ReSPCT Guidelines published today in Nature article

The field of psychedelic research is evolving rapidly, bringing new opportunities for therapeutic applications. However, ensuring consistency in how studies report mindset and surroundings remains a crucial challenge. That’s where the new ReSPCT guidelines come in—providing a standardized framework for improving transparency and detailed reporting in psychedelic clinical trials.

As an invited expert consultant to this process, I contributed an existentially informed perspective based on my work in psychedelic integration and PhD research on ayahuasca. Having spent years supporting individuals as they integrate profound psychedelic experiences, I offered my ideas about the aspects of set, setting, and subjective experience that seem to shape longer-term outcomes.

One of the most significant challenges the authors and development process faced was bridging diverse conceptual frameworks—from existential approaches emphasizing personal transformation, to medical perspectives focused on clinical efficacy, to shamanic traditions rooted in sacred ritual. Reconciling these differing viewpoints required a skilful, moderated discussion, enabled by the Delphi process, resulting in guidelines that respect multiple epistemologies while maintaining scientific rigor.

The final guidelines represent a collective effort aimed at ensuring more nuanced and reliable research that acknowledges the complexity of psychedelic experiences. Contributing to this initiative reinforced my belief that standardization for comparability across studies should not come at the expense of depth and diversity of thought.

As psychedelic research continues to evolve, I hope these guidelines serve as a bridge between empirical rigor and the profound, multifaceted nature of altered states of consciousness. I am delighted to see the Respct Guidelines published in Nature today. I congratulate Chloé, Kyle & Leor on running the Delphi process skilfully with such a worthwhile result.