Abstract

There is considerable debate and controversy surrounding the use of touch in psychedelic and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) assisted therapy, as well as mental health care more generally. The prevailing norms for psychiatrists and psychologists emphasize a medicalized model of mental health care, which focuses on empirical evidence-based interventions and maintaining physical and social boundaries in all patient interactions. Despite a lack of empirical research on therapeutic touch, some practitioners and researchers believe that touch has a vital role in psychedelic and MDMA therapy, and is an essential deviation from overly medicalized approaches.

This narrative review explores the use of touch in contemporary clinical research on psychedelics and MDMA through the following: i) an overview of the history and rationale for using physical interventions between patient and provider in both mainstream and underground psychedelic/MDMA therapy, ii) definitions of touch in modern psychedelic and MDMA therapy, and iii) a systematized review of all instances of physical contact or touch in psychedelic and MDMA mental health research. Results of the review include humanistic and transpersonal approaches in the development of MDMA psychotherapy, discussion of therapeutic dyads, consent, video recording, blindfolding, and practitioner scope of competence. We conclude with directions for future research.