The Science

Research & Publications

Clinical trials of psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, and ketamine, from the early NYU cancer-anxiety studies to psilocybin for OCD at Yale. Fifteen-plus peer-reviewed papers, including in Nature Medicine (2025), three book chapters, and two books.

Download CV (PDF) The books

Peer-reviewed articles

  1. Pronovost-Morgan, C., Greenway, K. T., Roseman, L., et al. (2025). An international Delphi consensus for reporting of setting in psychedelic clinical trials.Nature Medicine, 31(7)
  2. Passie, T., Loizaga-Velder, A., Danforth, A., … Belser, A. B., & Guss, J. (2025). A model training curriculum for psychedelic, psycholytic, and entactogen-assisted psychotherapy.Journal of Psychopharmacology
  3. Brennan, B., Kelman, A., & Belser, A. B. (2023). A systematic review of reporting practices in psychedelic clinical trials: Psychological support, therapy, and psychosocial interventions.Psychedelic Medicine, 1(4), 218–229
  4. Kelmendi, B., Kichuk, S. A., DePalmer, G., Maloney, G., Ching, T. H., Belser, A. B., & Pittenger, C. (2022). Single-dose psilocybin for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A case report.Heliyon, 8(12)
  5. Brennan, W., & Belser, A. B. (2022). Models of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: A contemporary assessment and an introduction to EMBARK, a transdiagnostic, trans-drug model.Frontiers in Psychology, 13
  6. Gorman, I., Belser, A. B., Jerome, L., Hennigan, C., Shechet, B., Hamilton, S., & Feduccia, A. A. (2020). Posttraumatic growth after MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.Journal of Traumatic Stress, 33(2), 161–170
  7. Malone, T. C., Mennenga, S. E., Guss, J., … Belser, A. B., … Ross, S. (2018). Individual experiences in four cancer patients following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, 256
  8. Belser, A. B., Agin-Liebes, G., Swift, T. C., et al. (2017). Patient experiences of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.Journal of Humanistic Psychology · PDF
  9. Swift, T. C.*, Belser, A. B.*, Agin-Liebes, G.*, et al. (2017). Cancer at the dinner table: Experiences of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for cancer-related distress.Journal of Humanistic Psychology · PDF · *co-first authors
  10. Ioverno, S., Belser, A. B., Baiocco, R., Grossman, A., & Russell, S. T. (2016). The protective role of gay-straight alliances for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning students.Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 3(4)
  11. Ross, S., Bossis, A., Guss, J., … Belser, A. B., et al. (2016). Sustained reductions in cancer-related anxiety and depression with psilocybin.Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1165–1180
  12. Yaden, D. B., Le Nguyen, K. D., Kern, M. L., Belser, A. B., et al. (2016). Of roots and fruits: A comparison of psychedelic and non-psychedelic mystical experiences.Journal of Humanistic Psychology · PDF
  13. Midlarsky, E., Kahana, E., & Belser, A. B. (2015). Prosocial behavior in later life.Oxford Handbook of Prosocial Behavior
  14. Verdeli, H., Bailey, C., Vousoura, E., Belser, A. B., Singla, D., & Manos, G. (2011). A group adaptation of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for depression in military spouses: IPT-GMS.Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 1(1)
  15. Verdeli, H., Bailey, C., Vousoura, E., Belser, A. B., Singla, D., & Manos, G. (2011). The case for treating depression in military spouses.Journal of Family Psychology, 25(4), 488–496

Book chapters

  1. Belser, A. B., & Keating, A. (2022). A queer vision for psychedelic research: Past reckonings, current reforms, and future transformations.In Queering Psychedelics · Synergetic Press · PDF
  2. McKernan, S., & Belser, A. B. (2022). Best practices for assessing sexual orientation and gender identity in psychedelic clinical trials.In Queering Psychedelics · Synergetic Press · PDF
  3. Belser, A. B., Cavnar, C., & Labate, B. C. (2022). Introduction to Queering Psychedelics.In Queering Psychedelics · Synergetic Press · PDF

Selected research roles

Grants

  1. Heffter Research Institute (2013). Patient experiences of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. Lead Investigator · $50,000 · New York University
  2. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2005–2007). Developing a Relational Inquiry Tool for probation and parole. Grant writer/contributor · $200,000 · Vera Institute of Justice

Early & foundational writing

  1. Doping the system: Stories of drug use by UK prisoners.Cambridge University M.Phil. dissertation · PDF
  2. Revisiting the carceral city: From panopticonism to self-governmentalism in the late-modern prison.PDF
  3. The re-emergence of psychoanalytical criminology.PDF
  4. Narrative epistemology: Intersubjective questions of identity and meaning.PDF
  5. Mobile assessment and intervention: Applicability to the research and treatment of mood disorders.PDF
  6. Rone, J. (2003). Sudan, oil, and human rights.Human Rights Watch · credited research assistant