Self-reported negative outcomes of psilocybin users: A quantitative textual analysis
PLoS ONE February 21, 2020 Bheatrix Bienemann, Nina Stamato Ruschel, Maria Luiza Pesse Campos et al. 81 citations
Psilocybin, found in psilocybe mushrooms, has low toxicity and addiction risk, but negative outcomes from its use are not well understood. Analyzing 346 self-reports from an online platform using textual analysis software, the study identified four main clusters: thinking distortions, emergencies, perceptual alterations, and substance administration. Bad trips were more frequent among female users and linked to thinking distortions. Using multiple doses in one session or combining psilocybin with other substances was associated with long-term negative outcomes, while single high doses of mushrooms were linked to medical emergencies. These findings can inform harm-reduction efforts.