Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Study
20 patients enrolled in trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression with a 6-month follow-up interview
Results
Patients reported a change from disconnection to connection (to self, others, and world), a change from avoidance (of emotion) to acceptance, and a comparative difference between traditional therapy and antidepressants which tended to reinforce disconnection and avoidance, and the psilocybin treatment which encouraged connection and acceptance.
Discussion
Psilocybin may increase connection and acceptance, especially for depressed individuals.
Citation
Watts, R., Day, C., Krzanowski, J., Nutt, D., & Carhart-Harris, R. (2017). Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 57(5), 520-564. doi:10.1177/0022167817709585
