Social identity processes as a vehicle for therapeutic success in psychedelic treatment

Abstract

The recent surge in psychedelics research has identified promising therapeutic uses for conditions including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia, depression, and addiction. However, medicalized forms often lack a vital ingredient: a social group dimension. By integrating psychedelics into group settings and leveraging their capacity to foster social identities, the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapies could be enhanced, echoing their potency in Indigenous and community contexts. We outline the relevance of the ‘social cure’ model, supported by strong empirical evidence in social identity and health literature, emphasizing the importance of group contexts and social identity-based relationships in the theraputic effects of psychedelics. We present practical implications for therapeutic practice and identify future directions and challenges for social cure research, offering an agenda for theory-informed work to investigate the role of social identities and group connections in psychedelic treatment.