Naturalistic psychedelic use and changes in depressive symptoms.
Journal of affective disorders July 9, 2025 Otto Simonsson, Peter S Hendricks, Caroline M Swords et al. 8 citations
In a large observational study of US adults aged 18–50, naturalistic psychedelic use was modestly linked to increased depressive symptoms over time. Among 12,345 participants followed longitudinally, 505 reported psychedelic use. Those who used psychedelics in a 'risk context'—such as a negative mindset or lack of psychological support—showed a moderate increase in depressive symptoms compared to non-users and to users without such risks. This association was explained by more challenging psychedelic experiences in that context. The findings indicate that psychedelic use outside controlled therapeutic settings may not be generally beneficial and could worsen depressive symptoms under certain conditions.