Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42179908›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in psychopharmacology2026

Psychedelic-assisted therapy: a survey on the clinical methods of Swiss physicians.

Kristian Beichmann, Polina Catzeflis, Helena D Aicher, Federico Seragnoli, Abigail Calder, Adam Amrani, Gregor Hasler

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kristian BeichmannMolecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0039-1302
Polina CatzeflisMolecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3594-7790
Helena D AicherClinical Research Center for Substance-Assisted Therapy, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5915-7086
Federico SeragnoliPsychiatry Department, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9261-770X
Abigail CalderMolecular Psychiatry Lab, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9528-404X
Adam AmraniMolecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland.
Gregor HaslerMolecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8311-0138

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health provides case-by-case exemptions allowing physicians to provide psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) using psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3,4-methylenedioxy- Objectives: The study provided an overview of PAT as currently provided in Switzerland under the regulatory framework of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). Design: Swiss PAT practices were examined using an anonymous survey of physicians providing PAT. Questions included physicians' backgrounds, training, therapeutic orientation, treatment protocols, patient characteristics, and perceived benefits. Methods: Participants were recruited from PAT professional associations and the research team network. Forty-one physicians providing PAT under FOPH exemptions contributed to the survey. Results: Respondents used PAT primarily for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain. Most physicians practiced in private practices, private outpatient clinics or shared practices (82%), with a minority in hospitals (18%). The most reported labels when providing PAT were body-oriented (61%), psychodynamic (59%), and eclectic (54%) approaches. Respondents provided PAT using psilocybin (85%), MDMA (71%), and LSD (65.9%). Choice of first substance was linked to diagnosis, with physicians preferring psilocybin for depression (54%) and substance use disorder (46%) and MDMA for PTSD (86%) and anxiety disorders (54%). A total of 90% reported always playing music during psychedelic sessions. Loss of orientation in time and space, feeling too cold, anxiety, and nausea where the most frequent adverse effects of PAT. 95% had emergency medication available, on average used during 2.4% of sessions. Challenges included legal constraints, high patient expectations, and financial barriers. Group therapy was common, with 9% reporting providing only group sessions, 42% providing both individual and group settings, and 47% providing only individual sessions. Only 9% reported never using co-sitters. Conclusion: This study offers valuable insights into the methods and experiences of physicians providing PAT in a legal clinical context, giving insight into the considerable variety of clinical methods. Cultural and regulatory differences may limit generalizability.

Indexed as

clinical practicegroup therapyLSDMDMAnaturalistic usepsilocybinpsychedelic therapypsycholytic therapySwitzerland

Identifiers

PMID42179908
PMCPMC13191117

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.