Utilizing Psychedelics to Enhance Well-Being: A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs March 31, 2025 Samuel Thomson, Nikos Thomacos 11 citations
A systematic review of 19 studies with 949 participants examined whether psychedelics can enhance well-being in healthy individuals, applying the PERMA Theory of Well-Being. The substances studied included psilocybin, ayahuasca, LSD, and 5-MeO-DMT. Results consistently indicate that psychedelic consumption is related to enduring enhancements in positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. No serious adverse effects were reported in six studies, though discussion of adverse effects was often absent. The review calls for a paradigm shift toward recognizing psychedelics' capacity to foster human flourishing beyond a disease-focused lens.