Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety.

Summary

A fascinating insight reveals that the therapeutic benefits often reported after using psychedelics may stem from a specific psychological shift. This research explored whether increased psychological flexibility acts as the crucial mechanism linking acute hallucinogen experiences to improved mental well-being. A survey of nearly 1,000 individuals found that profound mystical and insightful experiences during psychedelic use were strongly associated with subsequent reductions in anxiety and depression. Crucially, statistical analysis confirmed this positive impact was fully explained by an observed increase in psychological flexibility. This suggests that psychedelics foster an adaptive mental state, serving as the key to alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Abstract

Prior research has shown that acute subjective psychedelic effects are associated with both spontaneous and intended changes in depression and anxiety. Psychedelics are also theorized to produce increases in psychological flexibility, which could explain decreases in depression and anxiety following a psychedelic experience. Therefore, the present cross-sectional survey study sought to examine whether psychological flexibility mediated the relationship between acute psychedelic experiences and spontaneous or intended changes in depression and anxiety among a large international sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic (n=985; male=71.6%; Caucasian/white=84.1%; M age=32.2, SD=12.6). A regression analysis showed that acute effects (i.e., mystical and insightful effects) were significantly associated with decreases in depression/anxiety following a psychedelic experience. A path analysis revealed that, while controlling for age and sex, increases in psychological flexibility fully mediated the effect of mystical and insightful experiences on decreases in depression and anxiety following a psychedelic experience. This suggests that psychological flexibility may be an important mediator of the therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugs. Future prospective experimental studies should examine the effect of psychedelic drug administration on psychological flexibility in order to gain a better understanding of the psychological processes that predict therapeutic effects of psychedelics.

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