBJECTIVE In this article, we review the many methodological challenges of conducting psychedelic clinical trials and provide recommendations for improving the rigor of future research. RESULTS Although some challenges are shared with psychotherapy and pharmacology trials more broadly, psychedelic clinical trials have to contend with several unique sources of potential bias. The subjective effects of a high-dose psychedelic are often so pronounced that it is difficult to mask participants to their treatment condition; the significant hype from positive media coverage on the clinical potential of psychedelics influences participants' expectations for treatment benefit; and participant unmasking and treatment expectations can interact in such a way that makes psychedelic therapy highly susceptible to large placebo and nocebo effects. Specific recommendations to increase the success of masking procedures and reduce the influence of participant expectancies are discussed in the context of study development, participant recruitment and selection, incomplete disclosure of the study design, choice of active placebo condition, as well as the measurement of participant expectations and masking efficacy. CONCLUSION Incorporating the recommended design elements is intended to reduce the risk of bias in psychedelic clinical trials and thereby increases the ability to discern treatment-specific effects of psychedelic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob S Aday
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, San Francisco VA Medical Center, University of California, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Boris D Heifets
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Steven D Pratscher
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ellen Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, San Francisco VA Medical Center, University of California, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Raymond Rosen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, San Francisco VA Medical Center, University of California, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Joshua D Woolley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, San Francisco VA Medical Center, University of California, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
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Abstract
Gatherings in groups are a ubiquitous phenomenon throughout human history. This is true for everyday social tasks as well as for healing and spiritual purposes. In psychotherapy, group treatment started soon after developing psychoanalytic treatment procedures. For psychedelic therapy however, individual treatment guided by one or sometimes even two therapists is the most common and widespread treatment model for clinical research and therapy thus far. Since the foundation of the Swiss Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy (Schweizerische Ärztegesellschaft für psycholytische Therapie, SÄPT) in 1985 in Switzerland, we however had the opportunity to conduct psychedelic group treatment in specific settings, which the following article describes.
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Golden TL, Magsamen S, Sandu CC, Lin S, Roebuck GM, Shi KM, Barrett FS. Effects of Setting on Psychedelic Experiences, Therapies, and Outcomes: A Rapid Scoping Review of the Literature. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 56:35-70. [PMID: 35138585 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The health and well-being impacts of art and aesthetic experiences have been rigorously studied by a range of disciplines, including cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, public health, and translational clinical research. These experiences, encompassed in the concepts of set and setting, have long been claimed to be pivotal in determining the acute and enduring effects of psychedelic experiences. Responding to the field's longstanding emphasis on the role and value of setting, a rapid scoping review was undertaken to identify the extent to which effects of setting and aesthetics on psychedelic experiences and therapies have been explicitly studied. It offers an analysis of the strengths and limitations of the extant literature and discusses evidentiary gaps as well as evidentiary opportunities for the field. The 43 included studies indicate apparent consensus regarding the importance of setting in psychedelic therapies, as well as consistent interest in theorizing about these effects. However, this consensus has yet to generate consistent, prospective, rigorous tests of setting and its complexities. As a result, the field continues to lack understanding or agreement regarding the effects of various specific elements of setting, the mechanisms by which they affect outcomes, for whom these effects occur, under what circumstances, given what conditions, and other critical factors. Further studies of setting and aesthetics in the context of psychedelic therapies are likely to not only improve these therapies and their delivery, but also inform considerations of setting and aesthetics for non-psychedelic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasha L Golden
- International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Susan Magsamen
- International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Clara C Sandu
- International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shuyang Lin
- International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Grace Marie Roebuck
- International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kathy M Shi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Frederick S Barrett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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11
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Moreton SG, Szalla L, Menzies RE, Arena AF. Embedding existential psychology within psychedelic science: reduced death anxiety as a mediator of the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:21-32. [PMID: 31784805 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05391-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Psychedelic therapies can engender enduring improvements in psychological well-being. However, relatively little is known about the psychological mechanisms through which the salutary effects of psychedelics emerge. Through integrating extant research on psychedelics with contemporary existential psychology, we present a novel hypothesis that reduced death anxiety may be a key mechanism underpinning the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. In developing this hypothesis, we also provide a complementary review of mechanisms through which psychedelics may reduce death anxiety. We conclude that an awareness of the role of death anxiety in psychopathology has the potential to guide future research into psychedelic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam G Moreton
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
| | - Luke Szalla
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Rachel E Menzies
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Andrew F Arena
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
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12
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Abstract
Humans have used serotonergic hallucinogens (i.e. psychedelics) for spiritual, ceremonial, and recreational purposes for thousands of years, but their administration as part of a structured therapeutic intervention is still a relatively novel practice within Western medical and psychological frameworks. In the mid-20th century, considerable advances were made in developing therapeutic approaches integrating administration of low (psycholytic) and high (psychedelic) doses of serotonergic hallucinogens for treatment of a variety of conditions, often incorporating psychoanalytic concepts prevalent at that time. This work contributed seminal insights regarding how these substances may be employed with efficacy and safety in targeted therapeutic interventions, including the importance of optimizing set (frame of mind) and setting (therapeutic environment). More recently, clinical and pharmacological research has revisited the effects and therapeutic potential of psychedelics utilizing a variety of approaches. The current article provides an overview of past and present models of psychedelic therapy, and discusses important considerations for future interventions incorporating the use of psychedelics in research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Garcia-Romeu
- a Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - William A Richards
- a Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
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13
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Ivan Ezquerra-Romano I, Lawn W, Krupitsky E, Morgan CJA. Ketamine for the treatment of addiction: Evidence and potential mechanisms. Neuropharmacology 2018; 142:72-82. [PMID: 29339294 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic drug which acts on the central nervous system chiefly through antagonism of the n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Recently, ketamine has attracted attention as a rapid-acting anti-depressant but other studies have also reported its efficacy in reducing problematic alcohol and drug use. This review explores the preclinical and clinical research into ketamine's ability to treat addiction. Despite methodological limitations and the relative infancy of the field, results thus far are promising. Ketamine has been shown to effectively prolong abstinence from alcohol and heroin in detoxified alcoholics and heroin dependent individuals, respectively. Moreover, ketamine reduced craving for and self-administration of cocaine in non-treatment seeking cocaine users. However, further randomised controlled trials are urgently needed to confirm ketamine's efficacy. Possible mechanisms by which ketamine may work within addiction include: enhancement of neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, disruption of relevant functional neural networks, treating depressive symptoms, blocking reconsolidation of drug-related memories, provoking mystical experiences and enhancing psychological therapy efficacy. Identifying the mechanisms by which ketamine exerts its therapeutic effects in addiction, from the many possible candidates, is crucial for advancing this treatment and may have broader implications understanding other psychedelic therapies. In conclusion, ketamine shows great promise as a treatment for various addictions, but well-controlled research is urgently needed. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Psychedelics: New Doors, Altered Perceptions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Ivan Ezquerra-Romano
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK
| | - W Lawn
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK
| | - E Krupitsky
- St.-Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University and Bekhterev Research Psychoneurological Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - C J A Morgan
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK; Psychopharmacology and Addiction Research Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
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Kaelen M, Giribaldi B, Raine J, Evans L, Timmerman C, Rodriguez N, Roseman L, Feilding A, Nutt D, Carhart-Harris R. The hidden therapist: evidence for a central role of music in psychedelic therapy. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:505-519. [PMID: 29396616 PMCID: PMC5893695 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4820-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Recent studies have supported the safety and efficacy of psychedelic therapy for mood disorders and addiction. Music is considered an important component in the treatment model, but little empirical research has been done to examine the magnitude and nature of its therapeutic role. OBJECTIVES The present study assessed the influence of music on the acute experience and clinical outcomes of psychedelic therapy. METHODS Semi-structured interviews inquired about the different ways in which music influenced the experience of 19 patients undergoing psychedelic therapy with psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was applied to the interview data to identify salient themes. In addition, ratings were given for each patient for the extent to which they expressed "liking," "resonance" (the music being experienced as "harmonious" with the emotional state of the listener), and "openness" (acceptance of the music-evoked experience). RESULTS Analyses of the interviews revealed that the music had both "welcome" and "unwelcome" influences on patients' subjective experiences. Welcome influences included the evocation of personally meaningful and therapeutically useful emotion and mental imagery, a sense of guidance, openness, and the promotion of calm and a sense of safety. Conversely, unwelcome influences included the evocation of unpleasant emotion and imagery, a sense of being misguided and resistance. Correlation analyses showed that patients' experience of the music was associated with the occurrence of "mystical experiences" and "insightfulness." Crucially, the nature of the music experience was significantly predictive of reductions in depression 1 week after psilocybin, whereas general drug intensity was not. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that music plays a central therapeutic function in psychedelic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mendel Kaelen
- Psychedelic Research Group, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK.
| | - Bruna Giribaldi
- Psychedelic Research Group, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK
| | - Jordan Raine
- School of Psychology, Sussex University, Brighton, BN1 9RH UK
| | - Lisa Evans
- Psychedelic Research Group, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK
| | - Christopher Timmerman
- Psychedelic Research Group, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK ,Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (C3NL),
Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK
| | - Natalie Rodriguez
- Psychedelic Research Group, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK
| | - Leor Roseman
- Psychedelic Research Group, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK ,Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (C3NL),
Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK
| | | | - David Nutt
- Psychedelic Research Group, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK
| | - Robin Carhart-Harris
- Psychedelic Research Group, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK
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