Leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic-assisted therapy: considerations for the treatment of adolescents
Abstract Background Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is gaining recognition as a promising intervention for treatment-refractory mental health conditions in adults. While interest in its applications for adolescents is growing, critical gaps remain in understanding safe and effective delivery of P...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00930-4 |
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| _version_ | 1849469984555663360 |
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| author | Sarah Forsberg Amanda E. Downey Lindsey D. Bruett Lisa Hail Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold Josh D. Woolley Adele Lafrance Marissa Raymond-Flesch |
| author_facet | Sarah Forsberg Amanda E. Downey Lindsey D. Bruett Lisa Hail Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold Josh D. Woolley Adele Lafrance Marissa Raymond-Flesch |
| author_sort | Sarah Forsberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is gaining recognition as a promising intervention for treatment-refractory mental health conditions in adults. While interest in its applications for adolescents is growing, critical gaps remain in understanding safe and effective delivery of PAT to this vulnerable population, including implications for caregiver/family (used interchangeably) involvement in the intervention. Caregivers play a crucial role in adolescent mental health treatment by supporting recovery and disrupting illness-maintaining patterns. They also benefit from resources to navigate the challenges of caregiving. This review synthesizes existing literature on evidence-based adolescent mental health treatments, best practices in PAT delivery, and family systems theory to propose a framework for integrating caregivers in adolescent PAT. Conclusion Current literature in both PAT and adolescent mental health provides a compelling case for the direct involvement of caregivers in PAT for adolescent populations. In modern PAT, therapeutic setting (i.e., “set and setting”) is increasingly recognized as essential for optimizing outcomes. Similarly, the family system serves as a critical setting that may shape PAT efficacy in adolescents. This review provides recommendations and unique considerations for the incorporation of caregivers into PAT protocols for adolescents to maximize safety and efficacy of the intervention. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1135c5f5467848eb8a7d218f259dc1d9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1135c5f5467848eb8a7d218f259dc1d92025-08-20T03:25:16ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002025-06-011911910.1186/s13034-025-00930-4Leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic-assisted therapy: considerations for the treatment of adolescentsSarah Forsberg0Amanda E. Downey1Lindsey D. Bruett2Lisa Hail3Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold4Josh D. Woolley5Adele Lafrance6Marissa Raymond-Flesch7Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoEmotion Science, Department of ResearchDepartment of Pediatrics, University of California, San FranciscoAbstract Background Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is gaining recognition as a promising intervention for treatment-refractory mental health conditions in adults. While interest in its applications for adolescents is growing, critical gaps remain in understanding safe and effective delivery of PAT to this vulnerable population, including implications for caregiver/family (used interchangeably) involvement in the intervention. Caregivers play a crucial role in adolescent mental health treatment by supporting recovery and disrupting illness-maintaining patterns. They also benefit from resources to navigate the challenges of caregiving. This review synthesizes existing literature on evidence-based adolescent mental health treatments, best practices in PAT delivery, and family systems theory to propose a framework for integrating caregivers in adolescent PAT. Conclusion Current literature in both PAT and adolescent mental health provides a compelling case for the direct involvement of caregivers in PAT for adolescent populations. In modern PAT, therapeutic setting (i.e., “set and setting”) is increasingly recognized as essential for optimizing outcomes. Similarly, the family system serves as a critical setting that may shape PAT efficacy in adolescents. This review provides recommendations and unique considerations for the incorporation of caregivers into PAT protocols for adolescents to maximize safety and efficacy of the intervention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00930-4AdolescencePsychedelicsFamily |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Forsberg Amanda E. Downey Lindsey D. Bruett Lisa Hail Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold Josh D. Woolley Adele Lafrance Marissa Raymond-Flesch Leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic-assisted therapy: considerations for the treatment of adolescents Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Adolescence Psychedelics Family |
| title | Leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic-assisted therapy: considerations for the treatment of adolescents |
| title_full | Leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic-assisted therapy: considerations for the treatment of adolescents |
| title_fullStr | Leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic-assisted therapy: considerations for the treatment of adolescents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic-assisted therapy: considerations for the treatment of adolescents |
| title_short | Leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic-assisted therapy: considerations for the treatment of adolescents |
| title_sort | leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic assisted therapy considerations for the treatment of adolescents |
| topic | Adolescence Psychedelics Family |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00930-4 |
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