Pattern breaking: a complex systems approach to psychedelic medicine

Psychedelic therapy shows promise for mental health, but the psychological mechanisms behind its benefits are unclear. This paper proposes that psychedelics act as destabilizers, both psychologically and neurophysiologically, drawing on the 'entropic brain' hypothesis and the 'RElaxed Beliefs Under pSychedelics' model. Using complex systems theory, it suggests that psychedelics disrupt fixed points or attractors, breaking reinforced patterns of thinking and behavior. The approach explains how increased brain entropy destabilizes neurophysiological set points, leading to new understandings of psychedelic psychotherapy. These insights have implications for reducing risks and optimizing treatment during both the peak experience and the subacute recovery period.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Recent research has demonstrated the potential of psychedelic therapy for mental health care. However, the psychological experience underlying its therapeutic effects remains poorly understood. This paper proposes a framework that suggests psychedelics act as destabilizers, both psychologically and neurophysiologically. Drawing on the ‘entropic brain’ hypothesis and the ‘RElaxed Beliefs Under pSychedelics’ model, this paper focuses on the richness of psychological experience. Through a complex systems theory perspective, we suggest that psychedelics destabilize fixed points or attractors, breaking reinforced patterns of thinking and behaving. Our approach explains how psychedelic-induced increases in brain entropy destabilize neurophysiological set points and lead to new conceptualizations of psychedelic psychotherapy. These insights have important implications for risk mitigation and treatment optimization in psychedelic medicine, both during the peak psychedelic experience and during the subacute period of potential recovery.