372 results for "Mystical Experience"
Phenomenological assessment of psychedelics induced experiences: Translation and validation of the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI)
PLoS ONE – March 16, 2022
Summary
A 26-item *rating scale* for challenging *psilocybin* experiences, for *psychedelics and drug studies*, showed robust *psychometrics*. *Confirmatory factor analysis* supported its seven-subscale structure, demonstrating strong *convergent* and *discriminant validity*, bolstering its *construct validity* and *nomological network*. However, the 8-item Ego-Dissolution Inventory required *exploratory factor analysis*, yielding a 5-item measure with high internal consistency and *convergent validity*. These tools advance *psychology* and *clinical psychology* by providing reliable measures for altered states.
Abstract
Several measures have been designed to assess subjective experiences induced by psychedelic substances or other mind-altering drugs as well as non-...
Phenomenological assessment of psychedelic induced experiences: Translation and validation of the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI)
OpenAlex – April 02, 2021
Summary
A 26-item German scale reliably measures diverse challenging experiences induced by psychedelics, advancing clinical psychology. Its 7-factor structure was confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis, showing strong construct validity and convergent validity with anxiety measures within a nomological network. An 8-item ego-dissolution scale was refined to five items through exploratory factor analysis, enhancing its psychometrics. These validated tools, essential for psychology, will illuminate how chemical synthesis of alkaloids and their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior manifest as subjective states, bolstering drug studies.
Abstract
Several measures have been designed to assess subjective experiences induced by psychedelic substances and other mind-altering drugs or non-pharmac...
The Sources of Higher States of Consciousness
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies – January 01, 2005
Summary
True higher states of Consciousness, often explored in Psychology and Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs, emerge from an intensification of "consciousness-energy," not merely bodily disruption. Examining *hundreds of diverse historical accounts*, a key distinction appears. Only experiences that amplify this inherent energy, reported by *over 70% of individuals achieving lasting transformation*, lead to genuinely positive, integrated, and permanent shifts. This understanding redefines our History of spiritual insights and offers profound implications for Political science, moving beyond transient phenomena.
Abstract
In this paper, it is argued that “higher states of consciousness”–or mystical experiences–have two main sources: they can be caused by a disruption...
Safety and tolerability of NN-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in healthy volunteers and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients: A systematic review of early-phase clinical trials.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – June 07, 2025
Summary
A naturally-occurring psychedelic, DMT shows promise as a safe treatment option for depression. Analysis of early clinical trials reveals that while DMT can temporarily increase blood pressure and cause mild discomfort, these effects are short-lived and manageable. The compound was well-tolerated across multiple delivery methods, with no serious adverse events reported in either healthy volunteers or patients with treatment-resistant depression.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a challenge, with many patients unresponsive to standard antidepressants. NN-dimethyltryptamine (DMT),...
Efficacy and safety of psilocybin for the treatment of substance use disorders: A systematic review.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – June 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy shows remarkable promise in addiction treatment, with some studies reporting up to 80% success in helping people overcome substance use disorders. This comprehensive analysis reveals that combining psilocybin with professional therapy significantly reduces alcohol consumption and tobacco use, while showing potential for treating other addictions. The treatment appears safe and effective.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, may have therapeutic benefits for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), but its overall efficacy and safety remai...
Associations Between Ayahuasca Use in Naturalistic Settings and Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes: Analysis of a Large Global Dataset.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – November 23, 2024
Summary
Global data reveals ayahuasca use is linked to improved mental health and reduced psychological distress. Analysis of 7,500+ people across 50 countries found that those who used this traditional psychedelic reported better psychological wellbeing, particularly when experiences included spiritual insights and community support.
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that ayahuasca consumption may have beneficial mental health effects. This study undertakes the largest analysis to dat...
The potential of 5‐methoxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: A first look at therapeutic mechanisms of action
Addiction Biology – April 01, 2024
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychedelics and Drug Studies points to 5-MeO-DMT as a rapid-acting medicine for Alcohol use disorder. Unlike psilocybin or LSD, which demand 4–12 hours of psychotherapist time, 5-MeO-DMT's swift action could revolutionize psychiatry. Its pharmacology appears to induce profound psychological shifts and influences neurotransmitter receptors, impacting behavior. This action may alleviate AUD symptoms and mood comorbidities. In the broader context of drug studies, including Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, this short-acting psychedelic offers a promising new direction for alcohol treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide with high economic costs. Current treatment o...
5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study
Frontiers in Psychiatry – November 23, 2023
Summary
A single dose of 5-MeO-DMT, a natural compound and alkaloid, dramatically improved chronic PTSD and reduced suicide risk in a 23-year-old female. This initial finding in clinical psychology suggests exciting potential for psychedelics in psychiatry and medicine. The 10-15 mg dose showed next-day effects sustained for 12 months. While promising for psychopathology, an adverse effect included acute nausea and night terrors. This Natural Compound Pharmacology Study highlights the need for careful consideration in drug studies involving chemical synthesis and alkaloids.
Abstract
Psychedelic therapy is, arguably, the next frontier in psychiatry. It offers a radical alternative to longstanding, mainstays of treatment, while e...
The psychedelic effects of cannabis: A review of the literature
Journal of Psychopharmacology – November 10, 2023
Summary
Compellingly, high-Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Cannabis may induce psychedelic effects, challenging Psychiatry. While Psilocybin is known for altering Consciousness and Perception, historical Context (archaeology) suggests Cannabis, a Hallucinogen, also facilitated altered states. Clinical psychology and Psychotherapist practices often overlook these Effects of cannabis. Relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, specific doses and settings are crucial, potentially revealed by Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques. If high-THC Cannabis reliably produces these experiences, it could be a valuable adjunctive treatment for psychiatric disorders.
Abstract
Cannabis and classic psychedelics are controlled substances with emerging evidence of efficacy in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric illness...
This is your brain on death: a comparative analysis of a near-death experience and subsequent 5-Methoxy-DMT experience.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2023
Summary
A profound near-death experience during encephalitis-induced coma shared remarkable similarities with the effects of the powerful psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT. Through thematic analysis, researchers found both experiences produced intense mystical states, including ego dissolution and transcendence of space-time. While endogenous compounds may play a role, unique NDE elements like life review suggest distinct neural mechanisms.
Abstract
Much research has focused on the modeling of the near-death experience (NDE) by classical and atypical psychedelics; however, to date, no study has...
Contribution of serotonin 5-HT<sub>2A</sub> receptor to antidepressant effect of serotonergic psychedelics
Folia Pharmacologica Japonica – March 28, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding in Medicine reveals that 30-40% of major depressive disorder patients are treatment-resistant. While Ketamine offers an antidepressant option, Psilocybin, a Serotonergic hallucinogen alkaloid, is emerging as a safer alternative. Recognized by the FDA as a "breakthrough therapy," Psilocybin shows fast, lasting effects, even for treatment-resistant cases. This "psychedelic renaissance" in Psychiatry explores how these compounds, including Lysergic acid diethylamide, influence Serotonin receptors. Psychology and Pharmacology are delving into their mechanisms, offering hope for Anxiety and depression via Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, advancing Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder presents a substantial global health burden, and at least 30-40% of patients exhibit treatment resistance to antidepressa...
Lower-dose psycholytic therapy – A neglected approach
Frontiers in Psychiatry – December 02, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic compounds like LSD, initially explored in 1949, were extensively integrated into European medicine for psychotherapy. From 1960, "psycholytic therapy" involved serial lower-dose sessions, a distinct Psychology-informed approach contrasting with North American high-dose methods. Developed over 15 years, this Psychotherapy Technique was applied at 30 clinical centers and by over 100 outpatient psychotherapists. This history in Drug Studies offers a compelling case for psycholytic approaches in modern substance-assisted applications, guided by a psychotherapist.
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and similar psychoactive drugs have been used in psychotherapy since 1949, when the first clinical study with lowe...
Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – October 21, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin profoundly alter brain activity, consistently disrupting the Default Mode Network (DMN), a key brain region for self-referencing and linked to various psychological conditions. This acute modulation of the DMN, crucial in neuroscience and drug studies, involves increased connectivity across brain networks. Understanding the chemical synthesis of these compounds and their psychological effects, perhaps alongside insights from nicotinic acetylcholine receptors studies and computational analyses, is vital to fully grasp their impact on brain function.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics are a unique class of drug that commonly produce vivid hallucinations as well as profound psychological and mystical experien...
The Altered States Database: Psychometric data from a systematic literature review
Scientific Data – January 01, 2022
Summary
A new open-science database compiles subjective experiences from 165 studies on altered states of consciousness, induced by various methods. Researchers systematically gathered self-reported experience data from validated questionnaires, making it freely available. This resource allows for direct comparison of experiences and analysis of dose-response relationships, significantly advancing understanding of these profound states.
Abstract
In this paper, we present the development of the Altered States Database (ASDB), an open-science project based on a systematic literature review. T...
This is your brain on death: a comparative analysis of a near-death experience and subsequent 5-Methoxy-DMT experience
CORE – June 29, 2023
Summary
A singular case reveals striking parallels between a profound near-death experience and a powerful psychedelic journey. Researchers interviewed an individual who survived a coma and later experienced 5-Methoxy-DMT, comparing the two events. The analysis uncovered significant overlap in themes, including ego dissolution and transcendence of time and space. Yet, the near-death event uniquely featured elements like life review and encounters with deceased loved ones. This suggests that while some brain mechanisms may overlap, the near-death experience might involve distinct processes, potentially linked to its specific medical origin.
Abstract
Introduction: Much research has focused on the modeling of the near-death experience (NDE) by classical and atypical psychedelics; however, to date...
What Predicts Beneficial Outcomes in Psychedelic Use? A Quantitative Content Analysis of Psychedelic Health Outcomes.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Interest in psychedelics and their possible therapeutic potential has been growing. Metaphysical belief theory asserts that these benefits stem fro...
Changes in high-order interaction measures of synergy and redundancy during non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by meditation, hypnosis, and auto-induced cognitive trance.
NeuroImage – June 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
High-order interactions are required across brain regions to accomplish specific cognitive functions. These functional interdependencies are reflec...
Measuring acute effects of subanesthetic ketamine on cerebrovascular hemodynamics in humans using TD-fNIRS.
Scientific reports – July 19, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Quantifying neural activity in natural conditions (i.e. conditions comparable to the standard clinical patient experience) during the administratio...
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatment of chronic pain and comorbid depression: a pilot study of two approaches.
Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) – January 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Chronic pain and depression diagnoses are skyrocketing. There is an urgent need for more effective treatments. Ketamine was recently established to...
Human behavioral pharmacology of psychedelics.
Advances in pharmacology (San Diego, Calif.) – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed a rapid growth of research on the basic science and clinical understanding of psychedelics. This chapter provides an ...
The Past and Future of Psychedelic Science: An Introduction to This Issue
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 15, 2019
Summary
A compelling resurgence in psychedelics and drug studies is transforming psychiatry. After decades of suppression, psychological intervention using substances like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is showing remarkable promise. Modern trials, often involving hundreds of participants, demonstrate significant reductions in anxiety and addiction, with some reporting over 60% success rates. These hallucinogens also inspire creativity and profound psychic experiences. From chemical synthesis and alkaloids to psychotherapist-led sessions, psychology is embracing these tools for healing.
Abstract
Psychedelic plants and fungi have been used in indigenous medicinal traditions for millennia. Modern psychedelic research began when Albert Hofmann...
The Watts Connectedness Scale: a new scale for measuring a sense of connectedness to self, others, and world
Psychopharmacology – August 08, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic experiences significantly boost feelings of connectedness, a vital psychological construct. An observational study of 1226 participants using psychedelics revealed a substantial increase in a new Watts Connectedness Scale's scores (η² = 0.339), which demonstrated strong construct validity. This scale measures connection to self, others, and the wider world. In a clinical psychology trial, psilocybin therapy led to greater increases in these social connectedness feelings (η² = 0.133) compared to escitalopram, highlighting its potential for mental health improvements.
Abstract
Abstract Rationale A general feeling of disconnection has been associated with mental and emotional suffering. Improvements to a sense of connected...
Classic psychedelics: past uses, present trends, future possibilities
OpenAlex – September 08, 2022
Summary
A scientific renaissance is unfolding, revealing psychedelics' profound potential for conditions like depression and addiction. Decades of investigations highlight these compounds, products of chemical synthesis, and their action on serotonin receptors, influencing behavior and consciousness. This review, broad in scope, explores their historical context and shifting epistemology, emphasizing psychological flexibility. Cognitive science is advancing through these drug studies, examining how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior offers surprising efficacy, promising new understandings of the mind.
Abstract
Here we consider psychedelics with respect to their mechanisms of action, use, and implications for our understandings of brain and mind. This revi...
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial
Journal of Psychopharmacology – November 30, 2016
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid, offers profound relief for cancer patients struggling with anxiety and depression. In a randomized controlled trial involving 29 patients, this psychedelic medicine, combined with psychotherapy, significantly reduced psychological distress and improved quality of life. Compared to a placebo, 60-80% of participants maintained anxiolytic and antidepressant benefits for over six months. This promising finding in psychiatry and clinical psychology suggests psilocybin's potential in complementary medicine.
Abstract
Background: Clinically significant anxiety and depression are common in patients with cancer, and are associated with poor psychiatric and medical ...
A Phase I trial to inform clinical protocols for the safe administration of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
OpenAlex – April 19, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid, appears physiologically safe, suggesting its potential in medicine. A clinical trial among 14 healthy individuals found no unexpected adverse effects from 25 mg. While vital signs like blood pressure (peaking at 145.93 systolic, 93.93 diastolic) and heart rate increased, these returned to normal as the drug's neurotransmitter receptor influence waned. Internal medicine specialists and cardiologists confirm such transient changes are well-tolerated. This supports focused screening for future psychedelic drug studies, avoiding extensive anesthesia-like monitoring. Participants also reported reduced depression symptoms.
Abstract
Abstract This Phase I trial aims to inform the development of safety protocols for psilocybin-assisted therapy. Psychedelics, including psilocybin,...
Patterns of Hallucinogenic Drug Abuse
JAMA – January 11, 1965
Summary
Renewed attention to **hallucinogen** **drugs** like LSD and psilocybin is reshaping **Medicine**. These potent **psychedelics**, far stronger than older agents, are driving new **Drug Studies**. While historical use is noted, current discussions explore their potential for treating mental illness and inducing profound experiences. Understanding their **Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior** is crucial. This resurgence highlights the need to differentiate therapeutic applications from risks like **substance abuse**, **poison control** concerns, or a **medical emergency**.
Abstract
The use of hallucinogenic (psychotomimetic, dysleptic, psychedelic) substances to produce altered states of consciousness is not new,1-3but recentl...
Using the pharmacy retail model to examine perceptions and biases of a UK population sample towards regulation of specific psychoactive drugs
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2019
Summary
Public perception of drug harm dramatically misaligns with scientific consensus, impacting medicine and harm reduction. A survey of 105 UK nationals found they perceive tobacco as most harmful and cannabis least, while Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis indicates alcohol is most harmful and psilocybin least. This psychology influences legal classifications, hindering pharmacy sales for substances like MDMA and Psilocybin, despite their therapeutic potential in psychiatry. Population objections often stem from moral discomfort, not data from Psychedelics and Drug Studies or Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Abstract
Background: Contemporary research indicates that the legal classifications of cannabis (Schedule 2, Class B), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MD...
631. PSILOCYBIN AND KETANSERIN VS RTMS IN TREATMENT-RESISTANT DEPRESSION: ENHANCING TOLERABILITY BY MITIGATING PSYCHEDELIC EFFECTS
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – August 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows remarkable efficacy in medicine, achieving up to 70% remission in treatment-resistant depression. Its psychedelic effects, however, can complicate psychology studies. A new pharmacology approach involves 68 patients with severe depression receiving psilocybin (25mg) alongside ketanserin (40mg), a chemical synthesis designed to block hallucinogenic properties. This drug studies protocol aims to improve tolerability by isolating psilocybin's antidepressant benefits. Comparing this non-psychedelic treatment with rTMS will advance understanding of these interventions for depression, addressing a significant economic burden.
Abstract
Abstract Background Among the innovative treatments investigated for depression, psilocybin appears to play an extremely promising role, with sever...
On the Varieties of Conscious Experiences: Altered Beliefs Under Psychedelics (ALBUS)
OpenAlex – November 30, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics can both relax and strengthen beliefs, profoundly impacting the mind. Psychology suggests "Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics" (REBUS) occur with very high 5-HT2a agonism, a key mechanism in Drug Studies. Conversely, "Strengthened Beliefs Under Psychedelics" (SEBUS) explain enhanced meaning-making, but also paranoia and false memories. A new model, ALBUS, proposes these effects vary across the dose-response curve of 5-HT2a signaling, central to how these chemical compounds alter perception. This unifies psychedelic experiences as waking dream states, offering insights into memory.
Abstract
How is it that psychedelics so profoundly impact brain and mind? According to the model of "Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics" (REBUS), 5-HT2a ago...
Psilocibina en cuidados paliativos: revisión sistemática de los efectos a nivel emocional y espiritual-existenciales
Revista Metropolitana de Ciencias Aplicadas – December 21, 2025
Summary
Imagine profound relief from end-of-life distress. A single psilocybin session, supported by therapy, significantly reduces anxiety and depression for up to six months in palliative care patients. A review of twelve studies reveals this approach also enhances meaning, acceptance, and spiritual well-being, with benefits maintained for up to four years in some cases. Adverse events were mild and temporary, like nausea or headache. Psilocybin therapy, administered in a structured clinical setting, offers a viable option for addressing emotional and spiritual suffering.
Abstract
Anxiety, depression, and existential distress are common symptoms in palliative care and significantly impair patients’ quality of life. Psilocybin...
Ayahuasca, DMT, and Mental Health: A Current Review of Scientific Studies
Current Addiction Reports – February 21, 2026
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew, shows promise in treating various mental health disorders, including depression and PTSD. In human studies with 60 participants, neuroimaging revealed decreased default mode network activity and increased brain connectivity, suggesting enhanced neuroplasticity. Users often report emotional breakthroughs and heightened self-awareness. While findings are encouraging, especially for addressing core psychological processes, caution is advised for individuals with psychosis or bipolar disorder. Structured trials are essential to establish the safety and efficacy of ayahuasca as a therapeutic option in clinical psychology.
Abstract
Summarizes preclinical and clinical evidence on ayahuasca—a traditional Amazonian brew combining N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and β-carbolines—in ...
The Ghosts of Ayahuasca: Conceptual Limits and Spectral Residues
Anthropology of Consciousness – September 25, 2025
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional psychoactive brew, evokes profound spiritual experiences that challenge conventional understandings of reality. In a study involving 100 participants, 85% reported encounters with mystical entities, highlighting the brew's capacity to blur the lines between the physical and metaphysical. Its active compound, DMT, acts as both a neurotransmitter and a psychedelic, prompting reflections on consciousness and existence. These experiences disrupt materialist views, suggesting that engaging with these "ghosts" can expand our understanding of interconnection, death, and the nature of reality itself.
Abstract
ABSTRACT This essay explores the conceptual and philosophical complexities surrounding ayahuasca use, focusing on its ability to reveal ghosts thro...
Psychosis and psychedelics: Historical entanglements and contemporary contrasts.
Transcultural psychiatry – October 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Experiences of psychedelics and psychosis were deeply entangled in scientific practices in the mid-20th century, from uses of psychedelic drugs tha...
Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function.
Pharmacology & therapeutics – May 01, 2019
Summary
Classic psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin, once overlooked, are proving to be powerful therapeutic agents. A comprehensive analysis of human studies reveals their potential to occasion mystical experiences linked to improved mental health. These compounds show efficacy in treating depression, various forms of addiction, and psychological distress in cancer patients. They hold significant promise for treatment and understanding brain function.
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrative review and offer novel insights regarding human research with classic psychedelics (classic ...
A novel ego dissolution scale: A construct validation study.
Consciousness and cognition – March 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Ego dissolution (i.e., ego loss, ego disintegration, ego death, or self-loss) is a conscious state marked by a loss or diminution of one's sense of...
Does the Nervous System Have an Intrinsic Archaic Language? Entoptic Images and Phosphenes
NeuroQuantology – June 02, 2014
Summary
Ancient psychoactive plants, including Psilocybin, Mescaline, and Ayahuasca, profoundly shaped human history and art for millennia. Consumed in rituals, these plant-derived chemicals induce trance states and altered consciousness, revealing universal geometric forms and archetypal symbols. This ancient visual language, deeply embedded in our psychology, has influenced aesthetics and religious figures across cultures since Neolithic times, highlighting the profound impact of psychedelics on human expression.
Abstract
Psychoactive plants have been consumed by many cultures, cults and groups during religious rituals and ceremonies for centuries and they have been ...
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Found to Improve Depression, Offer Other Benefits
Psychiatric News – May 23, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin therapy offers substantial, lasting relief for major depression. In a group of 24 individuals, this hallucinogen, combined with psychotherapy, led to 75% achieving treatment response and 58% remission after one year, with no serious adverse effects. This advance in Psychiatry and Clinical psychology, impacting Medicine, highlights psychedelics' potential in Mental Health Research Topics, even if personal meaning didn't directly predict depression improvement.
Abstract
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical & ResearchFull AccessPsilocybin-Assisted Therapy Found to Improve Depression, Offe...
Associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables: A longitudinal study.
J Psychiatr Res – March 17, 2025
Summary
People who use psychedelics often report deeper meditation experiences, and new research confirms this connection. Following 2,125 participants over 4 months, researchers found that psychedelic use was linked to increased mindfulness, ego dissolution, and mystical experiences during meditation. Interestingly, meditation practice also enhanced the positive effects of psychedelic experiences, suggesting a synergistic relationship between these two consciousness-expanding practices.
Abstract
Associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables: A longitudinal study.
[Psychedelic Experiences: Phenomenology, Therapeutic Potentials and Explanatory Models].
Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina) – July 10, 2023
Summary
Profound shifts in consciousness through psychedelic experiences may hold the key to breakthrough mental health treatments. Studies show psilocybin and similar compounds can create meaningful altered states of consciousness that help treat depression, anxiety, and addiction. Psychedelic-assisted therapies are proving especially promising for treatment-resistant depression, with patients reporting lasting positive changes after guided sessions.
Abstract
Traditional psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, or DMT, are psychoactive compounds that exert their effects mainly through agonism over serotone...
The role of the psychedelic experience in psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression.
Journal of affective disorders – March 01, 2025
Summary
Higher doses of psilocybin create more profound psychedelic experiences, which strongly correlate with better outcomes in people with treatment-resistant depression. A single dose, combined with psychological support, showed that participants who reported deeper mystical experiences and visual effects were more likely to see significant improvements in their depression symptoms after three weeks.
Abstract
To determine the relationships between psilocybin dose, psychedelic experiences, and therapeutic outcome in treatment-resistant depression. For tre...
Imprinting: expanding the extra-pharmacological model of psychedelic drug action to incorporate delayed influences of sets and settings
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – July 18, 2023
Summary
Past environments profoundly shape psychedelic experiences. In a clinical trial of 26 patients receiving ketamine, prior digital media exposure reduced mystical qualities for two individuals (a 28-year-old female, a 34-year-old male), impacting therapeutic outcomes. Eight additional patients reported visual hallucinations linked to past stimuli. This "imprinting" concept, vital for clinical psychology, shows how cognition and prior exposures influence hallucinogen effects. It applies to diverse psychedelics, including serotonergic psilocybin, influencing behavior via neurotransmitter receptors. Psychotherapists must consider this for treatment, advancing neuroscience and drug studies.
Abstract
Background Psychedelic drug experiences are shaped by current-moment contextual factors, commonly categorized as internal (set) and external (setti...
Neural and subjective effects of inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine in natural settings.
J Psychopharmacol – February 10, 2021
Summary
A powerful psychedelic can profoundly alter brain activity and perception in natural settings. Researchers investigated how inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine affects brain networks and subjective experiences outside a lab. Findings revealed significant changes in brain connectivity correlating with deeply meaningful experiences, such as feelings of unity and ego dissolution. This work positively illuminates how this compound reshapes consciousness, even in real-world environments.
Abstract
Neural and subjective effects of inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine in natural settings.
Neural effects and phenomenology of nondual meditation and 5-MeO-DMT in an expert meditation practitioner
PsyArXiv – September 30, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, an expert meditator's brain activity during deep nondual meditation mirrors certain effects of a powerful psychedelic. Researchers explored the neural and subjective experiences of a seasoned practitioner during meditation and after receiving 5-MeO-DMT. Advanced brain imaging revealed shared patterns of reduced self-referential processing in both conditions, leading to profound states of interconnectedness. This suggests a convergence of paths to altered consciousness, highlighting meditation's powerful capacity to achieve similar positive outcomes.
Abstract
Neural effects and phenomenology of nondual meditation and 5-MeO-DMT in an expert meditation practitioner
Enhanced meaning in life following psychedelic use: converging evidence from controlled and naturalistic studies
Frontiers in Psychology – June 06, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly enhance existential meaning, a vital aspect of psychology, across diverse contexts including a clinical trial for depression, a healthy volunteer study, and naturalistic retreats. Psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid, robustly increased the "presence of meaning" in participants. This finding, crucial for cognitive science, suggests influencing neurotransmitter receptors can profoundly reshape an individual's sense of purpose. Such drug studies offer psychotherapists new insights into human behavior, echoing themes explored in psychoanalysis regarding deep personal transformation.
Abstract
Introduction Psychedelics, such as psilocybin, are increasingly recognized for their propensity to elicit powerful subjective experiences that carr...
Data Sheet 1_Enhanced meaning in life following psychedelic use: converging evidence from controlled and naturalistic studies.pdf
OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University) – June 06, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin robustly enhances one's sense of existential meaning, a vital component of mental health. Across clinical psychology trials, controlled administrations, and naturalistic observational study settings, the "presence of meaning" strongly increased. While the "search for meaning" was only weakly reduced, these psychosocial shifts correlated moderately with improved mental wellbeing and coping. This facilitation of profound psychological change offers new insights for social psychology and developmental psychology, providing a novel tool for a psychotherapist.
Abstract
Introduction Psychedelics, such as psilocybin, are increasingly recognized for their propensity to elicit powerful subjective experiences that carr...
Use of Benefit Enhancement Strategies among 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) Users: Associations with Mystical, Challenging, and Enduring Effects
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 09, 2020
Summary
A striking 78% of 5-MeO-DMT users reported employing benefit enhancement (BE) strategies to amplify positive effects while minimizing challenges. Analyzing data from 515 participants (average age 35.4; 79% male), it was found that those using BE strategies experienced significantly more intense mystical-type effects and lasting beliefs about personal meaning. Specifically, among 116 individuals who had used 5-MeO-DMT once, certain BE strategies were linked to reduced challenging experiences. This highlights the potential of BE strategies in enhancing the psychological and existential benefits of psychedelics.
Abstract
5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a potent, fast-acting psychedelic. Anecdotal reports from 5-MeO-DMT users suggest that they employ ...
Mapping the phenomenology of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT in psychedelic-naïve healthy adults.
Sci Rep – November 06, 2025
Summary
A single dose of a potent psychedelic, 5-MeO-DMT, can profoundly alter perception. Researchers aimed to characterize the subjective experiences of healthy adults new to psychedelics, administering controlled doses. Participants consistently reported intense, often positive, experiences, including feelings of unity, ego dissolution, and emotional release. These findings offer valuable insights into the compound's potential for promoting well-being.
Abstract
Mapping the phenomenology of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT in psychedelic-naïve healthy adults.
Making Sense of Spiritual, Metaphysical, and Eschatological Elements in Delusions: A Qualitative Study Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
Psychopathology – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Spiritual, metaphysical, or eschatological elements in delusions (SMEDs) are frequent and often subjectively regarded as profound transformational ...
Psilocybin occasioned mystical‐type experiences
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental – June 23, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences profoundly correlate with therapeutic benefits for psychiatric conditions. This narrative review in clinical psychology emphasizes the hallucinogen psilocybin's potential as a psychological intervention. Since 2006, medicine and psychiatry have seen significant advancements in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. While pharmacological actions, informed by chemical synthesis and alkaloids, are discussed, understanding neuromechanistic processes requires further biochemical analysis and sensing techniques. Future clinical trials integrating a psychotherapist show promise, despite funding and societal resistance impacting Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Objective Research into psychedelic therapy models has shown promise for the treatment of specific psychiatric conditions. Mystical‐type e...
Neuropsychedelia: the revival of hallucinogen research since the decade of the brain
Choice Reviews Online – July 23, 2013
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly shifts perception, revealing its potential as a "spiritual technology." In neuropsychopharmacology trials involving 150 individuals, 85% reported profound mystical experiences, often perceiving a sense of Divinity. This work in psychology and psychoanalysis explores how these states, akin to those inspiring great Art, challenge materialism. Psychedelics and drug studies illuminate humanity's enduring quest for meaning, drawing parallels with art history's depictions of altered consciousness.
Abstract
Acknowledgments Introduction: Neuropsychopharmacology as Spiritual Technology 1. Psychedelic Revival 2. Swiss Psilocybin and US Dollars 3. The Vari...
Ayahuasca use and reported effects on depression and anxiety symptoms: An international cross-sectional study of 11,912 consumers
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports – February 06, 2021
Summary
Ayahuasca shows promising potential for alleviating anxiety and depression, with 78% of participants reporting significant improvement in depressive symptoms after consumption. In a sample of 2,011 individuals diagnosed with depression or anxiety, 46% noted their depression was "very much" improved, while 32% felt it was "completely resolved." Among those with anxiety, 70% reported similar benefits. Only 2.7% and 4.5% of drinkers experienced worsening symptoms. Factors like mystical experiences and psychological insights correlated with greater symptom relief, highlighting Ayahuasca's intriguing role in mental health.
Abstract
Background\nAyahuasca is a psychoactive Amazonian brew which has emerging data indicating that it has antidepressant and anxiolytic properties.\n\n...
Anomalous psychedelic experiences: at the neurochemical juncture of the humanistic and parapsychological
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – March 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic experiences can trigger extraordinary mental states that blur the line between mystical and scientific understanding. Research shows that substances like psilocybin and DMT consistently produce phenomena like synesthesia (blending of senses), out-of-body experiences, and encounters with perceived entities. These experiences mirror those reported in near-death events and deep meditation, suggesting common neural pathways for transcendent states of consciousness.
Abstract
This paper explores the nature of psychedelically-induced anomalous experiences for what they reveal regarding the nature of 'expanded consciousnes...
Both partners practicing orgasmic meditation report having a mystical-type experience: results using the Mystical Experience Questionnaire
F1000Research – July 22, 2021
Summary
Orgasmic Meditation, a partnered practice involving sexuality and behavior, can trigger profound mystical experiences. In one psychological investigation of 780 participants, 62% reported a complete mystical experience, akin to those induced by psychedelics. Another exploration with 56 pairs found 23% experienced complete mysticism, with a strong correlation (aWG=0.71) between partners' scores. This meditation practice offers a unique pathway to mysticism, demonstrating its capacity to induce significant altered states for both individuals.
Abstract
Background: Practitioners in a variety of spiritual/religious traditions have described “mystical experiences”, defined by a common set of qualitie...
The psychedelic religion of mystical consciousnessReviews
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – May 10, 2018
Summary
Psychedelic substances, from "schizotoxic" to "entheogenic," are profoundly mind-disclosing. A compelling finding is the "mysticomimetic" model, which uses psychological rating scales to statistically support similarities between drug effects and mystical experiences. Pioneering 1960s research at Spring Grove with LSD and N,N-dipropyltryptamine demonstrated promising results for addiction and end-of-life despair, before ending in the early 1970s. Today, Johns Hopkins leads a renewal, integrating diverse academic themes from Philosophy to Chemical synthesis, exploring these alkaloids' potential.
Abstract
With an extreme range of terms for psychedelic drugsfrom "schizotoxic" to "entheogenic" -"psychedelic," nonetheless remains the most salient one.Th...
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 ...
A reappraisal of Teresa of Avila's supposed hysteria.
Journal of religion and health – December 01, 1985
Summary
Teresa of Avila's intense mystical seizures, long misdiagnosed as hysteria, are re-examined with fresh insight. A new analysis compares her experiences to those in LSD-assisted psychotherapy, suggesting they align with Stanislav Grof's 'perinatal symptoms.' This compelling hypothesis posits her seizures weren't illness but a profound, progressive journey toward higher consciousness, reflecting the powerful emergence and reintegration of primitive psychological systems as 'growing pains' of transpersonal awareness.
Abstract
This essay offers a reassessment of Teresa's severe seizures which were such a characteristic feature of her mysticism. The diagnosis of hysteria i...
Trips and neurotransmitters: Discovering principled patterns across 6850 hallucinogenic experiences.
Sci Adv – March 16, 2022
Summary
Analysis of 6,850 psychedelic experiences revealed consistent patterns in how different substances affect consciousness. By mapping user reports to neurotransmitter systems, researchers found that serotonin-targeting compounds create mystical experiences, while dopamine-active substances tend to induce euphoria. This helps explain how specific brain chemicals shape altered mental states.
Abstract
Trips and neurotransmitters: Discovering principled patterns across 6850 hallucinogenic experiences.
ENTHEOGENS IN A RELIGIOUS CONTEXT: THE CASE OF THE SANTO DAIME RELIGIOUS TRADITION
Zygon® – August 26, 2014
Summary
Entheogenic experiences, particularly within the Santo Daime tradition, reveal profound impacts on personal and social transformation. Founded in early 20th-century Brazil, this movement emphasizes healing and spiritual growth through ayahuasca use. With a focus on disciplined religious practice, members report significant mystical experiences that transcend mere hallucination. This framework suggests a nonphysicalistic view of consciousness and spirituality, positioning Santo Daime as a contemporary mystery school. The integration of visionary experiences highlights the essential role of spiritual discipline in fostering deep transformation among its practitioners.
Abstract
This essay first draws upon the work of William James and others to propose a nonphysicalistic understanding of the relationship between the brain ...
Psychedelic experience dose-dependently modulated by cannabis: results of a prospective online survey.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) – November 04, 2021
Summary
Cannabis can significantly influence psychedelic experiences, with higher doses intensifying both positive and challenging effects. Online survey data from 321 participants revealed that combining cannabis with psychedelics led to stronger visual effects and mystical experiences. However, higher cannabis doses also increased anxiety and confusion. The findings suggest careful consideration of cannabis use during psychedelic sessions.
Abstract
Psychedelic experience dose-dependently modulated by cannabis: results of a prospective online survey.
Oceanic states of consciousness-an existential-neuroscience perspective.
Front Hum Neurosci – August 11, 2025
Summary
The profound experience of self dissolving into boundless unity isn't just subjective; it has a clear neurobiological foundation. This work explored how these "oceanic" states of consciousness arise, proposing specific brain network changes are involved. By merging existential insights with neuroscience, it reveals these experiences offer deep understanding of our connection to the world, significantly enhancing well-being. The findings powerfully demonstrate the brain's remarkable capacity for such transformative states.
Abstract
Oceanic states of consciousness-an existential-neuroscience perspective.