Research square
April 8, 2026
Oliver C Robinson, David Luke, Jules Evans et al.
1 citation
In a large global online survey of 6,476 people who have used psychedelics, nearly half (48.3%) reported at least one difficulty lasting 24 hours or more, and 9.9% experienced difficulties for over a year. The most common difficulties were existential struggle (36.6%), depression (34%), and derealization (29.4%). Existential struggle was rated as the most severe difficulty but also the one most linked to healing. Clinically relevant disruptive difficulties lasting at least a month and disrupting daily life were reported by 8% of participants and were associated with younger age, lower income, lack of family support, lower emotional stability, higher pre-existing anxiety or depression, and using psychedelics to treat mental health conditions. The findings highlight the need for education on risks and benefits, safety guidelines, and support services.
June 19, 2026
Jules Evans, Christian Jurlando, David Luke et al.
preprint
Belief in sorcery and supernatural harm is common among Western psychedelic users, with many reporting experiences they interpret as shamanic attack. In a survey of 895 adults involved in psychedelic culture, participants often downplayed indigenous sorcery frameworks in favor of psychological explanations, yet some left ceremonies convinced they had been harmed supernaturally. The study estimates the prevalence of such beliefs, examines how psychedelic experiences and cultural immersion shift these beliefs, and characterizes experiences interpreted as black magic. It also assesses whether fear of magical retaliation inhibits criticism of ceremonial leaders. Findings aim to inform harm reduction in ceremonial settings.
Research Square
June 9, 2026
Iryana Mosina, David Luke
People's intentions before taking a high dose of classic psychedelics are linked to the quality of their experience. In a retrospective survey of 296 individuals, those whose intentions were more ritualized, felt purer, and played a central role in the experience reported more positive outcomes, including greater personal realization, significance, mystical-type experiences, emotional breakthroughs, and connectedness. Whether the intention originated internally or externally mattered less, except that intentions formed with help from meaningful others predicted higher emotional breakthrough scores. These findings suggest that preparing intentions with ritual and perceived purity may enhance psychedelic experiences.
Research Square
May 14, 2026
Sam Barfoot, David Luke, Oliver C. Robinson et al.
Ten individuals aged 15–25 who experienced challenging psychedelic episodes with difficulties lasting longer than a day described emotional, cognitive, and relational struggles. They used diverse strategies to make sense of their experiences, highlighting the importance of preparation, supportive relationships, and developmentally appropriate integration. The findings suggest that age-specific harm reduction and integration services, along with improved safety protocols and psychoeducation, could help reduce long-term distress and support more ethical psychedelic use.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
September 9, 2024
Ana Ferreira, Sharon Martindale, David Luke
A single therapeutic dose of psilocybin mushrooms, self-administered by five Emergency Medical Service Workers (EMSWs), was linked to visible improvements in several measures of occupational burnout two weeks after the session, with gains remaining stable at two months. Participants reported strong subjective experiences—psychological insights and emotional breakthroughs—that they saw as key to the positive outcome. The naturalistic field study suggests psilocybin may offer an alternative approach to address the high rates of psychological distress among EMSWs, potentially benefiting both workers and patient care quality.