The Psychedelic Integration Scales: Tools for Measuring Psychedelic Integration Behaviors and Experiences

Frymann, Tomas; Whitney, Sophie; Yaden, David B.; Lipson, Joshua

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.863247

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…The inclusion of systematic measurements may allow for hypothesised synergistic therapeutic models—such as ACT and SAPT in the treatment of depressive disorders—or therapeutic processes to be applied and compared to alternative models and processes, resulting in the refining of therapeutic protocols. Several psychometric instruments that could be applied to systematically investigate the efficacy of different therapeutic models for integration in future studies have recently been validated (Frymann et al, 2022; Peill et al, 2022; Watts et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Therapeutic frameworks in integration sessions in substance‐assisted psychotherapy: A systematised review

Thal,

Baker,

Marinis

et al. 2023

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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Serotonergic psychedelics and related substances have been explored as potential adjuncts in substance‐assisted psychotherapy (SAPT) for treating various disorders. SAPT can be divided into three phases: preparation, administration and integration. Integration is commonly defined as the comprehension and effective application of insights from psychedelic experiences into everyday life. However, there is limited research regarding the most appropriate therapeutic approach during SAPT. In this article, we discuss the current evidence for different therapeutic frameworks for integration sessions when serotonergic psychedelics and entactogens are used as adjuncts to psychotherapy. We conducted a systematised review of the literature following PRISMA guidelines and searched PsycINFO, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases. The final synthesis included 75 clinical trials, mixed‐methods investigations, treatment manuals, study protocols, quasi‐experiments, qualitative investigations, descriptive studies, opinion papers, reviews, books and book chapters, published until 11 November 2022. The effects that various therapeutic approaches for integration sessions have on therapeutic outcomes have not been investigated by means of rigorous research. Most of the available evidence we retrieved was not supported by empirical data, thus limiting any conclusive statements regarding appropriate therapeutic frameworks for integration sessions for SAPT. Current clinical studies have used a range of therapeutic frameworks with the majority drawing from the humanistic–experiential tradition. While integration is regarded as crucial for the safe application of SAPT, there is currently an insufficient evidence base to suggest that any type of therapy is effective for guiding integration sessions. A systematic investigation of different therapeutic frameworks for integration and additional therapy‐related factors is needed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Therapeutic frameworks in integration sessions in substance‐assisted psychotherapy: A systematised review

Thal,

Baker,

Marinis

et al. 2023

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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“…Briefly, psychedelic integration is the process by which an ASC, that is, a psychedelic experience, translates into positive changes in the ordinary state of consciousness in daily life. The Integration Engagement Scale and the Experienced Integration Scale have been proposed as instruments to assess psychedelic integration ( Frymann et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the acute subjective psychedelic experience: A review of patient-reported outcome measures in clinical research on classical psychedelics

Hovmand,

Poulsen,

Arnfred

2023

J Psychopharmacol

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Background: The classical psychedelics psilocybin, peyote, ayahuasca/ N, N-dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide can temporarily produce altered states of consciousness, characterized by changes in sensory perception, thought, mood, and the sense of self-reality and meaning. It is important to have reliable instruments for quantifying these altered states in trials, due to a plausible link between the acute subjective experience and treatment outcome. Methods: We conducted a review of outcome measures applied in research on classical psychedelics to assess one or more dimensions of the acute subjective psychedelic experience. Three relevant databases were searched electronically. Two reviewers independently conducted article selection and data extraction regarding the instruments, dimensions, geography, population, and psychedelic substance investigated in the included studies. We identified the five most utilized instruments for the most recent 6 years, as well as the five most utilized instruments for each psychedelic. Results: We included 93 papers, which reported on 93 unique trials and utilized 17 different rating scales. Of these, the most utilized were the Five-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Questionnaire, visual analog or Likert scales specially developed for the trials, the Hallucinogen Rating Scale, the States of Consciousness Questionnaire, and the Abnormer Psychischer Zustand. Discussion: Considerable variability was found in the instruments utilized in clinical trials on classical psychedelics. We advise and encourage the development of a core outcome set for psychedelic research to enable altered state comparisons across compounds, participants, and settings. We further advise that instruments be designed to assess the “setting” of a psychedelic experience.

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“…This includes cross-sectional designs that do not allow for causal inference (an exception is a study by Griffiths et al, 2018), lack of comparison of different models or methods of psychedelic integration against themselves, narrow or overly general operationalizations of integration methods under study, and the use of unvalidated measures of those. In fact, the first examples of validated measures of psychedelic integration have been proposed recently (Frymann et al, 2022), but the results of their application are not yet available.…”

Section: Previous Research Into Psychedelic Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Call for evidence-based psychedelic integration.

Greń,

Gorman,

Ruban

et al. 2024

Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology

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The use of psychedelics for various purposes was common in different civilizations throughout human history and has been explored scientifically for more than a century. Although the applications of psychedelics show promise in the treatment of various psychiatric and neurological indications, as well as in facilitation of well-being and personal growth, several psychedelic-related risks and challenges have also been identified. Psychedelic integration (PI) refers to various practices that serve to either minimize harms or maximize benefits associated with psychedelic use. PI is also recognized as a substantial part of psychedelicassisted therapy (PAT), following preparation to and facilitation of the psychedelic experience. In the context of clinical/psychotherapeutic practice, several PI models/methods have already been proposed. However, while a number of these models/methods are theory-driven, or have a history of clinical application, each lack any empirical support and thus cannot be described as evidence based. This is to the disadvantage to countless people who had and who will have their psychedelic experiences in various contexts, as the prevalence of using psychedelics increased in recent years and is expected to grow further. Therefore, consistent with general recommendations for developing and implementing evidence-based mental health practices, this article calls for scientific efforts to the development, examination, and evaluation of psychedelic integration models/methods. This article also briefly summarizes the current literature on psychedelic integration, provides a list of exemplary avenues that research on psychedelic integration might take, as well as anticipates and discusses the limitations and challenges of PI-focused research.

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The Psychedelic Integration Scales: Tools for Measuring Psychedelic Integration Behaviors and Experiences

Cited by 10 publications

References 91 publications

Therapeutic frameworks in integration sessions in substance‐assisted psychotherapy: A systematised review

Therapeutic frameworks in integration sessions in substance‐assisted psychotherapy: A systematised review

Assessment of the acute subjective psychedelic experience: A review of patient-reported outcome measures in clinical research on classical psychedelics

Call for evidence-based psychedelic integration.

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