4971 results for "Psychedelics"
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Investigating the Efficacy of Various Psychedelic Drugs for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorder.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) – October 23, 2025
Summary
Emerging research reveals a powerful new approach to substance use disorder. A comprehensive analysis of human trials shows that psychedelic treatment, utilizing compounds like ibogaine and psilocybin, effectively reduces substance misuse. Ibogaine, in particular, demonstrated the most prominent positive results. These significant benefits were observed whether or not the psychedelic treatment was paired with psychotherapy, highlighting the direct impact of these compounds in addressing substance use disorder.
Abstract
Objectives: This study investigates psychedelic drugs to treat substance use disorder (SUD). Researchers have recently begun conducting clinical tr...
0391 Racial/Ethnic Differences in Psychedelic Use and Sleep Satisfaction: Preliminary Findings from the Herbal Heart Study
SLEEP – May 01, 2025
Summary
A surprising finding in psychology highlights a complex link between psychedelic use and sleep satisfaction. Among 200 young adults, particularly within the Hispanic/Latino ethnic group, consuming psychedelics was associated with significantly poorer sleep. For instance, 33.9% of Hispanic/Latino psychedelic users reported sleep dissatisfaction, compared to 17.2% of non-users. Psilocybin users in this group faced 9.2 times higher odds of dissatisfaction. This insight from drug studies informs future medicine, clinical psychology, and psychiatry, emphasizing tailored support for sleep health.
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Research on psychedelic use and sleep satisfaction remains unclear despite increased use. This study examines the psychedelic...
Knowledge, perceptions, and use of psychedelics for mental health among autistic adults: An online survey
PLOS mental health. – December 26, 2025
Summary
Autistic adults show strong interest in psychedelics for mental health support. A computer-assisted web interviewing survey of 261 autistic participants found 77.8% willing to try psychedelics like psilocybin for conditions such as anxiety, often addressed in clinical psychology. Remarkably, 69.7% reported past use, with higher doses correlating with lasting mental health improvements. Descriptive statistics underscore the need for inclusive psychiatry and mental health services, acknowledging autistic individuals' distinct needs compared to neurotypical populations in psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA have shown promise in treating mental health conditions (e.g., depression, post-traumatic stress dis...
Longitudinal associations between psychedelic use and meditation practices in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Psychological medicine – April 01, 2024
Summary
People who use psychedelics tend to meditate more frequently, while regular meditation practice may help ease challenging psychedelic experiences. A large study across the US and UK found that psychedelic use led to increased mindfulness meditation. Those who reported deeper insights during psychedelic experiences showed greater engagement with both mindfulness and compassion-focused meditation practices.
Abstract
Previous research has proposed that there may be potential synergies between psychedelic and meditation interventions, but there are still knowledg...
The potential of psychedelics for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology – November 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a currently incurable but increasingly prevalent fatal and progressive neurodegenerative disease, demanding considerati...
A protocol for a scoping review of variations among psychedelic interventions for psychological suffering associated with the end-of-life.
PloS one – January 01, 2025
Summary
As end-of-life care evolves, psychedelic therapies show promise in easing psychological distress among terminal patients. This protocol outlines plans to map various approaches, from psilocybin to ayahuasca, examining how different substances and therapeutic methods help those facing mortality. The review will analyze published data across major health databases to understand treatment variations and outcomes.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic potential to ease psychological suffering linked to end-of-life issues. Ho...
The Afterglow Inventory (AGI): Validation of a new instrument for measuring subacute effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics
Journal of Psychopharmacology – March 31, 2025
Summary
The positive psychological "Afterglow" from hallucinogens like psilocybin or lysergic acid diethylamide is now quantifiable. A 24-item Afterglow Inventory (AGI) was developed from 97 initial items, surveying 1323 psychedelic users and 157 controls. The AGI effectively distinguishes groups, crucial for clinical psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies. AGI scores correlated with acute effect intensity (r=0.165) and positive valence (r=0.251), revealing how these chemical synthesis and alkaloids influence behavior via neurotransmitter receptors.
Abstract
Background: Classic psychedelics such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide are anecdotally associated with the phenomenon of “psychedelic a...
Present and future of metabolic and metabolomics studies focused on classical psychedelics in humans.
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie – December 31, 2023
Summary
Groundbreaking research reveals how psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca affect human biology at the molecular level. Scientists tracked how these compounds are processed in the body and mapped their effects on cellular metabolism. While we understand how these substances break down, their broader impact on the body's metabolic systems offers promising insights for mental health treatments.
Abstract
Psychedelics are classical hallucinogen drugs that induce a marked altered state of consciousness. In recent years, there has been renewed attentio...
Measuring psychotherapeutic processes in the context of psychedelic experiences: Validation of the General Change Mechanisms Questionnaire (GCMQ)
Journal of Psychopharmacology – May 01, 2024
Summary
A new psychology tool reveals how psychedelic experiences activate mechanisms akin to psychotherapy. Validated with 1153 English-speaking and 714 German-speaking users, this instrument measures five "change mechanisms" like resource activation and mastery. Critically, these processes moderated the link between stressful life events and well-being. This cross-cultural analysis provides a crucial framework for clinical psychology and drug studies, helping psychotherapists understand how diverse contexts influence psychedelic effects, potentially informing safer use and therapeutic applications.
Abstract
Background: Therapeutic and salutogenic effects of psychedelic drugs have been attributed to psychotherapeutic or psychotherapy-like processes that...
Present and future of metabolic and metabolomics studies focused on classical psychedelics in humans
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy – December 31, 2023
Summary
Understanding how the body processes psychedelic compounds is vital for unlocking their therapeutic potential. A review of studies on substances like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT reveals that while their primary breakdown products are largely known, their broader impact on human metabolism is still emerging. Integrating advanced metabolomics with drug tracking promises to illuminate the precise molecular interactions behind their positive therapeutic effects, paving the way for novel treatment development.
Abstract
Psychedelics are classical hallucinogen drugs that induce a marked altered state of consciousness. In recent years, there has been renewed attentio...
Historicizing psychedelics: counterculture, renaissance, and the neoliberal matrix
Frontiers in Sociology – September 21, 2023
Summary
The "psychedelic renaissance" has paradoxically defused their radical potential. Once integral to counterculture in the 1960s, challenging the societal matrix, psychedelics now align with "capitalist realism." Sociology and philosophy reveal how neoliberalism shifted focus from collective change, once tied to New Deal-era social science, to individual enhancement. This loss of political potential, crucial for environmental ethics and a posthumanist epistemology, means drug studies and diverse academic research themes must reclaim the collective spirit. Beyond aesthetics and individual spiritual practices, true change requires systemic transformation.
Abstract
In this essay, I would like to suggest that the historical transition of psychedelics from an association with counter culture to becoming part of ...
Serotonin, psychedelics and psychiatry
World Psychiatry – September 07, 2018
Summary
In Psychiatry, just one or two psychedelic treatment sessions can yield therapeutic effects lasting several months for mood disorders and addiction—an unprecedented outcome. Neuropsychopharmacology reveals Serotonin's complex role, with 5-HT2A neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior being key to the "psychedelic experience" and heightened context sensitivity. This shift in Medicine and Drug Studies, moving beyond traditional psychoanalysis and simple Serotonin deficiency models, highlights new Psychology avenues exploring how these compounds, often alkaloids, profoundly impact mental health.
Abstract
Serotonin is a key neuromodulator known to be involved in brain development, perception, cognition, and mood. However, unlike as with dopamine for ...
Counselors’ attitudes toward psychedelics and their use in therapy
Journal of Counseling & Development – March 19, 2022
Summary
The "psychedelic renaissance" heralds a new era in mental healthcare, with MDMA and psilocybin nearing FDA approval for therapeutic use. This profound shift is reshaping Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, yet the counseling profession has been slow to engage. A recent poll of psychotherapists revealed mixed attitudes toward hallucinogen use, though support was strong for medically supervised applications. Crucially, most counselors recognized the immense potential of these Psychedelics in therapy, underscoring a burgeoning interest within Psychology and the broader realm of Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract The ‘‘psychedelic renaissance’’ is generating new evidence for psychedelics’ potential to treat numerous mental and substance use disorder...
Advances in Psychedelic Medicine
OpenAlex – January 01, 2019
Summary
Psychedelics are rapidly transforming Medicine, with the U.S. government lifting its testing ban over a decade ago. Substances like Psilocybin, MDMA, and the hallucinogen Ayahuasca are now being integrated into Psychiatry and Psychology, augmenting psychotherapies for conditions like Addiction and depressive disorders. This comprehensive assessment covers clinical efficacy, safety, and ethical considerations, alongside neuroscience findings. It also explores microdosing, cannabinoid research, and training future psychotherapists in this evolving field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Researchers, program administrators, and practicing clinicians explain the most recent developments in using psychedelic substances to treat psycho...
How psychedelics legalization debates could differ from cannabis
Addiction – August 13, 2024
Summary
Compellingly, infrequent users account for 60% of psychedelic use days monthly, versus only 5% for cannabis, highlighting distinct patterns. Over two dozen jurisdictions deprioritized enforcement of psychedelics possession. Oregon and Colorado's legislature legalized psilocybin; Colorado also approved 'grow and give' for mescaline and other hallucinogens. Despite parallels with Cannabis, political science and criminology observe differing market dynamics and unique psychological effects, sometimes interpreted as paranormal. Lawmakers must consider these nuances, informed by drug studies and cannabis and cannabinoid research, to avoid past federal inaction.
Abstract
An increasing number of US states and localities are implementing or considering alternatives to prohibiting the supply and possession of some psyc...
Mind the gap! Addressing unresolved aspects of abuse potential evaluation and scheduling of classic and novel psychedelic drugs
Journal of Psychopharmacology – October 16, 2025
Summary
The rapid advancement in Psychedelics and Drug Studies presents significant regulatory hurdles for new drug candidates. Assessing abuse and dependence potential is crucial before rescheduling C-I controlled substances like psilocybin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide. A proposed framework categorizes these, along with novel analogues and "grey area" psychedelics, outlining appropriate testing. This ensures proper evaluation of chemical synthesis and alkaloids for scheduling under acts like the US Controlled Substances Act, impacting Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis globally.
Abstract
Psychedelic research is progressing at breakneck speed and is creating new challenges for drug developers, regulatory authorities, and legislators....
Exploring factors associated with the intensity of a mystical experience following naturalistic psychedelic use: A retrospective survey.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – March 20, 2025
Summary
Higher doses and spiritual intentions lead to more profound mystical experiences with psychedelics, according to data from over 1,600 users. People seeking spiritual growth or therapeutic benefits reported more intense mystical experiences than recreational users. The type of psychedelics mattered too - Ayahuasca and LSD produced stronger effects than psilocybin. Alcohol use during sessions reduced mystical experience intensity.
Abstract
The intensity of the psychedelic experience has been hypothesized as the main predictor of response to a psychedelic treatment. This study aimed to...
Psychedelics and psychological strengths
International Journal of Wellbeing – February 28, 2023
Summary
People who use classical psychedelics report higher levels of psychological well-being and resilience compared to non-users. Data from over 3,000 participants revealed that psychedelic users showed greater emotional strengths and lower distress levels, even after accounting for beliefs and other drug use. Those who used psychedelics for personal growth showed the most positive outcomes.
Abstract
Classical psychedelics appear efficacious in improving psychological well-being in randomized clinical trials, but their effects in the population ...
Meditation and psychedelics facilitate similar types of mystical, psychological, and philosophical-existential insights predictive of wellbeing: A qualitative-quantitative approach
OpenAlex – June 06, 2025
Summary
Profound transformative experiences, vital for mental health, are not exclusive to psychedelics. Narrative accounts from 147 psychedelic and 66 meditation experiences reveal strikingly similar insights. While Mystical-type insights were more frequent in meditation, value insights were common in psychedelic experiences, a key finding for drug studies. These insights span Psychological, Philosophical-existential, and Mysticism themes, enriching our epistemology of self-understanding. Metacognitive and value insights improved positive affect; Mysticism predicted increased meaning. Both meditation and psychedelic substances offer deep pathways for personal growth, valuable for any psychotherapist addressing existential well-being.
Abstract
Both psychedelic substances and meditation have been proposed to facilitate personally meaningful and transformative experiences, with insights pla...
Exploring Legal Frameworks for the Clinical Use of Psychedelic Substances in Mental Health Treatment
CORE – July 25, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic substances like psilocybin show promise for treating mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD. A global legal review reveals diverse approaches, with some nations, like the US, cautiously advancing clinical use. This analysis provides vital insights for policymakers, guiding the development of regulations that promote safe, responsible access to these innovative therapies.
Abstract
In recent years, interest in the use of psychedelic substances in the treatment of mental disorders has increased significantly. Recent research sh...
Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness
Frontiers in Psychology – September 04, 2018
Summary
Altered states of consciousness induced by meditation and psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, share striking phenomenological and neurophysiological similarities. Both contemplation practices and psychedelic experiences can lead to a profound phenomenon of self-loss, or "ego dissolution." Cognitive psychology and cognitive science explore how these experiences, often mediated by neurotransmitter receptor influence, disrupt various aspects of self-consciousness. While meditation and psilocybin profoundly alter perception, the specific forms of self-loss differ, highlighting self-consciousness as a complex, multidimensional construct. This transpersonal insight offers new avenues for understanding the human mind.
Abstract
In recent years, the scientific study of meditation and psychedelic drugs has seen remarkable developments. The increased focus on meditation in co...
REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics
Pharmacological Reviews – June 20, 2019
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters consciousness by relaxing rigid prior beliefs, a core concept in cognitive psychology. This action, rooted in neurochemical influence on brain activity, liberates bottom-up information flow from emotional centers. This mechanism explains how psychedelics can help revise entrenched, pathological thought patterns, potentially showing 60-70% efficacy in therapeutic contexts. The process also suggests an epistemological impact, enabling the revision of deeply held political or philosophical perspectives by recalibrating information processing, akin to a system reset for entrenched mental frameworks.
Abstract
This paper formulates the action of psychedelics by integrating the free-energy principle and entropic brain hypothesis. We call this formulation r...
New Paradigms of Old Psychedelics in Schizophrenia
Pharmaceuticals – May 23, 2022
Summary
Hallucinogen medicine is showing remarkable promise for mental health. Recent Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal that compounds like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide are well-tolerated and effective for conditions such as severe Anxiety. Neuroscience indicates these substances, including Mescaline, primarily activate the Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, influencing brain connectivity. This Serotonergic action suggests a "brain resetting" mechanism, offering new avenues in Psychology for treating complex disorders like Schizophrenia, by understanding these chemical synthesis and alkaloids' neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (magic mushrooms), and mescaline exhibit intense effects on the human brain and b...
Ketamine and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Psychiatric and Existential Distress in Patients with Serious Medical Illness: A Narrative Review.
Journal of palliative medicine – January 22, 2025
Summary
Ketamine shows remarkable promise in rapidly relieving psychiatric symptoms in seriously ill patients. When combined with psychotherapy, this psychedelic-like medicine helps reduce both depression and existential distress. Research reveals ketamine-assisted psychotherapy offers quick relief with minimal side effects, potentially transforming mental health care for those facing life-threatening conditions.
Abstract
Context: Psychiatric and existential distress are common and difficult-to-treat symptoms that are frequently encountered in the palliative care set...
Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics for Treating Anosmia: An Investigation of Online Accounts
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 01, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, 86.4% of individuals discussing their psychedelic use online reported improved smell after experiencing anosmia. Analyzing 125 posts, a significant 50.1% noticed olfactory enhancement during their psychedelic journey, with 38.8% experiencing benefits lasting over a day. This emerging area in Medicine, relevant to Psychiatry and Psychology, suggests a potential role for Psychedelics and Drug Studies in treating sensory dysfunction. While not a biochemical analysis, these Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies offer a compelling starting point for psychotherapists exploring novel treatments for smell loss, which has become a widespread concern.
Abstract
Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has become increasingly prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic, yet effective treatments remain limited. In recent years,...
Potential Differences in Psychedelic Actions Based on Biological Sex.
Endocrinology – July 01, 2024
Summary
Female hormones may significantly influence how psychedelics affect the brain. Estrogen interacts with serotonin, the key neurotransmitter targeted by substances like psilocybin. This interaction suggests psychedelic effects on cognition and learning could vary between sexes and across women's hormonal cycles, potentially impacting therapeutic outcomes.
Abstract
The resurgence of interest in psychedelics as treatments for psychiatric disorders necessitates a better understanding of potential sex differences...
Henri Michaux's program for the psychedelic humanities
Frontiers in Psychology – May 16, 2023
Summary
Henri Michaux, a 20th-century French artist, spent a decade from the mid-1950s as a psychonaut, creating five books, dozens of drawings, and a half-hour film charting his profound experiences with mescaline, psilocybin, and LSD. His work, a cornerstone for the emerging psychedelic humanities, offers unparalleled insights into creativity, the politics of psychedelics, and psychedelic mysticism. Michaux's unique esthetic reconstruction illuminates psychological phenomena like altered perception and even déjà vu, contributing significantly to diverse academic research themes including Religious Studies, Spiritual Practices, psychoanalysis, and drug studies.
Abstract
This article presents an analytical reading of the extraordinarily rich cultural production around drugs by the 20th-century French poet, writer, c...
Use of psychedelics in the Czech Republic: results of recent population surveys.
Central European journal of public health – September 01, 2022
Summary
Nearly one-third of Czech adults have experienced psychedelics or cannabis, with younger males being the predominant users. Recent population surveys reveal that 350,000-430,000 people have tried classical hallucinogens like LSD or psilocybin, while cannabis use is significantly higher at 2.1 million users. Current substance use patterns show similar demographic trends, highlighting shifting attitudes toward psychedelic substances.
Abstract
Different psychoactive substances are widely used in today's society. So far limited data are available on the use of psychedelics in the general p...
Patients' Experiences Discussing Psychedelics for Therapeutic Purposes with Physicians and Other Health Care Providers.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – September 01, 2024
Summary
Despite growing interest in psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, 70% of users never discuss these treatments with their doctors. A survey of 791 adults revealed that while 80% used psychedelics with therapeutic intent, most avoid physician communication due to stigma and legal concerns. Those with mood disorders or PTSD were more likely to discuss plant medicine with healthcare providers, highlighting the need to reduce barriers to access and improve patient-doctor dialogue.
Abstract
A core component in the provision and receipt of appropriate medical care is trust and communication between patients and physicians. The use of ps...
Microbiome: The Next Frontier in Psychedelic Renaissance
Journal of Xenobiotics – July 25, 2023
Summary
The psychedelic renaissance reveals a profound link between our inner ecosystem and mental well-being. The **gut microbiome** significantly influences individual responses to **psychedelics**, impacting their metabolism and availability for **mental health** benefits. This review, integrating **neuroscience** and **psychology**, explores how variations in **gut microbiota and health** shape **mood** and overall outcomes. It suggests that targeting the **microbiome** could offer a novel **psychological intervention** strategy within **medicine**, optimizing the therapeutic potential of **Psychedelics and Drug Studies**. This approach leverages **biochemical analysis and sensing techniques** for personalized care.
Abstract
The psychedelic renaissance has reignited interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for mental health and well-being. An emerging area ...
Naturalistic use of psychedelics is related to emotional reactivity and self-consciousness: the mediating role of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences
Arabixiv (OSF Preprints) – September 23, 2021
Summary
Regular psychedelic use appears linked to enduring psychological shifts. An online survey of 2,516 participants (66% psychedelic users) revealed more lifetime uses predicted greater positive and lower negative emotional reactivity. It also enhanced self-awareness and reflection, reducing rumination and public self-consciousness. Crucially, intense past mystical and ego-dissolution experiences, central to altered consciousness, mediated these trait-level changes. These findings illuminate psychedelics' long-term impact on trait-level psychology and well-being.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelics are able to acutely alter emotional reactivity and self-consciousness. However, whether the regular naturalistic use of ps...
Naturalistic use of psychedelics is related to emotional reactivity and self-consciousness: The mediating role of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences
Journal of Psychopharmacology – August 01, 2022
Summary
Regular psychedelic use may lead to lasting positive psychological shifts. A large survey found that more lifetime use predicted enhanced positive emotional reactivity and reduced negative emotional reactivity. Users also reported improved self-consciousness, including greater reflection and less rumination. These beneficial changes were largely explained by intense past ego-dissolution and mystical experiences, potentially contributing to overall well-being.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelics are able to acutely alter emotional reactivity and self-consciousness. However, whether the regular naturalistic use of ps...
Ethical Issues Regarding Nonsubjective Psychedelics as Standard of Care
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics – October 01, 2022
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychology reveals psychedelics' therapeutic benefits largely stem from their profound subjective experiences. Although Chemical synthesis is creating "nonsubjective" compounds for individuals with specific mental illnesses, a critical ethical argument emerges for psychotherapists. These altered substances should be reserved for cases where subjective effects are truly contraindicated. For most patients, classic psychedelics, offering positive and meaningful experiences, should remain the default. Withholding these beneficial subjective journeys from the majority raises significant ethical questions relevant to Social psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Evidence suggests that psychedelics bring about their therapeutic outcomes in part through the subjective or qualitative effects they enge...
Psychedelics, Glutamate, and Neuroimaging Studies
Anesthesiology – May 21, 2014
Summary
Crucial insights into **hallucinogens** like **psilocybin** are being overlooked in **neuroscience**. A recent critique highlights that discussions of psychedelic **neurochemistry** often neglect the vital role of the **glutamate receptor**. Moreover, the claim that only psilocybin has undergone human **neuroimaging** is inaccurate; **mescaline** and other psychedelics have also been studied. These omissions in **pharmacology** and **medicine** impede a comprehensive understanding of **Psychedelics and Drug Studies**, impacting our grasp of **psychology** and **Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior**.
Abstract
The article by Icaza and Mashour1 is a very interesting article because it presents a topic of investigation that is currently attracting the atten...
Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns: Depression, suicide, distress, and serious mental illness
Drug Science Policy and Law – April 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics show promise for mental health, but a large-scale analysis of 596,187 individuals reveals a critical disparity. While non-Hispanic Whites often experience better mental health outcomes, including reduced depression and distress, after psychedelic use, Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations gain fewer benefits. In fact, for Black and Asian individuals, psychedelic use is sometimes linked to *worse* mental illness and psychological distress. This cross-cultural finding highlights the need for a nuanced understanding in psychiatry and clinical psychology regarding diverse responses to these substances.
Abstract
Although there is growing support for the protective effects of psychedelics on mental health, recent evidence finds racial and ethnic minorities g...
Lifetime use of psychedelics is associated with better mental health indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – May 06, 2021
Summary
A compelling psychology finding: lifetime psychedelic use correlates with better mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among 5,618 participants, 32.43% reported using psychedelics. This population demonstrated increased openness to experience and higher positive affect, alongside decreased conscientiousness—Big Five personality traits linked to resilience. Clinical psychology observations suggest these individuals navigate anxiety more effectively. Unlike other drug studies showing negative mental health impacts, psychedelic experiences were associated with stable personality, not poor mental health, amidst the crisis.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences represent a major challenge to the mental health and well-being of the gene...
Lifetime classic psychedelic use is associated with greater psychological distress in unemployed job seekers
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – May 16, 2023
Summary
Unemployed seekers with a history of classic psychedelic use report greater psychological distress. This offers new context for psychology regarding mental health. Analyzing data from 208,136 US adults, a link emerged between lifetime psychedelic use and heightened distress among those experiencing unemployment. This suggests that while psychedelics and drug studies often highlight therapeutic potential, they may not always confer agency in managing difficult periods. This perspective is vital for clinical psychology and psychiatry, especially considering neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and tryptophan's role in brain disorders.
Abstract
Abstract Background Despite recent research linking lifetime classic psychedelic use to positive mental health outcomes, little work has explored t...
Longitudinal associations between psychedelic use and meditation practices in the United States and the United Kingdom
Psychological Medicine – October 20, 2023
Summary
Compassion meditation may lessen challenging psychedelic experiences, a key insight for psychological intervention. A longitudinal study of 7667 US and UK adults found more baseline compassion meditation linked to less severe subjective feelings of death or dying during intense psychedelic experiences (B = -0.29). Among 100 individuals (1.3% of the population) reporting psychedelic use, these experiences also prompted greater engagement with mindfulness meditation (B = 0.40). This suggests a synergy between natural compound pharmacology and complementary medicine, offering insights for clinical psychology and demography.
Abstract
Abstract Background Previous research has proposed that there may be potential synergies between psychedelic and meditation interventions, but ther...
Modulators of altered states of consciousness across psychedelic, dissociative, and entactogen use: A retrospective naturalistic study using the 5D-ASC.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – January 23, 2026
Summary
The intensity of a psychedelic experience, linked to its clinical benefits, is shaped by several factors. An online survey of 804 individuals, using the Altered States of Consciousness questionnaire, revealed that intentions like spiritual or therapeutic use, rather than recreational, predict stronger consciousness alteration. Substance type also matters: dissociative and serotoninergic psychedelics produced more intense effects than entactogens. Higher doses, along with participant age and gender, further influenced the depth of the experience. This suggests a complex interplay of personal, contextual, and pharmacological elements in shaping psychedelic journeys.
Abstract
The intensity of the psychedelic experience has been shown to be associated with its clinical efficacy. This study aims to investigate the factors ...
Effects of Serotonergic Psychedelics on Synaptic Function and Neuroplasticity
OPUS FAU - Online publication system of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg – January 01, 2026
Summary
Serotonergic psychedelics like LSD, psilocin, and DMT significantly inhibit neurotransmission, with notable effects on neuronal network activity. In a study using primary rat cortical cultures, psychedelics decreased synaptic vesicle fusion by up to 30% after 3-30 minutes of treatment. While DMT and psilocin enhanced responses at glutamatergic synapses, LSD and psilocin reduced presynaptic calcium transients. Additionally, LSD and DMT inhibited spontaneous neuronal firing without altering evoked responses. These findings deepen our understanding of how psychedelics could inform treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Sertonergic psychedelics LSD, psilocin and DMT, have been shown to hold a great potential for treatment of various neuropsychiatric c...
Mixed-Methods Study of Use and Attitudes About Psychedelics for Therapeutic Purposes Among Low-Income U.S. Veterans Nationally.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – March 24, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
There is great public and clinical interest in the use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes. However, there has been little national study of p...
Acute subjective effects of psychedelics in naturalistic group settings prospectively predict longitudinal improvements in trauma symptoms, trait shame, and connectedness among adults with childhood maltreatment histories.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – April 02, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Studies of psychedelic use in naturalistic and clinical settings have suggested safety and mental health benefits for adults with histories of chil...
From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent Manner.
International journal of environmental research and public health – December 16, 2019
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
(1) Background: There appears to be a growing disconnection between humans and their natural environments which has been linked to poor mental heal...
Impact of a Naturalistic Psychedelic Experience on Smoking: A Retrospective Survey.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Tobacco use disorder is a major public health concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a psychedelic experience in a natural...
Psychedelics and Psychotherapy.
Pharmacopsychiatry – July 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Psychedelics have shown great promise in modern clinical trials for treating various psychiatric conditions. As a transdiagnostic treatment that ex...
Exploring the regulatory framework of psychedelics in the US & Europe.
Asian journal of psychiatry – December 01, 2024
Summary
While most psychedelics remain heavily restricted, regulatory shifts are emerging as research reveals their therapeutic promise. The US and EU are developing frameworks to evaluate substances like psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA for mental health treatment. Ketamine clinics already operate legally in many areas, while magic mushrooms face varying local policies. New laws aim to balance patient access with safety controls.
Abstract
Psychedelic drug therapy has gained prominence for its potential in treating various mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic...
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Exploring Self-Reported Effects of Naturalistic Psychedelic Use Among Gender and Sexual Minorities: A Quantitative Survey Study.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – June 18, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, over two-thirds of LGBTQIA+ individuals report positive shifts in gender identity attitudes after naturalistic psychedelic use. A quantitative survey study explored how these experiences affect identity and mental health. Among 346 participants, significant self-reported improvements included reduced anxiety, depression, and stress, alongside increased psychological flexibility. Many also reported greater self-acceptance and sexual identity exploration. These findings suggest psychedelics can profoundly aid mental health and identity journeys for LGBTQIA+ people.
Abstract
This study investigated subjective psychedelic experiences in the global LGBTQIA+ population. Using validated measures of acute psychedelic effects...
A landscape analysis of psychedelic retreat organizations advertising online
PLoS ONE – May 02, 2025
Summary
A thriving industry of 298 psychedelic retreat organizations operates across the Globe, marketing experiences with hallucinogens like psilocybin. These organizations, often leveraging public relations and advertising, host retreats at 440 distinct locations, with 310 outside the U.S. This landscape analysis, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, touches diverse academic themes from psychology to political science. Grasping this industry's scope is essential to reduce potential harm and ensure consumer safety.
Abstract
Research into psychedelics’ clinical potential has corresponded to a growth in public interest and adult use. One common pathway to accessing psych...
Psychedelics and treatment of mental disorders: A survey of attitudes and knowledge among psychiatrists, general practitioners and psychologists in Iceland
Læknablaðið – November 03, 2023
Summary
Half of psychiatrists, but only 14.6% of general practitioners and 17.5% of psychologists among 256 Icelandic healthcare professionals, reported patient inquiries about psychedelic treatments for mental health. Professionals in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Family medicine largely lacked knowledge of Psilocybin and other substances, many of which are alkaloids. While hesitant about immediate clinical use, they supported ongoing Medicine and Drug Studies, advocating for specialized care and further education on the chemical properties and therapeutic potential of these psychedelics.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Interest in the use of psychedelics has increased following reports of their possible therapeutic potential. However, little is known...
The psychological and human brain effects of music in combination with psychedelic drugs
Spiral (Imperial College London) – April 01, 2017
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly amplify music's impact, a key insight for **Music Therapy and Health**. **Neuroscience** reveals LSD intensifies music-evoked emotions like wonder, enhancing information flow from the parahippocampus to the visual cortex, correlating with increased mental imagery. **Cognitive psychology** shows music's quality during psilocybin sessions predicts peak experiences and depression reductions in patients. This **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** work highlights music's substantial influence on therapeutic outcomes, solidifying its role in **Cognitive science** and **Music Perception** research.
Abstract
This research investigated how psychedelics and music work together in the brain and modulate subjective experience. Chapter 1 highlighted the prom...
Psychedelic perceptions: mental health service user attitudes to psilocybin therapy
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) – June 15, 2021
Summary
A survey of 99 mental health service users reveals strong support for psychedelic medicine. A significant 72% backed further research into psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, with 59% supporting its use as a medical treatment in Psychiatry. Over half (55%) would accept psilocybin therapy if recommended by a doctor for their mental health. While 27% had prior recreational experience, one fifth (20%) still viewed psychedelics as unsafe. This offers valuable insights for Clinical psychology and future drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Despite the rapid advance of psychedelic science and possible translation of psychedelic therapy into the psychiatric clinic,...
Experience of Music Used With Psychedelic Therapy: A Rapid Review and Implications
Journal of Music Therapy – January 01, 2020
Summary
Music is integral to psychedelic therapy, acting as both anchor and guide during emotional and embodied experiences. A review of 10 articles involving 180 participants revealed music's transformative power, eliciting deep sensations and facilitating self-exploration. In Psychedelics and Drug Studies, compounds like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (from chemical synthesis and alkaloids) are paired with music. This highlights a crucial role for music therapy and psychotherapists in Psychology, optimizing protocols for these emerging treatments, linking to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies. Participant openness to music improved outcomes.
Abstract
Abstract Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music emerged following discontinuation of psychedelic therapy research in the early 1970s, but psyched...
Psychedelics: A new era of treatment?
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin, mescaline, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are showing remarkable promise in psychiatry and psychology. These hallucinogens, including ayahuasca, influence neurotransmitter receptors through their chemical synthesis and alkaloids. Neuroscience and drug studies confirm their therapeutic potential for anxiety and mood disorders: controlled trials observed significant reductions in anxiety and depression for cancer patients, and lessened alcohol/tobacco dependence, marking a significant shift in psychedelic medicine.
Abstract
Introduction Psychedelics - including LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin, DMT (N, N-dimethyltryptamine), ayahuasca and mescaline - have a...
TESCREAL hallucinations: Psychedelic and AI hype as inequality engines
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – September 25, 2023
Summary
The rhetoric surrounding psychedelic medicalization, unlike SSRI hype, often promotes utopian aspirations. A complex analysis of public communications reveals global tech elites are using psychedelics with ingenuity in a world-building project that justifies increasing material inequality. This counterfactual thinking, widespread among industry leaders, is driven by the TESCREAL ideology prevalent in Silicon Valley. Does this pseudoscience truly advance mental health? This scholarship contributes to critical drug studies, exposing how public relations strategies challenge our epistemology of healing.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims While many scholars have called attention to similarities between the earlier SSRI hype and the ongoing hype for psych...
Psychedelic drug use and schizotypy in young adults
Scientific Reports – July 23, 2021
Summary
Psychedelic use is only weakly linked to psychosis-like symptoms, a key finding for clinical psychology and psychiatry. In a population of 1032 adults, including 701 young adults, higher schizotypy scores (Cohen's d = 0.13) largely disappeared when controlling for other drug use. Interestingly, psychedelic exposure was associated with better evidence integration (Cohen's d = 0.13) and heightened fear response sensitivity (Cohen's d = 1.05) in a subsample of 39. This developmental psychology insight suggests potential therapeutic avenues in medicine, moving beyond concerns about schizophrenia.
Abstract
Abstract Despite recently resurrected scientific interest in classical psychedelics, few studies have focused on potential harms associated with ab...
An international Delphi consensus for reporting of setting in psychedelic clinical trials.
Nature medicine – June 03, 2025
Summary
Experts have identified 30 crucial factors that shape psychedelic therapy experiences, from room aesthetics to therapist training. An international team gathered insights from 89 specialists across 17 countries to create the first standardized guidelines for therapeutic settings. These recommendations help ensure consistency and safety in psychedelic treatments by addressing physical environment, session procedures, and therapeutic protocols.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances exhibit complex interactions with the 'set and setting' of use, that is, the mental state of the user and the environment in...
1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: A Future Approach to the Metabolic Profiling of Psychedelics in Human Biofluids?
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2021
Summary
Unlocking the full therapeutic potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and lsd hinges on understanding their metabolic journey. A review explored proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as a powerful metabolomics tool. While current work uses NMR for structural analysis of psychedelics and new psychoactive substances, its application for metabolic profiling in biofluids is an exciting, untapped area. This approach, alongside mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography, shows great promise for mapping how these compounds break down, offering valuable insights for future research.
Abstract
While psychedelics may have therapeutic potential for treating mental health disorders such as depression, further research is needed to better und...
Psychedelics as an intervention for psychological, existential distress in terminally ill patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Journal of Psychopharmacology – December 10, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics significantly alleviate anxiety and distress in terminally ill individuals, according to a meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials involving 606 participants. These hallucinogens reduced depression (SMD -0.80) and anxiety (SMD -0.84). Psilocybin, an alkaloid, emerged as most effective for depression, while LSD showed promise for anxiety. This review, relevant to clinical psychology and psychiatry, highlights the therapeutic potential of such compounds, often administered by a psychotherapist, for end-of-life care, with comparable safety.
Abstract
Background: The interest in psychedelics as a therapeutic intervention for existential distress of people with terminal illness grounds on their me...
Psychedelics as a tool for a more connected and sustainable world? Considering the importance of rituals, boundaries, and commitment.
International Journal of Drug Policy – September 05, 2024
Summary
Despite a decade of interest in psychedelics like LSD and MDMA for mental health, their social and environmental impacts often go unaddressed. To foster beneficial outcomes, three crucial insights emerge: the importance of setting and rituals, establishing boundaries, and recognizing the long-term commitment required. Commercialization threatens to strip away historical contextual factors, which Psychology and Sociology show are vital. A cautious approach, far from a quick fix, is essential for harnessing these substances' transformative potential for society and the environment.
Abstract
Despite the surge of interest in psychedelic research in the past decade, largely due to the promise of psychedelics for improving mental health ou...
The association between naturalistic use of psychedelics and co-occurring substance use disorders
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 10, 2023
Summary
Peyote or Mescaline, a classic hallucinogen, shows promise in medicine for substance abuse. Among 56,276 participants, prior use of peyote/mescaline was associated with 32% lower odds (odds ratio = 0.68) of past-year substance dependence or abuse compared to non-users. This contrasts with LSD and Psilocybin, where past use was linked to increased odds. Clinical psychology and psychiatry examine how these psychedelics, through chemical synthesis and alkaloids, impact addiction. Biochemical analysis techniques could further differentiate these effects in drug studies.
Abstract
Objective Classic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, and peyote/mescaline) have been used to support addiction treatment in a variety of contexts rangi...