Psychedelics and Sexual Trauma: Effects on Communication and Emotional Connection.
Mason Levey, Benjamin Bonenti, Timothy Piatkowski, Jason Ferris, Alex Frankovitch, Monica Barratt, Emma L Davies, Adam Winstock, Cheneal Puljević
Journal of sex research January 16, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2025.2601165 via PubMed
Summary
Individuals who used psychedelics to cope with sexual trauma reported lower levels of improved sexual communication compared to those who did not use psychedelics for this purpose. Specifically, Psy-CST participants had a relative risk ratio of 0.310 for improved communication, while no significant difference was found in emotional connection. Within the Psy-CST group, women reported better communication and emotional connection than men, indicating that gender influences the effects of psychedelics on intimacy.
Study at a glance
| Design | observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 675 |
| Population | individuals who engaged in sexual activity shortly after a psychedelic experience |
| Key finding | Psy-CST participants were significantly less likely to report improved sexual communication compared to No-Psy-CST participants. |
Abstract
Psychedelics are theorized to enhance emotional openness and interpersonal attunement, but their effects in sexual contexts - particularly among those with a history of sexual trauma - remain underexplored. This study investigated whether individuals who had used psychedelics to cope with or overcome sexual trauma (Psy-CST) reported different experiences of sexual communication and emotional connection compared to those who had not (No-Psy-CST). The Psy-CST label reflects participants' self-classification based on a single survey item; the study did not assess whether psychedelics were intentionally used as a means of trauma recovery. Rather, it examined self-reported experiences within sexual contexts among these groups. Participants (N = 675; Mage = 32.8) were drawn from the 2022 Global Drug Survey and had engaged in sexual activity within four to six hours of a full psychedelic experience. Chi-square tests and regression analyses were used to compare outcomes between groups. Psy-CST participants were significantly less likely to report improved sexual communication (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.310, p < .01); no significant differences were observed for emotional connection (odds ratio [OR] = 1.160, p = .536). Within the Psy-CST group, women were significantly more likely than men to report improved communication (RRR = 1.83, p = .02) and emotional connection (OR = 1.85, p < .01). Findings suggest gender significantly moderates psychedelics' effects on intimacy outcomes. Further research is needed to inform harm reduction and trauma-informed care frameworks for psychedelic use in sexual contexts.