June 7, 2023
Jacob S. Aday, Emily K. Bloesch, Alan K. Davis et al.
1 citation
preprint
People who attended an ayahuasca retreat showed increased gratitude, nature relatedness, and nature appreciation one week and one month afterward, compared with before the retreat. Mystical-type experiences and feelings of awe during the retreat were weakly to moderately linked to these increases, while ego dissolution was not. The findings suggest that the mystical and awe-inducing aspects of ayahuasca may lead to personality changes that benefit mental health and prosocial attitudes, though more research is needed to confirm the results.
L. J. Flameling, Jacob S. Aday, Michiel van Elk
1 citation
preprint
A commentary on a phase 3 trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD raises concerns about expectancy effects. The trial reported positive results, but most participants correctly guessed their treatment assignment, and expectations were not measured. The authors argue these effects were minimal, but the commentary contends that without measuring expectations, it remains possible that placebo or nocebo effects contributed to the observed outcomes.
Scientific Reports
April 15, 2026
Jacob S. Aday, Nicolas G. Glynos, Anne K. Baker et al.
A new questionnaire, the Psychedelic-related Major Life Changes Questionnaire (P-MLCQ), was developed to capture major life changes following psychedelic use that standard clinical measures miss. In a survey of 581 people who used psychedelics naturally, 83% reported at least one major life change influenced by their use, averaging 3.29 changes per person. The most common changes were in goals (54%), values (54%), and religion or spirituality (49%). These changes were rated highly positively on average. More frequent psychedelic use over the past five years was linked to more reported life changes. Women were 21% more likely than men to report changes, while older age and higher education were associated with fewer changes. The authors note that results may be influenced by positive bias and need replication in representative samples.
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
February 8, 2026
Michael J. Haupt, Savannah Pointe, Kevin F. Boehnke et al.
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic plant brew with centuries of traditional use in Central and South America, has drawn increased drug tourism and scientific interest for potential health benefits. A systematic review of 18 prospective studies found long-term changes in wellbeing, depression, psychiatric symptoms, substance misuse, cognitive flexibility, personality, and prosocial behavior among mostly unselected volunteers at retreat centers. While population-level mental health improvements were noted, some participants experienced persisting psychiatric complications. No prospective studies examined physical health conditions, though one reported decreased physical pain and another lasting neurometabolic changes in the posterior cingulate cortex. Limitations include small samples, unstandardized dosages, and lack of control groups.
SSRN Electronic Journal
January 1, 2026
Dennis Parker Kelley, Gabriel Sturm, Katy Venable et al.
Serotonergic psychedelics show therapeutic effects across diverse neuropsychiatric, inflammatory, and cardiometabolic disorders, effects mediated largely by the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. These drugs are exceptionally context-dependent, able to be anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory depending on setting. Each target pathology is linked to elevated stress exposure, which drives mitochondrial and allostatic dysregulation. The authors propose that psychedelics act as super-normal stimuli for the adaptive 5-HT2A receptor stress response, inducing a process called allostatic recalibration (AR). AR involves three phases: destabilizing, recalibrating, and consolidating updated allostatic programs. This recalibration replaces entrenched pathological allostatic programs with ones tuned to the safe context of psychedelic therapy, explaining their transdiagnostic effects.
SSRN Electronic Journal
January 1, 2026
Jake Payne, Arthur Pont, Jacob S. Aday et al.
Men who used classic psychedelics during emerging adulthood (ages 18–29) and later reflected on those experiences reported six categories of positive developmental impact: increased psychological reflection and insight, life changes, recovery from mental health problems and addictions, improved relationships with others, greater existential awareness, and increased wellbeing and connection with emotions. The findings suggest that for some men, psychedelic experiences are interpreted as important life events that intersect with identity development, responsibility, and engagement with developmentally salient tasks. The study highlights the value of developmental perspectives in psychedelic research and points to the need for longitudinal research.
Universität Zürich, ZORA
May 1, 2025
Niloufar Pouyan, Jacob S. Aday, E Harte, Steven et al.
After naturalistic psychedelic use, people with depression, PTSD, or anxiety reported reduced identification of their identity with their illness, as measured by the pictorial representation of illness and self measure (PRISM). Among 297 individuals, the majority in each condition reported symptom improvement: 95.4% with depression, 98.36% with PTSD, and 94.87% with anxiety. PRISM scores significantly decreased after the most salient psychedelic experience, and larger reductions in self-condition enmeshment were associated with greater symptom improvement. The findings suggest PRISM can detect changes in self-perception across conditions, though limitations include retrospective reporting and unclear dosing.
November 4, 2024
Jacob S. Aday, Jenna McAfee, Deirdre A. Conroy et al.
preprint
In a small open-label proof-of-concept trial, five adults with fibromyalgia received two doses of psilocybin (15 mg and 25 mg) two weeks apart, along with psychotherapy sessions. No serious adverse events occurred; transient blood pressure or heart rate elevations during dosing resolved by the end of treatment, and four of five participants had temporary headaches. One month after the second dose, participants reported clinically meaningful improvements in pain severity, pain interference, and sleep disturbance. One participant rated their symptoms as very much improved, two as much improved, and two as minimally improved. Improvements were also seen in fibromyalgia symptoms, anxiety, and fatigue. The findings suggest psilocybin-assisted therapy is well-tolerated and warrants larger randomized controlled trials.
Psychedelic Med (New Rochelle)
March 12, 2024
Jacob S. Aday, Natasha L. Mason, Bo Jarrett Wood et al.
Early-career researchers in psychedelic science discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a career in this emerging field. They describe obstacles such as stigma, funding hurdles, and professional uncertainty alongside the potential for innovation and profound impact. The roundtable highlights the need for mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and perseverance to advance the field and develop sustainable professional paths.
Reviews in the Neurosciences
February 5, 2021
Jacob S. Aday, J. Wood, Emily K Bloesch et al.
A narrative review of early- to mid-20th-century research finds that psychedelic drugs alter perception across multiple sensory domains. Psychedelics influence all levels of the visual system, from retina to cortex, and can produce complex imagery and hallucinations. They also affect auditory discrimination and processing, sometimes leading to auditory hallucinations. The drugs distort body schema and time perception. Methodological limitations of that era temper the findings. The review preserves and synthesizes this pioneering work to guide future studies.