From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent Manner.

People who use psychedelics report a stronger sense of connection to nature, and this increase lasts for at least two years. In a prospective online study, individuals planning to use a psychedelic completed questionnaires before and after their experience. Nature relatedness was significantly higher at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 2 years after the experience. The increase was linked to greater psychological well-being and depended on how strongly participants felt ego-dissolution and how much they perceived their natural surroundings during the acute psychedelic state. The findings suggest a causal, context-dependent effect of psychedelic use on nature relatedness, with implications for mental health treatments and planetary health.

Study at a glance

Abstract

(1) Background: There appears to be a growing disconnection between humans and their natural environments which has been linked to poor mental health and ecological destruction. Previous research suggests that individual levels of nature relatedness can be increased through the use of classical psychedelic compounds, although a causal link between psychedelic use and nature relatedness has not yet been established. (2) Methods: Using correlations and generalized linear mixed regression modelling, we investigated the association between psychedelic use and nature relatedness in a prospective online study. Individuals planning to use a psychedelic received questionnaires 1 week before (N = 654), plus one day, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 2 years after a psychedelic experience. (3) Results: The frequency of lifetime psychedelic use was positively correlated with nature relatedness at baseline. Nature relatedness was significantly increased 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 2 years after the psychedelic experience. This increase was positively correlated with concomitant increases in psychological well-being and was dependent on the extent of ego-dissolution and the perceived influence of natural surroundings during the acute psychedelic state. (4) Conclusions: The here presented evidence for a context- and state-dependent causal effect of psychedelic use on nature relatedness bears relevance for psychedelic treatment models in mental health and, in the face of the current ecological crisis, planetary health.