Mitch Earleywine, Alyssa Oliva, J. D. De Leo, Robyn Banks
{"title":"An examination of internal family systems interventions for trauma with implications for ethical psychedelic-assisted treatment","authors":"Mitch Earleywine, Alyssa Oliva, J. D. De Leo, Robyn Banks","doi":"10.1556/2054.2024.00265","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Though several treatments effectively address the pervasive impact of trauma, they do not achieve complete symptom resolution for all clients, inspiring the search for alternatives. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy has grown popular, especially in informal psychedelic-assisted treatments (PAT). Compared to stereotypes of empirically validated, exposure-based treatments, IFS has novel facets with widespread appeal. The model encourages improved quality of interactions among multiple, naturally arising “parts” or subpersonalities potentially generated by traumatic experience. The body of IFS literature is extensive, enthusiastic, and thought-provoking. Outcome data for applying the model to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are limited. Attempts to operationalize and falsify the theory's assumptions and proposed mechanisms will likely prove challenging. Nevertheless, the model's popularity underscores a problem with perceptions of the empirically-supported treatments. Contemplating ethical ways to present the IFS approach given the state of relevant research, we note strategies that would apply to recommendations for PAT of any type. These strategies include detailed psychoeducation about empirically-supported treatments, candid description of the experimental nature of alternatives, frequent assessments of improvement, and detailed monitoring of potential iatrogenic effects. Drawing on facets of IFS to improve perceptions of the empirically validated treatments might provide an efficient way to appeal to more clients, decrease drop out, and increase gains as we await results of empirical investigations of IFS-influenced PAT. These steps can allow clients to choose an approach consistent with their own impressions of a credible intervention, potentially leading to better outcomes.","PeriodicalId":34732,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychedelic Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Psychedelic Studies","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1556/2054.2024.00265","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Though several treatments effectively address the pervasive impact of trauma, they do not achieve complete symptom resolution for all clients, inspiring the search for alternatives. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy has grown popular, especially in informal psychedelic-assisted treatments (PAT). Compared to stereotypes of empirically validated, exposure-based treatments, IFS has novel facets with widespread appeal. The model encourages improved quality of interactions among multiple, naturally arising “parts” or subpersonalities potentially generated by traumatic experience. The body of IFS literature is extensive, enthusiastic, and thought-provoking. Outcome data for applying the model to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are limited. Attempts to operationalize and falsify the theory's assumptions and proposed mechanisms will likely prove challenging. Nevertheless, the model's popularity underscores a problem with perceptions of the empirically-supported treatments. Contemplating ethical ways to present the IFS approach given the state of relevant research, we note strategies that would apply to recommendations for PAT of any type. These strategies include detailed psychoeducation about empirically-supported treatments, candid description of the experimental nature of alternatives, frequent assessments of improvement, and detailed monitoring of potential iatrogenic effects. Drawing on facets of IFS to improve perceptions of the empirically validated treatments might provide an efficient way to appeal to more clients, decrease drop out, and increase gains as we await results of empirical investigations of IFS-influenced PAT. These steps can allow clients to choose an approach consistent with their own impressions of a credible intervention, potentially leading to better outcomes.
虽然有几种治疗方法可以有效地解决创伤带来的普遍影响,但它们并不能彻底解决所有患者的症状,因此人们开始寻找替代疗法。家庭内部系统疗法(IFS)越来越受欢迎,尤其是在非正式的迷幻辅助治疗(PAT)中。与经过经验验证的、基于暴露的陈旧疗法相比,内部家庭系统疗法具有新颖的一面,具有广泛的吸引力。该模式鼓励改善创伤经历可能产生的多个自然产生的 "部分 "或亚人格之间的互动质量。综合心理治疗 "的文献内容广泛、热情洋溢、发人深省。将该模式应用于创伤后应激障碍的结果数据有限。试图对该理论的假设和提议的机制进行操作和证伪很可能会被证明是具有挑战性的。然而,该模型的流行凸显了人们对经验支持疗法的看法存在问题。鉴于相关研究的现状,我们思考了介绍 IFS 方法的道德方式,并指出了适用于任何类型的 PAT 建议的策略。这些策略包括对经验支持的治疗方法进行详细的心理教育,坦诚描述替代治疗方法的实验性质,经常评估改善情况,以及详细监测潜在的先天性影响。在我们等待受综合治疗方案影响的 PAT 的实证调查的结果时,借鉴综合治疗方案的各个方面来改善对经验验证的治疗方法的看法,可能会提供一种有效的方法来吸引更多的客户,减少退出,并增加收益。这些步骤可以让客户选择一种与他们自己对可信干预的印象相一致的方法,从而可能带来更好的结果。