Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is a type of psychiatric practice that includes a pharmaceutical grade psychedelic drug, such as MDMA or psilocybin, as part of a psychotherapeutic treatment program. Patients typically will receive a moderate to large dose administered during a number of sessions that are spaced over several weeks.

The procedure for psychedelic therapy differs from conventional psychiatric medication. While conventional medication is usually taken without close, immediate supervision, psychedelic therapy is administered in a controlled, supervised environment where the therapist provides support throughout.

Microdosing

Because the drugs administered are pharmaceutical-grade and involve larger doses, PAP is quite different to microdosing. Microdosing is the practice of consuming very small amounts of an illegally obtained psychoactive substance, usually LSD or other hallucinogen like magic mushrooms, in order to improve productivity, creativity, mood and overall sense of wellbeing, without inducing a ‘high’ or signs of intoxication. Typically, small doses are taken regularly or intermittently for an extended period; the duration of use varies from person to person. Although microdosing may be used in a therapeutic setting, this is relatively uncommon.

Despite its popularity, problems abound in relation to microdosing, as dose amounts are neither standardized or regulated; unintended and unpredictable side-effects are possible. There is also the potential for developing tolerance, meaning that over time, one might need to increase the dose to achieve the same effects.