Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine dependence
A case report involving daily methamphetamine use
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15518521 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jeanne Brett (0000-0003-3065-7495, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author), Jonathan Brett, Elizabeth Knock (St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne), Kathy Watson (St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne), Steven M Albert (0000-0001-6786-9956, UNSW Sydney), Steven Albert, Krista J Siefried (0000-0002-6534-3325, UNSW Sydney), Jeffrey Guss (New York University) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Pages | 1490907-1490907 |
| Publication date | 2024-12-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1490907 |
| PMID | 39713770 |
| OpenAlex | W4405122998 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 25 |
Methamphetamine (MA) dependence leads to severe physical and psychological issues. Current treatments, including psychosocial therapies and residential rehabilitation, face limitations such as high relapse rates, cost, and accessibility issues. As a result, there is an urgent need for novel approaches to treat MA dependence that are effective, affordable, and accessible to patients. Psilocybin, the active component in numerous mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus, has shown potential for enhancing psychotherapy for various addiction and mental health issues due to its effects on perception, cognition, and affect. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAT) has demonstrated initial safety and efficacy in treating alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine dependence. The case presented here describes a 36-year-old transwoman and daily MA user, who participated in a single-arm open-label clinical trial assessing feasibility and safety of PAT for MA dependence at St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. Following inpatient withdrawal management and one session of psilocybin-assisted therapy, she experienced significant cognitive and emotional shifts and sustained MA abstinence. She reported improved mental health over 3 months following treatment completion. She also noted increased self-esteem, mindfulness, and distress tolerance. This study suggests that PAT (following inpatient MA withdrawal management) may offer a scalable, safe, and effective approach for treating MA dependence. However, further research is required to confirm the generalisability and efficacy of PAT for broader populations of people using MA. It is encouraging that this participant, a daily MA user, showed improvements in mood and cognition, in addition to abstinence from MA
Hallucinogen · Methamphetamine · Psilocybin · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Chemical synthesis and alkaloids · Medicine · Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior · Psychedelics and Drug Studies · Psychology · Pharmacology
Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder
Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin
Emotional breakthrough and psychedelics
Reliability of the Timeline Followback for cocaine, cannabis, and cigarette use.
Responding to global stimulant use
Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS)
Pharmacological treatment for methamphetamine withdrawal
Levels of methamphetamine use and addiction among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
Psychedelic Knowledge and Opinions in Psychiatrists at Two Professional Conferences
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |