What is psychedelic-assisted therapy?

Psychedelic therapies have emerged as one of the most promising breakthroughs for treating mental disorders in decades.

Research suggests that psychedelics, when used alongside psychotherapy, are safe, can help people to address underlying issues, and can provide enduring benefit for many months or years.

Psychedelics (psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and others) are a broad class of drugs that temporarily cause profound altered states of awareness, dramatically changing how people perceive, think, and feel. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy involves a combined pharmacological and psychological treatment.

This therapeutic approach occurs in a controlled, supportive setting with trained therapists who support people through the full treatment. Psychedelic therapy typically involves a structured dosing regimen that is accompanied by a specialised forms of psychotherapy before, during and after each drug session. The therapy protocol varies across trials and treatment programs, and most commonly involves between 1 and 3 dosing days, and 3 to 5 non-drug therapy sessions for every dosing session.

Alongside specialised therapy, these experiences can help reveal deep or early causes of emotional distress and problematic behaviour, and provide new and better ways to address these issues.

While initial research suggests promising outcomes, it's important to recognize that most psychedelic-assisted therapies are still in early stages of exploration. Questions remain about the best models of therapeutic support, how to support enduring benefits over the longer term, and how best to increase access whilst minimising harm to vulnerable patient groups.

Nonetheless, current research suggests that this class of treatments can mark a pivotal moment in a person's mental health journey, catalysing remarkable improvements in wellbeing. For patients with severe and chronic illnesses – like anxiety, depression, substance dependence, and post-traumatic stress disorder – psychedelics are showing great promise.

With robust research and careful clinical application, we hope to develop a set of psychedelic treatment options that can support substantial and lasting benefit in people’s lives.