Expert interview on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD)

Abstract

A group of patients who respond poorly to psychotherapy and medication are patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). A relatively new and successful psychotherapy approach, also being implemented at the Münsterlingen Psychiatric Clinic under the direction of Dr. Krähenmann (Medical Director of the Thurgau Psychiatric Services), is the specialized psychotherapy programme in an inpatient hospital setting; Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP). It was developed specifically for this patient group and, in certain cases, is combined with psycholytic 10–35 mg oral doses of psilocybin to enhance its effectiveness. Parallel to this treatment plan, a naturalistic longitudinal study is being conducted applying various psychological assessment methods, to evaluate the effectiveness of this three-month programme. I had the opportunity of interviewing Dr. Krähenmann and Ms. Vandersmissen, a doctoral student in the field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP), to discuss this programme.