Development and assessment of a psychedelic-assisted therapy music playlist for clinical trials: Theory, intentionality, and metrics
Journal of Psychedelic Studies May 28, 2026 Rafaelle L. Lancelotta, Paul B. Nagib, Stacey B. Armstrong et al.
A methodology for designing and evaluating a music playlist for a clinical psilocybin trial was developed, combining theory, therapeutic goals, and metrics. The playlist was structured across pre-peak, peak, and post-peak phases of the psilocybin experience. Spotify API metrics (Beats Per Minute, Danceability, Energy, Valence) and a novel human-rated Transcendence measure were used to assess tracks. Most musical features followed the expected emotional arc of the psilocybin experience, but nature-based tracks were sometimes misclassified as high-energy by the Spotify API, revealing algorithmic limitations. Transcendence ratings indicated continued emotional depth during post-peak phases. This proof-of-concept model shows the value of integrating intentional design with algorithmic and experiential metrics, though Spotify metrics may lack stability and generalizability.