Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Eleftheriou, Maria Eleni; Thomas, Ethel

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.707057

Cited by 29 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 163 publications

(309 reference statements)

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“…A further psychological process which may be of particular salience when discussing therapeutic efficacy for anxiety, and which psychedelics have been repeatedly found to enhance, are mindfulness capacities (10,22,23,(42)(43)(44)(45)(46). Mindfulness has been described as "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally" (47).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decreases in State and Trait Anxiety Post-psilocybin: A Naturalistic, Observational Study Among Retreat Attendees

et al. 2022

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Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric disorders among Western countries. Evidence-based treatment modalities including pharmacological and cognitive-behavioral therapy result in deficient treatment responses. Historical and recent research suggests psychedelic drugs may be efficacious in alleviating anxiety-related symptoms among healthy and clinical populations. The main aim of the present study was investigation of the effects of psilocybin-containing truffles, when taken in a supportive group setting, on ratings of state and trait anxiety across self-reported healthy volunteers. Attendees of psilocybin ceremonies were asked to complete a test battery at three separate occasions: before the ceremony (baseline), the morning after, and 1 week after the ceremony. The test battery included questionnaires assessing state and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), mindfulness capacities (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire), and personality (Big Five Inventory). Additionally, the psychedelic experience was quantified with the Persisting Effects Questionnaire and the Ego Dissolution Inventory. The total amount of psilocybin-containing truffles consumed by each participant was recorded, and a sample of the truffles was analyzed to determine psilocin concentrations. Fifty-two attendees (males = 25; females = 25; others = 2) completed parts of the baseline assessment, 46 (males = 21; females = 24; others = 1) completed assessments the morning after the ceremony, and 23 (males = 10; females = 13) completed assessments at the 1-week follow-up. Average psilocin consumption across individuals was 27.1 mg. The morning after the ceremony, we observed medium reductions in anxiety measures (both state and trait) compared to baseline (d¯ = 6.4; p < 0.001 and d¯ = 6; p = 0.014, respectively), which persisted over a 1-week period post-ceremony (d¯ = 6.7; p = 0.001 and d¯ = 8.6; p = 0.004, respectively). At 1 week post-ceremony, the non-judging facet of the mindfulness scale was increased (d¯ = 1.5; p = 0.03), while the personality trait neuroticism decreased (d¯ = 5.2; p = 0.005), when compared to baseline. Additionally, we found ratings of ego dissolution (mean: 59.7, SD: 28.3) and changes in neuroticism to be the strongest predictors of reductions in state and trait anxiety, respectively. In sum, results suggest rapid and persisting (up to 1 week) anxiolytic effects in individuals with sub-clinical anxiety symptoms, which are related to the acute experience of ego dissolution, as well as lasting changes in trait neuroticism. Results also add support to the feasibility and potential efficacy of group sessions with psychedelics. To understand whether these effects extend to wider populations suffering from heightened anxiety, and the mechanisms involved, further experimental research is needed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decreases in State and Trait Anxiety Post-psilocybin: A Naturalistic, Observational Study Among Retreat Attendees

et al. 2022

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“…• Psychedelics may induce benefits in depression, anxiety and substance use disorders [4] • Psychedelics may increase psychotherapeutic tools such as suggestibility and mindfulness [5,6] → Effects of LSD on suggestibility and mindfulness?…”

Section: Introduction Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

LSD, Madness and Healing: Mystical Experiences as Possible Link Between Psychosis Model and Therapy Model

Wießner

Falchi

Palhano-Fontes

et al. 2022

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“…Several techniques to evoke a state of mindfulness stem from Buddhist meditation ( Kabat-Zinn, 2003 ; Bishop et al, 2004 ), and have been integrated as components of third-wave cognitive behavior therapy, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) ( Hayes et al, 2006 ), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) ( Segal et al, 2002 ) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) ( Kabat-Zinn, 1990 ), so called mindfulness-based interventions (MBI’s). Several researchers have postulated MBI as a framework for psychedelic drug administration due to similar phenomenology and psychological benefits that may act synergistically in combination ( Heuschkel and Kuypers, 2020 ; Sloshower et al, 2020 ; Eleftheriou and Thomas, 2021 ). However, more empirical data is needed to gain a better understanding of how acute psychoactive effects of psilocybin are potentially associated with changes in trait mindfulness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lasting increases in trait mindfulness after psilocybin correlate positively with the mystical-type experience in healthy individuals

et al. 2022

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BackgroundPsilocybin-induced mystical-type experiences are associated with lasting positive psychological outcomes. Recent studies indicate that trait mindfulness is increased 3 months after psilocybin intake, preceded by decreases in neocortical serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) binding. However, the association between psilocybin-induced mystical-type experiences and subsequent changes in trait mindfulness remains unexplored, as does the association between pre-drug trait mindfulness and 5-HT2AR binding in the healthy brain.AimWe evaluated whether psilocybin induced lasting increases in trait mindfulness in healthy volunteers, and whether the mystical-type experience was associated with this increase. We further examined the association between pre-drug trait mindfulness and 5-HT2AR binding in neocortex and selected frontolimbic regions.Materials and methodsForty-six medium-high dose psilocybin sessions were conducted in 39 healthy individuals. The mystical-type experience was measured with the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) at the end of the session. Trait mindfulness was measured using the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS) at baseline and 3 months after the psilocybin session. Thirty-two of the participants completed pre-drug [11C]-Cimbi-36 positron emission tomography (PET) to assess 5-HT2AR binding in neocortex and, post-hoc, in the frontolimbic regions amygdala, frontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex.ResultsThe MAAS score was significantly increased at 3-month follow-up (p = 3.24 × 10–6), a change positively associated with the MEQ score (p = 0.035). Although the association between pre-drug MAAS score and neocortex 5-HT2AR binding was not significant (p = 0.24), post-hoc analyses revealed a significant negative association between MAAS and right amygdala 5-HT2AR binding (pFWER = 0.008).ConclusionWe here show that lasting changes in trait mindfulness following psilocybin administration are positively associated with intensity of the mystical-type experience, suggesting that the acute phenomenology of psilocybin facilitates a shift in awareness conducive for mindful living. We furthermore show that higher pre-drug trait mindfulness is associated with reduced 5-HT2AR binding in the right amygdala.

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Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Cited by 29 publications

References 163 publications

Decreases in State and Trait Anxiety Post-psilocybin: A Naturalistic, Observational Study Among Retreat Attendees

Decreases in State and Trait Anxiety Post-psilocybin: A Naturalistic, Observational Study Among Retreat Attendees

LSD, Madness and Healing: Mystical Experiences as Possible Link Between Psychosis Model and Therapy Model

Lasting increases in trait mindfulness after psilocybin correlate positively with the mystical-type experience in healthy individuals

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