A Griffith University study reveals that Australian psychologists see psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) as a promising approach for treating chronic mental health conditions, with the potential to offer profound psychological insights and emotional healing.
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Published in *Drug and Alcohol Review*, the study interviewed 20 psychologists across Australia and found that many support the idea of PAT therapists undergoing their own psychedelic experiences as part of their training to better understand its impacts on patients.
Lead researcher Jordan Negrine, Ph.D. candidate at Griffith’s School of Applied Psychology, noted both enthusiasm and caution among participants regarding PAT.
Psychologists cited a need for structured training to handle the unpredictability of psychedelic experiences, as individual outcomes vary based on the patient's mental state and setting.
Participants expressed limited awareness of Australia’s PAT implementation details, particularly concerning prescription and administration protocols, underscoring the importance of accessible, well-regulated training.
The psychologists in the study recommended that credible endorsements and comprehensive training programs would help overcome barriers to integrating PAT into clinical settings.
They advocated for specialist training, including supervised psychedelic exposure, to foster safe and responsible therapy.
They also suggested PAT could reduce the strain on Australia’s mental health system by targeting core causes of psychological distress.
Furthermore, under controlled conditions, they viewed PAT as non-addictive, safer, and potentially more effective than many traditional psychiatric medications, with fewer side effects and instances of aggression.
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