Insights from the psychedelic experience integration session: Verbatims differentiate 3-month abstinence in alcohol use disorder with depressive symptoms
Maria Garcia Garcia, Dahbia Belahda, Carine Graux, Chris Serrand, Noe Igounenc, Felix Sergent, Thibault Mura, Amandine Luquiens
Journal of Affective Disorders January 19, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121215 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, participants who responded to treatment described their experience as an inner dialogue and used adaptive coping strategies, while non-responders focused on sensory and affective details and relied on suppressive coping. The presence of inner dialogue may represent a unique therapeutic mechanism, underscoring the value of preparation and integration in such therapy.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Participants in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy |
| Intervention | Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy |
| Topics | Addiction Depression |
| Keywords | Abstinence Depressive symptoms Psychotherapist Clinical psychology |
| Key finding | Responders to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy reported narratives of inner dialogue and adaptive coping, whereas non-responders emphasized sensory and affective descriptions and suppressive coping. |
Abstract
Responders were distinguished by narratives of inner dialogue and adaptive coping, while non-responders emphasized sensory and affective descriptions and suppressive coping. Inner dialogue may constitute a distinct therapeutic mechanism, highlighting the importance of preparation and integration in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.