A Nature-Themed Video Intervention Increases Nature Relatedness in Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder

In adults with alcohol use disorder, watching a nature-themed video during psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy increased nature relatedness (a subjective sense of connection to nature) more than a standard body-scan condition. Nature relatedness rose significantly in the nature-video group (median increase of 0.33 on the NR-6 scale) but not in the standard-setting group. Social connectedness did not change significantly in either group. The findings suggest that a brief nature-themed video may enhance one form of connectedness in psychedelic-assisted therapy, though the study was small and further research is needed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has shown promising results for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other mental health conditions. Although the precise mechanisms of psychedelic therapies remain unclear, many studies report increased feelings of connectedness following psychedelic experiences. Specifically, both nature relatedness (one’s subjective sense of being connected to nature) and social connectedness (feelings of comprehensive social closeness) have been shown to increase with psychedelic use, and greater connectedness in these domains has been associated with enhanced health and well-being. The current study examined whether a nature-themed video intervention presented to participants undergoing psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy would differentially affect nature relatedness compared with social connectedness in adults with AUD. Methods: A total of 20 participants were randomized to either the visual healing condition (viewing a 42-min nature video; N = 10) or the standard setting condition (guided body scan; music with eyeshades; N = 10). Nature relatedness and social connectedness were measured using the Nature Relatedness Scale (NRS-6) and the Social Connectedness Scale–Revised (SCS-R) at baseline and 2 weeks after the psilocybin session. Results: A significant between-group difference was observed in change in nature relatedness pre-to-postpsilocybin session [χ 2 (1) = 5.74, p = 0.02]. Nature relatedness significantly increased in the visual healing group [median change in NR-6 = 0.33, range = (−0.17, 0.67), p = 0.01], but not in the standard setting group [median change = 0.00; range = (−0.17, 0.33), p = 0.50]. No significant between-group differences were observed for change in social connectedness [χ 2 (1) = 0.89, p = 0.35], and no significant overall change in social connectedness was observed across groups [median change = −1.00, range = (−27, 20), p = 0.90]. Conclusions: Viewing a nature-themed video may enhance nature relatedness among individuals undergoing psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for AUD. Future research should investigate the effects of real-life nature immersion and explore nature relatedness and other forms of connectedness as potential therapeutic targets in psychedelic-assisted and other psychotherapies NCT04410913.