The impact of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in reducing PTSD symptoms in adults

Abstract

Topic Overview: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder which develops after an individual is exposed to a traumatic event. The negative prognosis associated with PTSD patients is a strong indication that better treatment is required. The purpose of this literature review is to examine evidence regarding the possible benefits of using psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) to reduce the symptoms of PTSD. Research Question: In adults with PTSD, does psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy help to reduce the symptoms? PICO Elements: The population (P) studied was adults with PTSD. The intervention (I) was psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. The comparison (C) was adults with PTSD undergoing normal psychotherapy with or without a placebo. The expected outcome (O) was a reduction in PTSD symptoms. Methods: A systematic search using relevant key words was carried out using medical databases, namely Academic Search Ultimate, AgeLine and Pubmed amongst others. Peer-reviewed studies published in the English language from the past decade that deal with PAP were applied as inclusion criteria. Five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were selected and appraised using the CASP (Critical Appraisal Skill Program) tool. Results: Some methodological limitations were found in all key-studies. Two of the five key RCTs showed that PAP significantly decreased PTSD symptoms. However, the other three RCTs presented insignificant or inconclusive findings. Thus, it was concluded that although PAP might be beneficial at reducing PTSD symptoms, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Implications and Recommendations: Further research on the matter including larger sample sizes and improved methods is paramount to provide more conclusive evidence regarding PAP. If PAP is to be considered in the future, rigorous training about PAP and PTSD should be given to all healthcare professionals, and laws about psychedelic drugs need to be reviewed.