ADVERTISEMENT
Field Leaders Publish Professional Practice Guidelines for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
The first professional practice guidelines for psychedelic-assisted therapy were released on Tuesday by the American Psychedelic Practitioners Association (APPA), an organization focused on the safe integration of psychedelics into the US healthcare system, and BrainFutures, a national not-for-profit that advances practical applications of brain research.
The guidelines were developed by a working group of leaders in the field from multiple disciplines to set benchmarks informed by clinical research and industry expert consensus. More than 24 APPA members also contributed perspectives on the following topics:
- Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion;
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy best practices; and
- Use of psychedelics in indigenous and other settings.
>> READ the full Professional Practice Guidelines
“The professional practice guidelines are an important next step in the evolution and professionalization of psychedelic therapy,” working group member Andrew Penn, RN, MS, NP, CNS, APRN-BC, clinical professor, UC San Francisco School of Nursing, said in a news release.
“By seeking to clarify and define concepts such as consent, appropriate screening of patients, professionalism and ethics, safety, patient preparation, coordination with other providers, and integration of psychedelic therapy experiences, these guidelines will help to protect patients and advance the safe use of psychedelic medicines in professional settings.”
In addition to his roles with UC San Francisco and as a member of the professional practice guidelines working group, Penn is a steering committee member for the Sana Symposium, a psychedelics education meeting for mental health and addiction professionals. The meeting is hosted by HMP Global, the parent organization of Psych Congress Network.
The guidelines focus on several issues related to the practice of psychedelic-assisted therapy, including preparation before and after integration after medication sessions, the importance of informed consent as an ongoing process, and developing trust between practitioners and patients.
The guidelines’ authors said the document will be subject to change as more research and data become available. The guidelines released on Tuesday will expire 2 years from their date of publication with updated guidelines to follow.
“With the anticipated approval of MDMA to treat PTSD next year and the rollout of other psychedelic therapies to treat a variety of mental health disorders in the next few years, there is a growing need and desire on the behalf of the practitioners to be properly trained and prepared to deliver such life-changing treatment,” Brigadier General (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis, MD, executive director of APPA, said in the release.
Reference
