Reductions in experiential avoidance play a key role in the therapeutic effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy, study finds
A new study indicates that reductions in experiential avoidance play a significant role in the therapeutic effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy among depressed patients, leading to improvements in well-being and reductions in depression severity, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The findings, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, highlight the importance of experiential avoidance as a potential mechanism underlying the positive effects of psilocybin therapy.
Experiential avoidance refers to a psychological tendency where individuals try to avoid or escape from unpleasant or distressing thoughts, emotions, sensations, or experiences. It involves a deliberate effort to avoid, suppress, or distract oneself from uncomfortable or distressing internal experiences. Various measures were used to assess mental health outcomes, experiential avoidance, and connectedness. These measures were administered at baseline and six weeks after the start of the treatment. Zeifman and his colleagues found that reductions in experiential avoidance were associated with improvements in mental health outcomes in the psilocybin therapy condition. Participants who received psilocybin therapy experienced a significant reduction in experiential avoidance over time. They also showed that reductions in experiential avoidance predicted improvements in well-being, depression severity, suicidal ideation, and trait anxiety. The relationship between experiential avoidance and mental health outcomes was mediated by increased connectedness and experiences of ego dissolution and psychological insight.
Original Article (Psypost):
Reductions in experiential avoidance play a key role in the therapeutic effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy, study finds
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