Investigating the relationship between changes in metaphysical beliefs and death anxiety following a significant psychedelic experience.
Death studies January 1, 2025 Sam G Moreton, Noah N Barr, Kayla J Giese 14 citations
After a single significant psychedelic experience, people reported an overall reduction in death anxiety, although some individuals reported an increase. This reduction was linked to a stronger belief in panpsychism—the idea that consciousness is fundamental and pervasive in the universe. No other metaphysical beliefs, such as belief in an afterlife or materialism, were associated with the change. The findings suggest that shifts in metaphysical worldview, particularly toward panpsychism, may play a role in how psychedelic experiences alter attitudes about death, pointing to a specific mechanism for future research.