Does psychedelic therapy have a transdiagnostic action and prophylactic potential?
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Published version
Author(s)
Kočárová, Rita
Horacek, Jiri
Carhart-Harris, Robin
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Addressing global mental health is a major twenty-first century challenge. Current treatments have recognised limitations; in this context, new ones that are prophylactic and effective across diagnostic boundaries would represent a major advance. The view that there exists a core of transdiagnostic overlap between psychiatric disorders has re-emerged in recent years, and evidence that psychedelic therapy holds promise for a range of psychiatric disorders supports the position that it may be trans diagnostically effective. Here we propose that psychedelic therapy's core, trans diagnostically relevant action, lies in its ability to increase neuronal and mental plasticity, thus enhancing the potential for change, which we consider to be a key to its therapeutic benefits. Moreover, we suggest that enhanced plasticity via psychedelics, combined with a psychotherapeutic approach, can aid healthy adaptability and resilience, protective factors for long-term well-being. We present candidate neurological , and psychological markers of this plasticity and link them with a predictive processing model of the action of psychedelics. We propose that a model of psychedelic induced plasticity combined with an adequate therapeutic context has prophylactic and transdiagnostic potential, implying that it could have abroad, positive impact on public health.
Date Issued
2021-07
Date Acceptance
2021-06-04
Citation
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021, 12, pp.1-18
ISSN
1664-0640
Publisher
Frontiers Media
Start Page
1
End Page
18
Journal / Book Title
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Volume
12
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Kočárová, Horáček and Carhart-Harris. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.661233/full
Subjects
hallucinogens
plasticity
prevention
psilocybin
psychedelics
psychological flexibility
transdiagnostic
well-being
1103 Clinical Sciences
1117 Public Health and Health Services
1701 Psychology
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
661233
Date Publish Online
2021-07-19