Scoping Review of Experiential Measures from Psychedelic Research and Clinical Trials.
Journal of psychoactive drugs January 1, 2023 Zachary Herrmann, Mitch Earleywine, Joseph De Leo et al. 19 citations
Subjective responses to psychedelic drugs, such as mystical experiences and oceanic boundlessness, often correlate with therapeutic improvements in conditions like treatment-resistant depression, end-of-life anxiety, and substance use disorders. Measuring these responses is challenging; several scales show good reliability and factor structure, but samples are often small and self-selected. This review examines the psychometric properties of widely used scales and their links to treatment outcomes. Challenging experiences, psychological insight, and emotional breakthroughs also show promise, though replication is needed. A collaborative approach to data collection on subjective reactions in therapeutic settings could help predict improvement across conditions.