Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Definitions/Description

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

• A structured therapeutic intervention involving the administration of psychedelic substances within a supportive psychosocial framework

Psychedelic substances

• This category of psychoactive substances includes serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor agonists like psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline (classic psychedelics or hallucinogenic psychedelic), 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; an entactogen or empathogen), ibogaine (oneirogenic psychedelic), and ketamine (a dissociative psychedelic), though their mechanisms markedly differ.
• The definition of psychedelic remains debated but generally describes psychoactive substances capable of producing non-ordinary states of consciousness that have shown evidence of therapeutic efficacy for mental health disorders.
• Psilocybin, specifically, is noted for its relatively benign safety profile, non-toxicity, and non-addictive nature in research settings, with a duration of action of approximately 6 hours[1].