Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 1, 2023
V. Tsang, Dragos C Razagan, P. Kryskow et al.
10 citations
Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are rising among healthcare providers, and conventional treatments have limited effectiveness. A 12-week pilot program combined a Community of Practice (CoP) group therapy with optional ketamine sessions for 57 healthcare providers. Symptoms were measured before and after the program. All participants showed significant reductions: depression scores dropped by an average of 6.79 points, anxiety by 5.57 points, and PTSD by 14.83 points. Those who also received ketamine had larger reductions, but the difference was not statistically significant, suggesting the group therapy itself drove the improvement.
European Psychiatry
April 1, 2024
S. Dames, C. Watler, P. Kryskow et al.
1 citation
Incorporating personal experience with non-ordinary states of consciousness into training for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PaT) may benefit therapists by increasing comfort, self-assurance, and confidence in supporting others in such states. Experts note that therapists lacking lived experience may hold unrealistic expectations, overlook the importance of set and setting, or misunderstand the experience. The authors review arguments for and against including experiential training, acknowledging their own potential bias from personal experience. They emphasize that whether or not therapists undergo such training, maintaining personal wellness practices is essential to prevent burnout and secondary mental health consequences for both patients and providers. Cultivating a culture of self-care in mental health training and professional organizations is an urgent priority.
European Psychiatry
April 1, 2024
V. Tsang
A program offering weekly virtual group therapy sessions combined with a single psilocybin session helped patients with terminal health conditions. Twenty-one of twenty-five participants (84%) completed the program. Feedback highlighted improved preparation, benefits such as perspective and peace, the group as a key source of connection, and the need for a curriculum focused on death and loss. Psilocybin was delivered safely in a group setting, and the virtual community of practice supported set, setting, and integration.
European Psychiatry
April 1, 2024
V. Tsang
A small study tested whether a device called Apollo reduces anxiety compared to no intervention. Participants were matched by age, sex, and initial anxiety scores. The median anxiety reduction was larger in the Apollo group (a drop of 8.5 points on the GAD-7 scale) than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The authors conclude that the Apollo device did not produce a significant effect in this sample and suggest that future work should include more participants and balanced group sizes.
European Psychiatry
April 1, 2024
V. Tsang
A ketamine-assisted psychotherapy program in British Columbia, Canada, was both less expensive and more effective than standard group psychotherapy for depression. Over five treatment cycles, the program saved an average of $14,481 per person and produced 0.94 additional quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) compared to the standard care of one provider treating three patients. The analysis used a Markov model with data from 62 program participants and published values for a control group. Incorporating such a program into provincial care could improve health outcomes and reduce government health spending.
European psychiatry
April 1, 2024
K. Sattler, T. Walia, V. Tsang
A crossover trial of 32 participants undergoing ketamine-assisted group therapy for treatment-resistant mental health conditions compares two types of music—a "weightless" playlist and a "grounding" playlist—administered in counterbalanced order. The study evaluates subjective clinical efficacy via psychiatric questionnaires (PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5) and objective changes in brain activity measured by EEG from a MUSE headband before and after each session. Order effects and relevant demographic and medical factors will be controlled. No prior work has examined how different music types influence patient experience with ketamine-assisted therapy in a group setting.