Integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses implicate redox-metabolic pathways in PTSD-associated multisystem disease and accelerated aging.

The therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances has garnered increasing scientific interest in recent years, leading to a surge in rigorous research efforts (see Yao et al. ; Reiff et al. ). Research suggests that classic psychedelics may offer novel treatment options for various mental health conditions, particularly when integrated into structured therapeutic frameworks. These substances primarily exert their effects as agonists of the serotonin 2 A receptor (5HT2A), inducing altered states of consciousness (Johnson et al. ). The results are promising and have drawn the attention of the scientific community (Nutt et al. ). Classic psychedelic substances have been used in recent clinical trials for the treatment of several psychiatric conditions, such as depression (Osório et al. ; Sanches et al. ; Palhano‐Fontes et al. ; Dawood Hristova and Pérez‐Jover ) and substance dependence (Van der Meer et al. ), as well as in palliative care (Gasser et al. ; Whinkin et al. ). In addition to classic psychedelics, the clinical impact of substances such as 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), which can be termed an empathogen, has also been investigated (Fonseka and Woo ). Currently, clinical research with MDMA is in phase 3, with significant results in the treatment of PTSD (Mitchell et al. ; Smith et al. ). The therapeutic use of psychedelics diverges from current pharmacotherapy models because, for reasons of safety (Romeo et al. ) and possibly efficacy (Krupitsky and Grinenko ; Cavarra et al. ), it requires the use of these substances to be conducted within a supportive psychotherapeutic context. The association between psychotherapy support and psychedelics has led to the term “psychedelic‐assisted psychotherapy” (PAP). This approach stems from the notion that the therapeutic effects of psychedelics are context‐dependent (Hartogsohn ; Carhart‐Harris et al. ). The psychedelic experience and its effects are directly influenced by three interrelated dimensions: set, referring to individual aspects, such as intentions, expectations, and physical and psychological state before the experience; setting, encompassing the environment in which the session occurs; and matrix (Eisner ), which represents the broader framework surrounding psychedelic sessions, including the cultural and economic aspects of the environment from which an individual comes and to which the individual returns after a session (Rodrigues ). Music is one of the most discussed elements of the therapeutic setting in PAP, although there is a need for more empirical research (Golden et al. ). Choosing the musical setting carefully when using psychedelics is a longstanding practice and a recurrent feature in traditional use, also remaining relevant in psychedelic psychotherapy approaches in the 1950s and 60 s (Kaelen et al. ). For example, Bonny and Pahnke () proposed a model to structure psychedelic experiences, highlighting the role of music as a key factor in shaping the trajectory of the session, dividing it into “pre‐onset”, “onset”, “building towards peak intensity”, “peak intensity of drug action”, “re‐entry”, and “return to normal consciousness”. Similarly, in contemporary protocols used in clinical research with psychedelics, one of the central elements of the setting during sessions is the use of music (Mithoefer ; Guss et al. ). Music has been shown to enhance emotional and cognitive responses to psychedelics, contributing to the overall therapeutic process (Preller et al. ; Watts et al. ). Evidence suggests that music not only amplifies emotional depth but also helps individuals confront and process difficult emotions. For instance, qualitative analyses of patients treated with psilocybin‐assisted therapy for treatment‐resistant depression indicate that music facilitated emotional surrender and the emergence of repressed feelings, often guiding participants through challenging but therapeutically meaningful experiences (Watts et al. ). Music is relevant in PAP due to its possible ability to help individuals work through experiences with therapeutic importance, intensify emotions, and enhance mental imagery. Additionally, music has been linked to the emergence of mystical‐type experiences and insightfulness, both of which contribute to the therapeutic benefits of PAP (Kaelen et al. ), based on a qualitative phenomenological study with exploratory correlational analyses. In this context, allowing participants to select music may contribute to a greater sense of familiarity and security toward the end of the experience (O'Callaghan et al. ).