Scientific Research
Exploring the Research Landscape: In-Depth Analyses and Insights
Book an appointment-
EMDR as a preparation and integration tool in psychedelic-assisted therapy: a collaborative case study
This case study illustrates the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as a tool for preparation and integration of non-ordinary states of consciousness. It provides an account of work from the field of psychedelic-assisted EMDR therapy (PsyA-EMDR) and explores how the eight phases can be adapted to optimise psychedelic healing. The client attended six preparatory EMDR sessions, a psilocybin treatment in the Netherlands, followed by six sessions of EMDR to facilitate integration of the psychological material that emerged at the retreat. Key themes of set (mindset) and setting, resourcing, working with the transpersonal content, and bridging into the psychedelic matrix are explored. The adaptive information processing (AIP) model is used to conceptualise the process throughout.
-
Ketamine psychotherapy for heroin addiction: immediate effects and two-year follow-up
Seventy detoxified heroin-addicted patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups receiving ketamine psychotherapy (KPT) involving two different doses of ketamine. The patients of the experimental group received existentially oriented psychotherapy in combination with a hallucinogenic (“psychedelic”) dose of ketamine (2.0 mg/kg im).
-
MDMA‐assisted psychotherapy for treatment of anxiety and other psychological distress related to life‐threatening illnesses
The success of modern medicine creates a growing population of those suffering from life‐threatening illnesses (LTI) who often experience anxiety, depression, and existential distress. We present a novel approach; investigating MDMA‐assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of anxiety in people with an LTI.
-
Change to classification of psilocybin and MDMA to enable prescribing by authorised psychiatrists
From 1 July this year, medicines containing the psychedelic substances psilocybin and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) can be prescribed by specifically authorised psychiatrists for the treatment of certain mental health conditions in Australia.
-
Psychotherapy-supported MDMA treatment for PTSD
The first Phase III randomized controlled trial of 3,4-methyl enedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) supported the efficacy of this drug for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).1 This 18-week study (MDMA n = 46, Placebo n = 44) involved three drug administration sessions combined with a supportive psychotherapy.
-
Adjunctive Ketamine With Relapse Prevention–Based Psychological Therapy in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
Early evidence suggests that ketamine may be an effective treatment to sustain abstinence from alcohol. The authors investigated the safety and efficacy of ketamine compared with placebo in increasing abstinence in patients with alcohol use disorder. An additional aim was to pilot ketamine combined with mindfulness-based relapse prevention therapy compared with ketamine and alcohol education as a therapy control.
-
Stimulation by Light and Sound: Therapeutics Effects in Humans. Systematic Review
It was concluded that the investigation of brain stimulation techniques can be applied to induce favourable mental states to enlarge treatments of several disorders that affect humans in a safe and non-invasive way. It is suggested that positive results can also be found through the association of brain stimulation by light and sound with therapies that combat depression and anxiety states.
-
Long-Term Abstinence Following Holotropic Breathwork as Adjunctive Treatment of Substance Use Disorders and Related Psychiatric Comorbidity
Addictions remain challenging conditions despite various promising traditional approaches. Although complete, long-term abstinence may be ideal, its attainment remains elusive. Many recovering addicts and clinicians stress the importance of spiritual issues in recovery, and 12-step programs such as AA are well-known approaches that embrace this philosophy. Holotropic Breathwork (HB) is another powerful, spiritually oriented approach to self-exploration and healing that integrates insights from modern consciousness research, anthropology, depth psychologies, transpersonal psychology, Eastern spiritual practices, and many mystical traditions.
-
Harnessing the Spatial Foundation of Mind in Breaking Vicious Cycles in Anxiety, Insomnia, and Depression
Mental Illnesses, particularly anxiety, insomnia, and depression often involve vicious cycles which are self-perpetuating and can trap one into a more chronic state. For example in the case of insomnia, sympathetic overactivity, intrusive thoughts, and emotional instability due to sleep loss can perpetuate further sleep loss the next night and so on.
-
How to Treat Depression With Low-Intensity Virtual Reality Interventions
Depression is a common mental disorder with a large treatment gap. Low-intensity, automated virtual reality (VR) interventions (not requiring a therapist) is a scalable and promising solution now that VR is an accessible and mature, consumer technology.
-
Virtual Reality Therapy for Depression and Mood in Long-Term Care Facilities
Virtual reality (VR) describes a family of technologies which immerse users in sensorily-stimulating virtual environments. Such technologies have increasingly found applications in the treatment of neurological and mental health disorders. Depression, anxiety, and other mood abnormalities are of concern in the growing older population—especially those who reside in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).
-
Biofeedback combined with cue-exposure as a treatment for heroin addicts
Results suggest that CET combined with BT treatment is effective in reducing craving and physiology reactivity in heroin dependents and could be used as a component of heroin-dependence rehabilitation.
-
Utilizing Hypnosis in the Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders
The approach described here, using hypnosis for treatment, is borrowed from studies effectively treating alcoholism by using intensive daily sessions. Combining the more intense treatment of 20 daily sessions with hypnosis is a successful method to treat addictions.
-
Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT)
Virtual reality therapy (VRT) is an innovative and emerging paradigm that provides effective modality of therapy by allowing clients to be exposed to similar stimuli as their real-world experiences using a computer-generated virtual reality. Extensive empirical research in VRT attests to the effective uses of this technology in treating many psychological disorders.
-
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, double-blnd, placebo-controlled trials of ketamine in the rapid treatment of major depressive episodes
There is growing interest in glutamatergic agents in depression, particularly ketamine, a glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. We aimed to assess the efficacy of ketamine in major depressive episodes.
-
Efficacy of Ketamine in the Rapid Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Studies
An increasing number of studies are reporting that ketamine could be treated as a novel antidepressant for major depressive disorder (MDD). Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to comprehensively and systematically assess the efficacy of ketamine for treating patients with MDD.
-
Ketamine Infusions for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review
IV ketamine is widely used to treat patients with chronic pain, yet the long-term impact remains uncertain. We synthesized evidence from randomized control trials to investigate the effectiveness of IV ketamine infusions for pain relief in chronic conditions and to determine whether any pain classifications or treatment regimens are associated with greater benefit.
Our Associations
How Does Psychedelic Therapy Help Treat Depression and Anxiety?
Discover the ways in which psychedelic therapy can help in treating depression and anxiety. Read more
The Integration of MDMA and Ketamine in Psychotherapy: An Exploration of Their Complementary Benefits
While traditional talk therapy can be effective for many people, there is growing interest in exploring alternative forms of therapy that involve the use of mind-altering substances. Two such substances that are currently being explored for their therapeutic potential are MDMA and Ketamine. Read more
The Science Behind Ketamine and Its Use in Psychotherapy
Discover the science behind ketamine and its use in psychotherapy. Explore how this emerging field is changing mental health treatment Read more