In psychedelic trials, psychological support means the trained staff and meetings that come with the drug. A 2025 consensus statement notes that protocols differ, but that in most psilocybin efficacy studies the support is given before and after the session, while MDMA trials give it during the session (Hosein et al., 2025).
The amount varies. The Johns Hopkins guidelines describe at least eight contact hours of preparation over at least four meetings (Johnson et al., 2008). The 2021 Johns Hopkins depression trial added about 11 hours of supportive psychotherapy (Davis et al., 2021). In one COMP360 study, the lead therapist stayed for the six- to eight-hour session to keep the person safe, “while avoiding active guidance” (Goodwin et al., 2023).
Support makes trials harder to interpret: comparison groups often receive it too, and it is hard to separate its effect from the drug’s. In a 2022 alcohol trial, the control group also improved (Bogenschutz et al., 2022). Researchers still debate how much support is necessary and what kind works best.
Sources
- Hosein et al., eClinicalMedicine, 2025
- Johnson, Richards and Griffiths, Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2008
- Goodwin et al., Neuropsychopharmacology, 2023
- Davis et al., JAMA Psychiatry, 2021
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