What Is Psychedelic Therapy?

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Types

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Uses

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Effectiveness

Things to Consider

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Psychedelic therapy is a technique that involves the use ofpsychedelic substancesto aid the therapeutic process.

Over the last two decades, researchers have gotten approval from authorities to conduct trials on the use of these substances to treat various conditions. For example, researchers have found that psilocybin is not only safe but that it can produce significant positive effects on well-being.

When utilized under supervision in a carefully controlled setting, research shows that some psychedelic substances can produce lasting and significant psychological and behavioral changes.

What Are Psychedelic Drugs?

Types of Psychedelic Therapy

There are a number of different types of substances that can have psychedelic effects. Some common psychedelic substance and their uses include:

Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Verywell Mind Survey

Because there is no standardized method of administration and practice, individual practitioners have their own methods for administering psychedelic therapy. However, there are often a few common elements:

During a psychedelic session, factors known as “set” and “setting” are critical. “Set” refers to things such as the client’s mood and their expectations. “Setting” refers to the environment where the session takes place and the relationship between the therapist and the client. The goal is to be comfortable with the therapist and the room where the session will take place. It is also important for patients to go into the experience feeling calm and attentive.

After the psychedelic experience, the focus at the next step is a process known as “integration.” These integration psychotherapy sessions are designed to help the individual process, make sense of, and find meaning in their psychedelic experience.

MicrodosingOne variation of psychedelic therapy is known asmicrodosing, which involves taking very small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelic substances. Proponents of microdosing suggest that even these very low doses can have beneficial health effects such as enhancing performance, increasing energy, and decreasing depression.While there is some evidence that microdosing may have some beneficial effects, more research is needed.

Microdosing

One variation of psychedelic therapy is known asmicrodosing, which involves taking very small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelic substances. Proponents of microdosing suggest that even these very low doses can have beneficial health effects such as enhancing performance, increasing energy, and decreasing depression.While there is some evidence that microdosing may have some beneficial effects, more research is needed.

One variation of psychedelic therapy is known asmicrodosing, which involves taking very small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelic substances. Proponents of microdosing suggest that even these very low doses can have beneficial health effects such as enhancing performance, increasing energy, and decreasing depression.

While there is some evidence that microdosing may have some beneficial effects, more research is needed.

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What Psychedelic Therapy Can Help With

Researchers have uncovered a number of potential applications for psychedelic therapy. Studies have found that anxiety, depression, substance use, alcohol use, and PTSD may all respond positively to psychedelic-assisted treatments.

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Benefits of Psychedelic Therapy

It is important to remember that while psychedelics can produce positive benefits, it is also common for people to experience negative or disturbing effects, such as:

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), these effects are a type of drug-induced psychosis that affects a person’s ability to communicate with others, think rationally, and interpret reality.

However, when used in a therapeutic setting where a trained professional can help a person understand and integrate these experiences, psychedelic therapy has the potential to help relieve the symptoms of certain psychiatric conditions.

After taking psychedelic substances, some people report having mystical or spiritual experiences. They may describe having feelings of peace, joy, unity, andempathy.

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Psychedelic therapy shows a great deal of promise in the treatment of a wide variety of mental health conditions, including addiction and depression. While further research is needed, current trials are underway to better determine the applications and effectiveness of using different psychedelic drugs to treat specific conditions.

Anxiety and Mood Disorders

In a 2016 study, psilocybin-assisted therapy was also associated with increased quality of life, improved optimism, and reduced anxiety over mortality. About 80% of participants continued to show improvements six months later.

History of Psychedelic Use

Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders

A 2015 study found that psilocybin-assisted therapy was associated with decreased drinking, reducedalcohol cravings, and increased abstinence.Psychedelic therapy’s efficacy for alcohol and substance use has not yet been clearly established, however. One 2012 study found that a single dose of LSD had a beneficial effect on alcohol misuse up to six months after treatment, but the effects were not significant at the 12-month mark.

One 2019 study involved surveying people who had already quit using alcohol with the use of psychedelics. While only 10% of the respondents used psychedelics intentionally as a way to reduce alcohol use, more than 25% reported that the hallucinogenic experience played a role in changing their alcohol use.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Clinical trials have demonstrated the treatment’s long-term efficacy in the treatment of PTSD. One 2019 study found that 54% of participants no longer met the criteria for diagnosis following treatment, whereas only 23% of participants in the control group no longer met the diagnostic criteria upon follow-up.

The benefits also appear to be long-lasting: 68% of those in the MDMA-assisted therapy treatment did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD a year after treatment.

Most Comprehensive Microdosing Study to Date Finds it Improves Mental Health

While psychedelic therapy is generally considered safe and is well-tolerated, there are some potential risks and adverse effects to consider. The classic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin pose few risks in terms ofphysical or psychological dependence, but it is possible to develop a tolerance to them; this means that the more you take the drug, the higher a dose you need in order to feel the same effects.

But there are other risks to taking psychedelics, such as the following.

Negative Psychological Reactions

Possible Personality Changes

Some have suggested that these drugs have the potential to produce long-term mind-altering, personality-changing effects. For example, one study found that psilocybin therapy was associated with increases inextroversionandopenness.These findings suggest that people may become more outgoing and willing to try new things after being treated with psilocybin-assisted therapy. While this is not necessarily a bad change, it is important to bear in mind that personality changes like this can occur.

Dangers of Self-Treatment

Another potential concern is the possibility of people using psychedelic substances to self-treat. Self-treatment can pose a number of risks, including the psychological dangers of experiencing a bad trip, the possibility of drug interactions, and the fact that many street drugs are mixed with unknown and potentially harmful substances.

The effects that a person experiences with psychedelic substances can be unpredictable and can vary depending on the amount of the substance that is used as well as the individual’s personality, mood, and surroundings.

In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) named psilocybin-assisted therapy as a “breakthrough therapy.” This designation is designed to speed up the development and review of drugs that preliminary clinical trials have indicated treat serious conditions.

Currently, clinical trials into the use of LSD and psilocybin as treatments for alcohol dependence,anxiety, and depression are underway.

If you are interested in trying psychedelic therapy, signing up for a research trial is an option. You can search for clinical trials that are recruiting participants through theNational Institute of Health (NIH). TheMultidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)and theJohn Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Researchmay also sponsor research and trials that are accepting participants.

Never try to self-treat with psychedelics. In clinical settings, people are given a specified, pure dose, are supervised during the psychedelic experience, and receive professional help from a therapist to integrate the experience.

It is also important to note that while psychedelic therapy has demonstrated that it can be helpful in the treatment of a number of conditions, researchers are still exploring the exact mechanisms of action. Further research will allow scientists to figure out which drugs are most helpful for specific conditions, what doses should be used, and when such treatments should be avoided.

Who Shouldn’t Take Psychedelics

15 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, Jesse R.Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2006 Aug;187(3):268-83;284-92. doi: 10.1007/s00213-006-0457-5Mithoefer MC, Mithoefer AT, Feduccia AA, Jerome L, Wagner M, Wymer J, et al.3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: A randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(6):486–97.Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, et al.Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial.J Psychopharmacol. 2016;30(12):1181-1197. doi:10.1177/0269881116675513Denson R, Sydiaha D.A controlled study of LSD treatment in alcoholism and neurosis.Br J Psychiatry. 1970;116(533):443-5. doi:10.1192/bjp.116.533.443Zafar R, Siegel M, Harding R, Barba T, Agnorelli C, Suseelan S, Roseman L, Wall M, Nutt DJ, Erritzoe D.Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of addiction: the past, present and future.Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 12;14:1183740. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1183740. PMID: 37377473; PMCID: PMC10291338.National Institute on Drug Abuse.How do hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, peyote, DMT, and ayahuasca) affect the brain and body?.Forstmann M, Yudkin DA, Prosser AMB, Heller SM, Crockett MJ.Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2020;117(5):2338-2346. doi:10.1073/pnas.1918477117Forstmann M, Yudkin DA, Prosser AMB, Heller SM, Crockett MJ.Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2020;117(5):2338-2346. doi:10.1073/pnas.1918477117Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa PC, Strassman RJ.Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study.J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Mar;29(3):289-99. doi:10.1177/0269881114565144Krebs TS, Johansen PØ.Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcoholism: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Psychopharmacol (Oxford). 2012;26(7):994-1002. doi:10.1177/0269881112439253Garcia-Romeu A, Davis AK, Erowid F, Erowid E, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW.Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use.J Psychopharmacol. 2019;33(9):1088-1101. doi:10.1177/0269881119845793Mithoefer MC, Feduccia AA, Jerome L, et al.MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: Study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials.Psychopharmacology.2019;236:2735–2745. doi:10.1007/s00213-019-05249-5Erritzoe D, Roseman L, Nour MM, et al.Effects of psilocybin therapy on personality structure.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018;138(5):368-378. doi:10.1111/acps.12904U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Breakthrough therapy.American Cancer Society.Types and phases of clinical trials.

15 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, Jesse R.Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2006 Aug;187(3):268-83;284-92. doi: 10.1007/s00213-006-0457-5Mithoefer MC, Mithoefer AT, Feduccia AA, Jerome L, Wagner M, Wymer J, et al.3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: A randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(6):486–97.Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, et al.Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial.J Psychopharmacol. 2016;30(12):1181-1197. doi:10.1177/0269881116675513Denson R, Sydiaha D.A controlled study of LSD treatment in alcoholism and neurosis.Br J Psychiatry. 1970;116(533):443-5. doi:10.1192/bjp.116.533.443Zafar R, Siegel M, Harding R, Barba T, Agnorelli C, Suseelan S, Roseman L, Wall M, Nutt DJ, Erritzoe D.Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of addiction: the past, present and future.Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 12;14:1183740. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1183740. PMID: 37377473; PMCID: PMC10291338.National Institute on Drug Abuse.How do hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, peyote, DMT, and ayahuasca) affect the brain and body?.Forstmann M, Yudkin DA, Prosser AMB, Heller SM, Crockett MJ.Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2020;117(5):2338-2346. doi:10.1073/pnas.1918477117Forstmann M, Yudkin DA, Prosser AMB, Heller SM, Crockett MJ.Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2020;117(5):2338-2346. doi:10.1073/pnas.1918477117Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa PC, Strassman RJ.Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study.J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Mar;29(3):289-99. doi:10.1177/0269881114565144Krebs TS, Johansen PØ.Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcoholism: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Psychopharmacol (Oxford). 2012;26(7):994-1002. doi:10.1177/0269881112439253Garcia-Romeu A, Davis AK, Erowid F, Erowid E, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW.Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use.J Psychopharmacol. 2019;33(9):1088-1101. doi:10.1177/0269881119845793Mithoefer MC, Feduccia AA, Jerome L, et al.MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: Study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials.Psychopharmacology.2019;236:2735–2745. doi:10.1007/s00213-019-05249-5Erritzoe D, Roseman L, Nour MM, et al.Effects of psilocybin therapy on personality structure.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018;138(5):368-378. doi:10.1111/acps.12904U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Breakthrough therapy.American Cancer Society.Types and phases of clinical trials.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, Jesse R.Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2006 Aug;187(3):268-83;284-92. doi: 10.1007/s00213-006-0457-5Mithoefer MC, Mithoefer AT, Feduccia AA, Jerome L, Wagner M, Wymer J, et al.3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: A randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(6):486–97.Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, et al.Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial.J Psychopharmacol. 2016;30(12):1181-1197. doi:10.1177/0269881116675513Denson R, Sydiaha D.A controlled study of LSD treatment in alcoholism and neurosis.Br J Psychiatry. 1970;116(533):443-5. doi:10.1192/bjp.116.533.443Zafar R, Siegel M, Harding R, Barba T, Agnorelli C, Suseelan S, Roseman L, Wall M, Nutt DJ, Erritzoe D.Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of addiction: the past, present and future.Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 12;14:1183740. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1183740. PMID: 37377473; PMCID: PMC10291338.National Institute on Drug Abuse.How do hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, peyote, DMT, and ayahuasca) affect the brain and body?.Forstmann M, Yudkin DA, Prosser AMB, Heller SM, Crockett MJ.Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2020;117(5):2338-2346. doi:10.1073/pnas.1918477117Forstmann M, Yudkin DA, Prosser AMB, Heller SM, Crockett MJ.Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2020;117(5):2338-2346. doi:10.1073/pnas.1918477117Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa PC, Strassman RJ.Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study.J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Mar;29(3):289-99. doi:10.1177/0269881114565144Krebs TS, Johansen PØ.Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcoholism: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Psychopharmacol (Oxford). 2012;26(7):994-1002. doi:10.1177/0269881112439253Garcia-Romeu A, Davis AK, Erowid F, Erowid E, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW.Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use.J Psychopharmacol. 2019;33(9):1088-1101. doi:10.1177/0269881119845793Mithoefer MC, Feduccia AA, Jerome L, et al.MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: Study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials.Psychopharmacology.2019;236:2735–2745. doi:10.1007/s00213-019-05249-5Erritzoe D, Roseman L, Nour MM, et al.Effects of psilocybin therapy on personality structure.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018;138(5):368-378. doi:10.1111/acps.12904U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Breakthrough therapy.American Cancer Society.Types and phases of clinical trials.

Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, Jesse R.Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2006 Aug;187(3):268-83;284-92. doi: 10.1007/s00213-006-0457-5

Mithoefer MC, Mithoefer AT, Feduccia AA, Jerome L, Wagner M, Wymer J, et al.3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: A randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(6):486–97.

Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, et al.Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial.J Psychopharmacol. 2016;30(12):1181-1197. doi:10.1177/0269881116675513

Denson R, Sydiaha D.A controlled study of LSD treatment in alcoholism and neurosis.Br J Psychiatry. 1970;116(533):443-5. doi:10.1192/bjp.116.533.443

Zafar R, Siegel M, Harding R, Barba T, Agnorelli C, Suseelan S, Roseman L, Wall M, Nutt DJ, Erritzoe D.Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of addiction: the past, present and future.Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 12;14:1183740. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1183740. PMID: 37377473; PMCID: PMC10291338.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.How do hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, peyote, DMT, and ayahuasca) affect the brain and body?.

Forstmann M, Yudkin DA, Prosser AMB, Heller SM, Crockett MJ.Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2020;117(5):2338-2346. doi:10.1073/pnas.1918477117

Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa PC, Strassman RJ.Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study.J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Mar;29(3):289-99. doi:10.1177/0269881114565144

Krebs TS, Johansen PØ.Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcoholism: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Psychopharmacol (Oxford). 2012;26(7):994-1002. doi:10.1177/0269881112439253

Garcia-Romeu A, Davis AK, Erowid F, Erowid E, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW.Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use.J Psychopharmacol. 2019;33(9):1088-1101. doi:10.1177/0269881119845793

Mithoefer MC, Feduccia AA, Jerome L, et al.MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: Study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials.Psychopharmacology.2019;236:2735–2745. doi:10.1007/s00213-019-05249-5

Erritzoe D, Roseman L, Nour MM, et al.Effects of psilocybin therapy on personality structure.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018;138(5):368-378. doi:10.1111/acps.12904

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Breakthrough therapy.

American Cancer Society.Types and phases of clinical trials.

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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