ArticleTherapeutic advances in psychopharmacology2025
The ethical use of therapeutic touch in psychedelic-assisted therapy: a qualitative study of researcher perspectives and experiences.
Article in Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Competencies and Ethical Governance for Psychedelic‑Assisted Therapies: A Practice‑Embedded Quality‑Improvement Framework.Journal of evaluation in clinical practice · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Physical touch is often included as a supportive or therapeutic tool in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), involving instrumental forms of physical contact, supportive touch and somatic techniques. However, participants under the influence of psychedelics have reduced capacity to provide consent, are more suggestible and may experience and interpret therapeutic touch in ways they did not expect prior to taking the drug. Yet little research has been conducted on the considerations and approaches to therapeutic touch in clinical trials of PAT. Objectives: This study explored the experiences and perspectives of PAT researchers on the use and consent to therapeutic touch in clinical trials of PAT. Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Methods: Sixteen PAT researchers involved in clinical trials of PAT were interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The reporting of this study conforms to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research Checklist (COREQ). Results: Three themes were uncovered through reflexive thematic analysis: (1) flexible frameworks, (2) therapeutic alliance and (3) boundary management. Researchers discussed consent challenges across the broad spectrum of physical contact existing in PAT protocols at the time. Researchers indicated that consent to therapeutic touch should be established prior to the dosing sessions and continually managed throughout the course of treatment. Flexibility in consent protocols enabled researchers to interpret and approach consent through the development of a strong therapeutic alliance; however, flexibility could also lead to challenges in boundary management. Researchers emphasised the need for greater ethical guidance in instances where trial participants change their established preferences during dosing sessions, and limits on expanding consent after drug administration. Conclusion: Clear guidelines for obtaining consent, managing changing preferences and training on the management of boundary transgressions were viewed as essential for ethical research and practice of PAT.
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Registered trials
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