Should Australian Psychology Consider Enhancing Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Psychedelic Drugs? A Call for Research

Bright, Stephen; Williams, Martin

doi:10.1111/ap.12345

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 77 publications

(90 reference statements)

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“…Following a 30-year embargo on psychedelic research (Strauss, Bright, & Williams, 2016), there has been a recent resurgence of scientific interest in the therapeutic and medicinal effects of psychedelic substances, often referred to as the psychedelic renaissance (Bright & Williams, 2018). Contemporary clinical research on higher doses of psychedelics has shown that LSD administered in a supportive setting increases optimism in healthy subjects (Carhart-Harris et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the relationship between microdosing, personality and emotional insight: A prospective study

Dressler

Bright

Polito

2021

JPS

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Backround and aimsHaving entered the recent public and research zeitgeist, microdosing involves consuming sub-perceptual doses of psychedelic drugs, allegedly to enhance performance, creativity, and wellbeing. The results of research to date have been mixed. Whereas most studies have reported positive impacts of microdosing, some microdosers have also reported adverse effects. In addition, research to date has revealed inconsistent patterns of change in personality traits. This prospective study explored the relationship between microdosing, personality change, and emotional awareness.MethodsMeasures of personality and alexithymia were collected at two time points. 76 microdosers participated at baseline. Invitations to a follow-up survey were sent out after 31 days, and 24 participants were retained.ResultsConscientiousness increased, while neuroticism decreased across these time points (n = 24). At baseline (N = 76), neuroticism was associated with alexithymia. In addition, neuroticism correlated negatively with duration of prior microdosing experience, and extraversion correlated positively with both duration of prior microdosing experience and lifetime number of microdoses.ConclusionThese results suggest that microdosing might have an impact on otherwise stable personality traits.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the relationship between microdosing, personality and emotional insight: A prospective study

Dressler

Bright

Polito

2021

JPS

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“…Over recent years, a callto-action has been made in Australian journals to engage in this field of research. [24][25][26][27][28] Some researchers described experiencing resistance when attempting to establish trials of MDMA-AP in Australia, stating a proposed study was 'vetoed by the deputy vice-chancellor' of a university, before the application reached the ethics committee. 27 The current study seeks to assess whether there is bias among psychiatrists, psychologists, general practitioners (GPs) and mental health (MH) researchers, towards MDMA-AP research.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitations Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the attitudes of mental health professionals towards trials of MDMA: a randomised vignette trial

2022

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ObjectivesTo compare attitudes of mental health (MH) professionals towards trials of methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP), with a neutrally labelled pharmacotherapy trial.DesignA randomised controlled vignette study design, with experimenters blinded to group condition.SettingParticipants were recruited online via professional societies.ParticipantsPsychiatrists, psychologists and MH researchers from across Australia.InterventionsParticipants were randomly allocated to read a vignette about a trial of either MDMA-AP or a neutrally labelled pharmacotherapy.OutcomesComparison of the difference in four attitudes towards MDMA-AP and control: How likely they were to (1) recommend participating, or (2) object to participating in the trial; (3) their predicted efficacy; and (4) concerns about the safety of the trial.ResultsThere were no overall differences between professional’s attitudes towards MDMA-AP (n=51) and the control pharmacotherapy (n=43) trial vignettes. Psychiatrists were less likely to recommend participation in the MDMA-AP than the control trial (d=0.72, p=0.02), but did not differ in other attitudes. Psychologists and researchers did not differ in any attitudes. The correlation between professional experience and both: (1) concern about, and (2) strength of objection to, the trial, was higher for MDMA-AP, than control (d=0.60, p=0.01 andd=0.40, p=0.03, respectively).ConclusionsPsychiatrists, but not psychologists or researchers showed more hesitancy in recommending trials of MDMA-AP versus an unknown pharmacotherapy. Experienced MH professionals were more likely to have negative views about MDMA-AP trials than less experienced MH professionals. This may reflect the experience of prior unfulfilled pharmacotherapy innovation or exuberance associated with fewer years of practice. Research into, and implementation of, MDMA-AP may face barriers with certain MH professionals, which will need be addressed if MDMA-AP continues to show promise as an efficacious treatment.Trial registration numberThe study design was registered with the ANZCTR (ACTRN12620001068954).

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“…Whereas, to date, most MDMA research has been with PTSD; the BIMA study is the world's first scientific project exploring the potential role for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for alcoholism-or any addiction-and therefore marks an important new direction for MDMA science (Sessa et al, 2019a(Sessa et al, , 2019b. There was also a reinvigorated push from the scientific community to begin psychedelic research in Australia in 2018 (Bright & Williams, 2018), and the country's first experimental trials were ultimately funded in early 2019 (Mannix & Booker, 2019). Lastly, in 2018, entrepreneur Tim Ferriss committed to investing in the world's first psychedelic research center, which opened at the Imperial College London in 2019 (Brodwin, 2019).…”

Section: Advances Within Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

2018: A watershed year for psychedelic science

Aday

Davoli

Bloesch

2019

Drug Science, Policy and Law

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While interest in the study of psychedelic drugs has increased over much of the last decade, in this article, we argue that 2018 marked the true turning point for the field. Substantive advances in the scientific, public, and regulatory communities in 2018 significantly elevated the status and long-term outlook of psychedelic science, particularly in the United States. Advances in the scientific community can be attributed to impactful research applications of psychedelics as well as acknowledgement in preeminent journals. In the public sphere, Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind was a commercial hit and spurred thought-provoking, positive media coverage on psychedelics. Unprecedented psychedelic ballot initiatives in the United States were representative of changes in public interest. Finally, regulatory bodies began to acknowledge psychedelic science in earnest in 2018, as evidenced by the designation of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to “breakthrough therapy” status for treatment-resistant depression by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In short, 2018 was a seminal year for psychedelic science.

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Should Australian Psychology Consider Enhancing Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Psychedelic Drugs? A Call for Research

Cited by 7 publications

References 77 publications

Exploring the relationship between microdosing, personality and emotional insight: A prospective study

Exploring the relationship between microdosing, personality and emotional insight: A prospective study

Evaluating the attitudes of mental health professionals towards trials of MDMA: a randomised vignette trial

2018: A watershed year for psychedelic science

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