Predictors of Psychedelic Experience: A Thematic Analysis
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 5, 2022 A M McCartney, H T McGovern, A De Foe 33 citations
A thematic analysis of twenty-two first-person accounts of psychedelic use (for ketamine, MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin) identified six factors that shape positive or adverse experiences: three external predictors (nature, music, and preparation) and three internal predictors (understanding, mind-set, and motivation). Each factor contained two sub-themes. Nature and music may help de-escalate adverse reactions. Substance-specific perceptual and sensorial effects also emerged. The findings highlight the importance and interrelationship of preparation, mind-set, understanding, and motivation as common themes. The work represents an early step toward a more nuanced understanding of factors influencing psychedelic experience, with implications for clinical progress and harm reduction.