Psychedelic-augmented psychotherapy for overcoming traumatic dissociation: A review of neuroscientific and phenomenological evidence
Ansgar Rougemont-Bücking, F. Guenot, V. Salamin, Isabelle Gothuey, Catherine Duffour, Julia King-Olivier, Vincent Girard, J. Naudin
European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation June 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2024.100431 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsychedelic-augmented psychotherapy (PAP) is a promising approach for treating traumatic dissociation. This review combines empirical findings with observations of patients' phenomenological experiences during PAP and relates them to the 'structural dissociation model,' which posits an emotional part and an apparently normal part of the personality. Three pathogenic dynamics in complexly traumatized patients are considered: phobic avoidance of traumatic memories, contextualization deficit, and traumatic attachment. By re-evaluating phenomenological experiences alongside neurobiological mechanisms, PAP offers a deeper understanding and therapeutic resolution of traumatic dissociation, potentially improving treatment for many trauma-related disorders.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Psychology |
| Key finding | Psychedelic-augmented psychotherapy shows promise for treating traumatic dissociation by addressing phobic avoidance, contextualization deficit, and traumatic attachment within the structural dissociation model. |
Abstract
The renewed interest in entactogens and classical psychedelics, particularly in the context of psychotraumatology, has led to the positioning of psychedelic-augmented psychotherapy (PAP) as a highly promising therapeutic approach for traumatic dissociation. In this comprehensive review, findings from empirical studies are combined with observations of patients' phenomenological experience manifesting during the course of PAP. The implications of PAP in relation to the ‘structural dissociation model,’ which assumes the presence of an emotional part (EP) and of an apparently normal part (ANP) of the personality, are highlighted. Three different pathogenic dynamics are considered that typically occur in complexly traumatized patients: phobic avoidance of traumatic memories, contextualization deficit and traumatic attachment. In summary, by re-evaluating phenomenological experiences against the background of neurobiological mechanisms, PAP offers a promising avenue for a deeper understanding and therapeutic resolution of traumatic dissociation, which could fundamentally improve the treatment paradigm for many trauma-related disorders.