Imperial College London
Alternate

Professor Robin Carhart-Harris

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences

Visiting Professor
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 7992r.carhart-harris

 
 
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Assistant

 

Miss Bruna Cunha +44 (0)20 7594 7992

 
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Location

 

Burlington DanesHammersmith Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Bornemann:2021:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.735427,
author = {Bornemann, J and Close, JB and Spriggs, MJ and Carhart-Harris, R and Roseman, L},
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2021.735427},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry, section Psychological Therapies},
pages = {1--17},
title = {Self-medication for chronic pain using classic psychedelics: a qualitative investigation to inform future research},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.735427},
volume = {12},
year = {2021}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Background: Chronic Pain is among the leading causes of disability worldwide with up to60% of patients suffering from comorbid depression. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has recentlybeen found effective in treating a host of mental health issues including depression and hashistorically been found to be useful in treating pain. Reports of self-medication for chronic painusing psychedelic drugs have been widely documented, with anecdotal evidence indicatingwidespread success in a range of pathologies. Aims: In preparation for an upcoming trial, tobetter understand how those with lived experience of chronic pain self-medicate withpsychedelic drugs, and to establish, in detail, their therapeutic protocols and practices forsuccess. Methods: As part of patient-involvement (PI) for an upcoming trial in this population,11 individuals who reported self-medicating with psychedelic drugs took part in a one-hoursemi-structured discussion, which was then transcribed and thematically analysed. Results:Across a range of psychedelic substances and doses, reported pain scores improvedsubstantially during and after psychedelic experiences. Two processes, Positive Reframing andSomatic Presence, were reliably identified as playing a role in improvements in mentalwellbeing, relationship with pain, and physical (dis)comfort. Inclusion of other strategies suchas mindfulness, breathwork, and movement were also widely reported. Due to the data’ssubjective nature, this paper is vulnerable to bias and makes no claims on causality orgeneralisability. Together, these results have been used to inform study design for aforthcoming trial. Conclusion: This pre-trial PI work gives us confidence to test psychedelictherapy for chronic pain in a forthcoming controlled trial. The results presented here will beinstrumental in improving our ability to meet the needs of future study participants.
AU  - Bornemann,J
AU  - Close,JB
AU  - Spriggs,MJ
AU  - Carhart-Harris,R
AU  - Roseman,L
DO  - 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.735427
EP  - 17
PY  - 2021///
SN  - 1664-0640
SP  - 1
TI  - Self-medication for chronic pain using classic psychedelics: a qualitative investigation to inform future research
T2  - Frontiers in Psychiatry, section Psychological Therapies
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.735427
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.735427/full
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/92585
VL  - 12
ER  -
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