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Social identity processes as a vehicle for therapeutic success in psychedelic treatment
- Martha Newson ORCID:orcid.org/0000-0001-7700-95621,2,
- S. Alexander Haslam ORCID:orcid.org/0000-0001-9523-79213,
- Catherine Haslam ORCID:orcid.org/0000-0003-0124-96013,
- Tegan Cruwys4 &
- …
- Leor Roseman5,6
Nature Mental Healthvolume 2, pages1010–1017 (2024)Cite this article
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Abstract
The recent surge in psychedelics research has identified promising therapeutic uses for conditions including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia, depression, and addiction. However, medicalized forms often lack a vital ingredient: a social group dimension. By integrating psychedelics into group settings and leveraging their capacity to foster social identities, the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapies could be enhanced, echoing their potency in Indigenous and community contexts. We outline the relevance of the ‘social cure’ model, supported by strong empirical evidence in social identity and health literature, emphasizing the importance of group contexts and social identity-based relationships in the theraputic effects of psychedelics. We present practical implications for therapeutic practice and identify future directions and challenges for social cure research, offering an agenda for theory-informed work to investigate the role of social identities and group connections in psychedelic treatment.
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Authors and Affiliations
Institute of Lifecourse Development, University of Greenwich, Greenwich, UK
Martha Newson
Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Martha Newson
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
S. Alexander Haslam & Catherine Haslam
School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Tegan Cruwys
Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
Leor Roseman
School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Leor Roseman
- Martha Newson
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- S. Alexander Haslam
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
- Catherine Haslam
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
- Tegan Cruwys
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- Leor Roseman
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Contributions
M.N. and L.R. devised the project idea, which was developed jointly with S.A.H., C.H., and T.C. All authors discussed the development of the Perpective and wrote the manuscript.
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Correspondence toMartha Newson.
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Newson, M., Haslam, S.A., Haslam, C.et al. Social identity processes as a vehicle for therapeutic success in psychedelic treatment.Nat. Mental Health2, 1010–1017 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-024-00302-5
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