Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or
dimethyltryptamine (DMT), as well as psychoactive drugs that trigger phenomenologically-
related experiences like 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ketamine, belong
to the most promising treatment approaches in contemporary psychiatry. Psychedelic-assisted
psychotherapy is not only a new treatment paradigm in psychopharmacology, but it also
requires a redefinition of psychotherapeutic processes and the contextualization of
psychopharmacological interventions within a new treatment infrastructure. Crucial
for future practice and research in the field are (1) informed patient referral and
co-treatment practices, (2) screening (e. g., choosing the right patients for these
therapies), (3) the dosing preparation sessions, (4) the assisted dosing sessions
as well as after-care procedures such as (5) psychological integration and (6) supporting
the development of structured patient communities. Definition of future treatment
delivery infrastructures and requirements for therapist training are further challenges
for research and practice. Finally, the implementation of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
in routine mental health care must be embedded into public communication about the
potential and risks of these innovative therapeutic approaches. This paper provides
a synopsis of challenges for practitioners, researchers, and regulators to be addressed
in the approval processes of psychedelics.
