Psychedelics can re-orient beliefs, but they may also produce false insights that lead to false beliefs. A model based on the active inference framework connects laboratory findings on false insights and false memories to psychedelic experiences. Subjective and brain-based changes from psychedelics increase the quantity and intensity of insights and beliefs, including false ones. The neurobiological action of psychedelics may heighten the experience of insight, enabling flexible belief updating but also the adoption of false beliefs. Future research should aim to minimize the risk of false and potentially harmful beliefs to safely leverage psychedelics' therapeutic potential.
Psychedelic substances like psilocybin and ketamine show promise as antidepressants due to rapid and lasting effects on mood and cognition. Most research focuses on psychiatric settings, but this review argues for a broader biopsychosocial perspective that includes social and psychological factors. Evaluating six major clinical trials, the authors conclude that combining psychedelic treatment with psychotherapy produces more enduring and profound antidepressant effects than either drug alone. This finding encourages people who might self-medicate with psychedelics to seek professional psychological support, reducing risks from unregulated use.