心理edelic therapy (sometimes referred to as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, or PAP) is a type of psychiatric practice that involves ingesting a psychedelic substance as part of a psychotherapeutic process.
在迷幻疗法中，迷幻药通常与谈话疗法结合使用。
A range of consciousness-altering psychedelic drugs are currently being used or researched for therapeutic purposes in both clinical and nonclinical settings.
Some are derived from plants, likepsilocybin(magic mushrooms),DMT,peyote,ayahuasca， 和ibogaine。其他人——包括氯胺酮、MDMA， 和LSD— are chemical compounds.
While Indigenous communities have used psychedelics in therapeutic and religious settings for centuries, psychedelic therapy is relatively new in Western clinical settings.
由于某些迷幻物质的合法化，心理健康状况的增加以及心理药理学研究的平息，它变得越来越受欢迎。
Between the 1950s and 1970s — before former President Richard Nixon outlawed them with the Controlled Substances Act — scientists produced a breadth of evidence both verifying and pointing toward the therapeutic potential of psychedelic therapy to treat:
- 瘾
- 抑郁症和焦虑等心理健康状况
- 创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）
近年来，新的兴趣和投资加剧了其他研究，其中大部分正在进行中。
这是各种迷幻药的潜在用途。
氯胺酮
氯胺酮是精神健康疗法最受研究的迷幻药物。
在低剂量中，它已显示在许多试验中探索其治疗抑郁症的潜力，但其作用是短暂的。
For people with severe depression, for example,
These findings have led to the development of a drug called Spravato. It’s a nasal spray that delivers the active ketamine ingredient. However, intravenous ketamine administration is considered to be more effective and less expensive.
MDMA
Multiple
Researchers have also completed a
在90名患有严重PTSD的参与者中，有67％的参与者在三种治疗后不再有资格获得PTSD诊断，而88％的参与者降低了PTSD的症状。
审判赞助商,多学科Associati设计on for Psychedelic Studies, says the results could make way for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval by 2023.
Psilocybin
Psilocybin, the main compound in magic mushrooms, has shown
LSD
LSD, a long lasting, potent psychedelic that’s considered to be the prototype for therapeutic psychedelics, has been shown to help with both
At this stage, clinicians are still evaluating the effectiveness of their treatments, so exact dosing, number of treatments needed, and the approach to psychedelic therapy will vary depending on who is guiding you.
That said, most psychedelic therapy in clinical settings is conducted via three stages:
咨询
The first step is usually a preparatory consultation to ensure that you don’t have any contraindications to the treatment. This is also a good opportunity to discuss your personal background and any goals or concerns you have around psychedelic therapy.
Ingestion
第二阶段涉及在训练有素的治疗师的监督下口服或通过注射摄入迷幻物质。
通常有多次会议，具体取决于迷幻和治疗计划的类型。例如：
- MDMA-assisted therapy usually involves at least three sessions.
- 氯胺酮辅助疗法涉及一到12个课程。
- Psilocybin- and LSD-assisted therapy typically involve at least two sessions.
一体化
The final phase is the integration process, when the therapist and client work together to integrate meaning from the psychedelic experiences.
一些专家对自我药品的兴起表示关注，尤其是在2020 Global Drug Survey表明，说他们正在自我治疗的迷幻问题的人数有所增加。
Many of these concerns stem from the potential contamination of substances that don’t come for a lab-tested source, along with the lack of medical supervision.
Otherwise, psychedelic substances are
MDMA can sometimes cause short-term high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and elevated body temperature, but these effects typically go away after use.
psilocybin可能会暂时升高血压或引起轻度头痛。
也就是说，迷幻药一直
There’s also the risk, particularly with LSD use, of致幻持续感知障碍（HPPD）。This is a rare condition involving intense flashbacks and hallucinations. However,
关于ibogaine有一些担忧，包括
There’s a lot of excitement around the potential of psychedelic therapies. As a result, a lot of new therapists, gurus, international retreats, and clinics are opening up.
如果您有兴趣参加专家支持的临床环境中的迷幻辅助治疗，那么一个好的起点就是认可的治疗师数据库maintained by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.
The association also welcomes questions or concerns about psychedelic-assisted therapy, and can make recommendations to help guide you.
Whether it’s a clinical setting or a retreat, it’s important to understand that ingesting psychedelic substances alters consciousness and can make you vulnerable to suggestion.
As a result, some participants in studies or treatments have alleged unethical and sometimes even criminal behavior. Read reviews, evaluate accreditation, and consider how you might ensure accountability should anything go awry during or after treatment.
关于迷幻疗法的潜力，仍然有很多东西要了解，但是现有的研究很有希望，特别是对于患有严重PTSD的人来说。
Because of this, advocates and lobbyists are working to decriminalize some psychedelic substances to improve access and research opportunities. Stay tuned, because these treatment options are evolving each week.
Kate Robertson is a Toronto-based editor and writer who has focused on drugs, primarily cannabis, since 2017. She has been published in The Guardian, Maclean’s magazine, the Globe and Mail, Leafly, and more. Find her at@katierowboat。
