Scientific research into psychedelic agents is undergoing a renaissance. Decades after clinical research into the therapeutic value of psychedelic compounds was halted, significant clinical research restarted in the 1990s and has been rapidly accelerating in recent years. To date, clinical research has demonstrated preliminary efficacy and safety of psychedelic compounds across a number of clinical presentations, with research currently heading into Phase III trials that will conceivably lead to regulatory changes allowing the prescription of at least some psychedelic compounds.
At least two current clinical trials of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy are using principles derived from Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS) to guide therapy implementation. CBS is uniquely suited to understanding psychedelic experience and informing how to strengthen and maintain the often profound acute effects of these compounds. The aim of this special issue is to summarize the current state of the literature relating to psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, introduce how clinical interventions based on CBS could be used in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, and present new and innovative contributions from the CBS that can inform future research on psychedelics.