Supplementary file 1_Synergies in psychedelic-assisted therapy: a qualitative interview study of psychotherapeutic processes.zip

Research on the therapeutic effects of psychedelics in psychiatry, commonly referred to as Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT), has expanded substantially in recent years. The context-dependent nature of psychedelics has sparked discussion about the importance of the psychotherapeutic environment in achieving beneficial outcomes. This study explores the contribution of psychotherapeutic factors on PAT in Switzerland, where psychedelic treatments can be implemented within long-term clinical frameworks. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with Swiss therapists to explore how they frame psychedelic treatments and the role of the psychotherapeutic setting in facilitating therapeutic outcomes. Thereby, individual experiences of the patients as reported by the therapists, were particularly considered. Thematic analysis identified two main themes, each with several sub-themes. The first theme revealed that while psychotherapeutic techniques are adapted to PAT, they retain similarities to non-psychedelic psychotherapy practices, supporting patients in having meaningful therapeutic experiences. The second theme describes a synergistic relationship between psychedelics and psychotherapy, amplifying underlying general psychotherapeutic factors such as trust, a sense of profundity, and the emergence of therapeutic experiences. The interviewed therapists agreed that psychedelics work as unspecific catalysts for psychotherapeutic processes, while still acknowledging the potential for psychopharmacological effects or the interaction between psychedelics and psychotherapy to create unique psychotherapeutic processes. Findings from our sample suggest that, for specific indications, incorporating psychedelics into long-term psychotherapeutic treatment may strengthen therapeutic processes. Future research could investigate the efficacy of PAT within the framework of specific psychotherapeutic modalities or in different settings, including prospective quantitative assessments of outcomes. Ultimately, clarifying mechanisms of action of PAT may help to enhance its efficacy and potentially to integrate psychedelic treatments into mainstream mental health care.

近年来，针对精神医学领域致幻剂治疗效应的研究——即通常所称的致幻剂辅助治疗（Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy，PAT）——得到了长足发展。致幻剂的情境依赖性特征，引发了学界对心理治疗环境在获取有益治疗结果中重要性的探讨。本研究探讨了心理治疗因素在瑞士开展的致幻剂辅助治疗中所发挥的作用，该国允许致幻剂治疗在长期临床框架内实施。研究对7名瑞士心理治疗师开展半结构化访谈，以探究他们如何阐释致幻剂治疗，以及心理治疗环境在推动治疗效果达成中所扮演的角色。本研究特别考量了治疗师所转述的患者个体治疗体验。通过主题分析法，本研究识别出两大核心主题，各主题下设若干子主题。第一大主题显示，尽管心理治疗技术已针对致幻剂辅助治疗进行了适配调整，但仍与非致幻剂类心理治疗实践存在共通之处，二者均可助力患者获得富有价值的治疗体验。第二大主题则阐述了致幻剂与心理治疗之间的协同关系：二者可强化信任、深度感悟、治疗体验生成等通用心理治疗核心要素。受访治疗师均认可，致幻剂可作为心理治疗过程的非特异性催化剂，同时也承认其存在精神药理学效应，或是致幻剂与心理治疗的相互作用可催生独特的心理治疗过程。本研究样本的结果表明，针对特定适应症，将致幻剂纳入长期心理治疗方案或可强化治疗进程。未来研究可聚焦特定心理治疗范式框架下，或是不同环境中的致幻剂辅助治疗疗效评估，其中可纳入前瞻性结局量化评估环节。最终，阐明致幻剂辅助治疗的作用机制，或有助于提升其治疗效果，并推动致幻剂治疗融入主流精神卫生保健体系。