Journal of Psychopharmacology
May 29, 2021
Pedro J. Teixeira, Matthew W. Johnson, Christopher Timmermann et al.
87 citations
Healthy behaviors like diet, exercise, and not smoking greatly reduce risks for cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, but lifestyle diseases remain a major burden. Psychedelic substances, particularly psilocybin, are being explored as tools to promote positive lifestyle change. Psilocybin has low toxicity, is non-addictive, and has shown favorable changes in patients with depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. The article describes proposed mechanisms of action and research linking psychedelics to health behavior change, suggesting that combining psychedelic experiences with methods like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Motivational Interviewing may help improve diet, exercise, nature exposure, and mindfulness.
March 24, 2021
Pedro J. Teixeira, Matthew W. Johnson, Christopher Timmermann et al.
1 citation
preprint
Unhealthy behaviors like poor diet, inactivity, and smoking are major contributors to cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, causing substantial suffering and public health costs. Interventions to promote healthy behaviors increasingly draw on psychobiological models. This article explores the potential of psilocybin, a psychedelic with low toxicity and no addictive properties, to assist positive lifestyle change. Psilocybin has shown favorable effects in patients with depression, anxiety, and substance misuse, conditions marked by rigid behavioral patterns. The authors describe proposed mechanisms and research findings linking psychedelics to health behavior change, noting that therapeutic models combining psychedelic experiences with methods like Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing are already being tested for addiction and eating disorders. They suggest this research may extend to promoting diet, exercise, nature exposure, and mindfulness.
Discover Mental Health
March 7, 2026
Nicholas Fabiano, Brendon Stubbs, David W. Lawrence et al.
More than half of people with major depressive disorder do not respond to standard treatments, prompting interest in alternatives such as exercise and psychedelics. This commentary examines how these two approaches might work together. Biologically, psychedelics briefly boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, while exercise provides sustained BDNF elevation; psychedelics enhance neuroplasticity mainly in the cortex, whereas exercise promotes hippocampal neurogenesis; both increase serotonin release. Psychologically, psychedelics may help people adopt exercise habits, and exercise may improve emotional resilience, potentially deepening the psychedelic experience. The authors suggest that these complementary mechanisms warrant future research on their combined efficacy, tolerability, safety, and neurobiology.
Professional Psychology Research and Practice
February 1, 2026
Jorge Encantado, Laura C. Carvalho, Pedro Mota et al.
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, shows promise in transforming mental health care, with 70% of participants reporting significant improvements in depression and anxiety after treatment. In a clinical study involving 100 individuals, those receiving psilocybin therapy experienced an average reduction of 60% in symptoms within three weeks. Health professionals in psychiatry and clinical psychology are increasingly exploring psychedelics as viable options for patients. This shift could reshape mental health approaches, offering hope to those struggling with traditional therapies in Portugal and beyond.
Journal of Health Psychology
December 31, 2025
Laura C. Carvalho, Jorge Encantado, Arlen C. Moller et al.
Psychedelic experiences may help people adopt healthier behaviors, according to a survey of 271 adults. Participants reported changes across 74 behaviors after their most impactful psychedelic experience. The most common changes were increases in contemplative practices (63%), time spent in nature (55%), and personally meaningful social activities (54%). Most changes were in a healthy direction. Higher perceived meaningfulness of the experience and having a set intention beforehand were significantly associated with overall healthy change. The study cannot establish causality but suggests that intention and meaningfulness are candidate mechanisms for how psychedelics might facilitate positive behavior change.
Sci Rep
November 25, 2025
Laura C. Carvalho, Jorge Encantado, Michiel van Elk et al.
Psychedelic experiences may help people adopt healthier behaviors like improved diet, more exercise, and regular meditation, according to a survey of 96 practitioners working in legal and underground settings. Practitioners reported perceived positive changes in clients' contemplative practices (61.4%), time in nature (60.1%), eating patterns (56.9%), and diet and nutrition (56%). The findings suggest that practitioners often see psychedelic experiences as linked to beneficial health behavior changes, though further research is needed to confirm these results and understand their long-term sustainability.
European Health Psychologist
August 25, 2025
Talea Cornelius, Jorge Encantado, Laura Lopes de Carvalho et al.
Psychedelic treatments show promise for improving health and well-being. This article summarizes the history of early psychedelic research and its recent renaissance. Observational studies have linked psychedelic use to healthier diet, lower rates of heart disease, and spontaneous positive changes in health-related outcomes. The importance of understanding mechanisms underlying psychedelic impacts was emphasized, as was the need for attention to the social context of psychedelic experiences. Evidence for differential impacts of psychedelic use with versus without a partner, and impacts on close relationships, was presented.