Positive psychology in the investigation of psychedelics and entactogens: A critical review
Neuropharmacology November 1, 2018 Henrik Jungaberle, Sascha Thal, Andrea Zeuch et al. 70 citations
A review of 77 studies with 9876 participants examined how psychedelics and entactogens relate to positive psychology—the study of healthy functioning, well-being, and eudaemonia. The substances produced acute and long-term effects on mood, well-being, prosocial behaviors, empathy, cognitive flexibility, creativity, openness, value orientations, nature-relatedness, spirituality, self-transcendence, and mindfulness-related capabilities. Evidence is preliminary due to methodological restrictions. Longitudinal data on both positive and adverse effects are lacking, so more rigorous, standardized measures from positive psychology should be applied in less biased populations with prospective longitudinal designs to assess the benefit-risk ratio.