Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. Electronic address: kranan@ous-hf.no.
2 papers in the library · 23 citations · publishing 2023-2025
In a survey of 770 Norwegian adults who had a memorable experience with a classic psychedelic substance like psilocybin or LSD, most used the substance for recreational (46.1%) or therapeutic (42.3%) reasons. Psilocybin was the most common substance for the memorable experience. Many participants reported self-perceived symptoms of mental disorders and substance use disorders, and most said their condition improved after the experience. Adverse reactions were usually mild and short-lived, but 4.2% lasted a year or more, and 2.9% had persisting flashbacks for a year or more. The findings highlight both benefits and long-term risks in a self-selecting sample.
An anonymous internet survey of Norwegian-speaking adults who had a memorable experience with a classic psychedelic substance found that 85% reported a small to large positive change in subjective wellbeing after the experience. Integration, ego dissolution, and emotional breakthrough had a clear positive predictive effect on self-reported wellbeing. Variables with smaller but significant effects included challenging experiences, nature or ceremony settings, and a therapeutic or seeking intention. The authors view these findings as hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory due to study limitations.