Cited by 96Psychedelics and Drug StudiesPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsTreatment of Major Depression

Does Psychedelic Therapy Have a Transdiagnostic Action and Prophylactic Potential?

Open access
Kočárová, Rita, Horáček, Jiří, Carhart-Harris, Robin·2021·Frontiers in Psychiatry

Abstract

Addressing global mental health is a major 21st-century challenge. Current treatments have recognized limitations; in this context, new ones that are prophylactic and effective across diagnostic boundaries would represent a major advance. The view that there exists a core of transdiagnostic overlap between psychiatric disorders has re-emerged in recent years, and evidence that psychedelic therapy holds promise for a range of psychiatric disorders supports the position that it may be transdiagnostically effective. Here, we propose that psychedelic therapy's core, transdiagnostically relevant action lies in its ability to increase neuronal and mental plasticity, thus enhancing the potential for change, which we consider to be a key to its therapeutic benefits. Moreover, we suggest that enhanced plasticity via psychedelics, combined with a psychotherapeutic approach, can aid healthy adaptability and resilience, which are protective factors for long-term well-being. We present candidate neurological and psychological markers of this plasticity and link them with a predictive processing model of the action of psychedelics. We propose that a model of psychedelic-induced plasticity combined with an adequate therapeutic context has prophylactic and transdiagnostic potential, implying that it could have a broad, positive impact on public health.

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Crossref · 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.661233

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  • Integrating mindfulness skills and psychedelic insights holds promise for sustained psychological flexibility.

    “Integrating mindfulness skills and psychedelic insights holds promise for sustained psychological flexibility by facilitating a balanced response to internal and external stimuli, and adaptive responses to life's challenges [93].”

    From Mindfulness meditation and psychedelics: potential synergies and commonalities (2023) · cites this paper as [93]

    The Psychological Flexibility section (page unavailable) says that promoting psychological flexibility may support long-term wellness and may integrate well with psychedelic therapy. The Mindfulness section (page unavailable) links mindfulness to psychological flexibility and adaptive responses to stress. The paper does not specifically say that combining mindfulness skills with psychedelic insights sustains flexibility by balancing responses to internal and external stimuli. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Preventive and remediation interventions foster neuroplasticity-related adaptations in brain regions involved in emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility.

    “All these preventive and remediation interventions, to varying degrees, foster neuroplasticity-related adaptations in brain regions involved in emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility [186-188].”

    From Impact of Media-Induced Uncertainty on Mental Health: Narrative-Based Perspective. (2025) · cites this paper as [188]

    The Neuroplasticity section (page unavailable) says that several treatments and interventions appear to promote neuroplasticity, including antidepressants, psychedelics, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and mindfulness meditation. It does not establish that all the preventive and remediation interventions in the citing sentence do so, or specifically locate their adaptations in regions involved in both emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • PAT has potential transdiagnostic treatment capability.

    “Similar effects were seen for changes in measures of MA craving, depression, anxiety, stress and mental wellbeing, supporting the potential transdiagnostic treatment capability of PAT [60].”

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5 of the 265 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 6

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Authors
Kočárová, R., Horáček, J., & Carhart-Harris, R.
Affiliations
  • Charles University (CZ)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Kočárová, Rita
Venue
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Published
2021-07-19
Volume
12
Pages
661233-661233
ISSN
1664-0640 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3185477803
Cited by
96
References
265
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 4
FWCI
10.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Technologická Agentura ÄŒeské Republiky
  • Filozofická Fakulta, Univerzita Karlova v Praze
  • Agentura Pro Zdravotnický Výzkum ÄŒeské Republiky
  • Grantová Agentura ÄŒeské Republiky
  • Ministerstvo Å kolství, Mládeže a TÄ›lovýchovy
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
psychedelic therapy, transdiagnostic mechanisms, prophylaxis, neuroplasticity, resilience, mental illness, global mental health, psychological markers

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