Effects of Psychedelic Drug Use on Neurocognitive Function and Psychological and Social Quality of Life Domains: An International Online Study
Franziska Stadler, Johan Saelens, Ioline D. Henter, Nathalie M. Rieser, Maximillian Greenwald, Elizabeth D. Ballard, Katrin H. Preller, Carlos A. Zarate, Christoph Kraus
medRxiv August 28, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2025.08.27.25334164 via OpenAlex
Summary
Recent users of psychedelics showed significantly lower accuracy in cognitive tasks compared to non-users, while lifetime users performed best without reaction time issues. Lifetime use does not correlate with long-term cognitive decline. However, recent users reported more depressive and dissociative symptoms, whereas lifetime users experienced fewer. Additionally, lifetime users had lower scores in psychological and social quality of life domains, suggesting potential long-term psychosocial effects. The study emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between acute and long-term effects of psychedelics.
Study at a glance
| Design | observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 759 |
| Population | participants classified as non-users, lifetime users, and recent users of psychedelics |
| Key finding | Recent users had significantly lower cognitive task accuracy, while lifetime users exhibited the highest accuracy without reaction time deficits. |
Abstract
This international online study (N=759) examined the acute, subacute, and long-term effects of psychedelic drug use on cognitive performance and mental health. Participants completed cognitive tasks assessing working memory, selective attention, and visual/spatial perception, as well as questionnaires assessing mental health outcomes and quality of life. Based on self-reported substance use, participants were classified as non-users, lifetime users, and recent users. Recent users had significantly lower accuracy across all cognitive tasks, and lifetime users had the highest task accuracy without corresponding reaction time deficits. Lifetime use was not associated with long-term cognitive decline. Recent users reported more depressive and dissociative symptoms, whereas lifetime users reported lower scores. Lifetime users scored lower on psychological and social quality of life domains, indicating possible long-term psychosocial effects. These findings highlight the need to differentiate between the acute and long-term effects of psychedelics; lab-controlled, longitudinal studies are needed to enable safe clinical application.