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.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
August 19, 2022
Marcio S. C. Longo, Bheatrix Bienemann, Marco Multedo et al.
10 citations
People who currently use ayahuasca/DMT, psilocybe mushrooms, LSD, cannabis, or MDMA/ecstasy score higher on nature relatedness than those who have never used these substances. After accounting for sociodemographic factors, only current and past use of ayahuasca/DMT remained positively associated with nature relatedness. Among those who reported an intention to use psilocybe mushrooms in the future, that intention was also linked to higher nature relatedness. The findings suggest that classic serotonergic psychedelics may have a unique relationship with nature relatedness, but the cross-sectional design cannot establish causation.
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
October 18, 2022
Bheatrix Bienemann, Mariana Ridolfi, Marco Multedo et al.
5 citations
A validated scale for measuring ego dissolution demonstrated strong psychometric properties, though its factor structure may differ from the English version. Because validation is an ongoing process, further studies should compare ego dissolution scores across different substances and regions of the country.
Journal of Clinical Psychology
June 15, 2026
Lucas Cruz, Fernando R. Beserra, Julia M.k. Freind et al.
Music is frequently used in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, but there is no standardized protocol for selecting or implementing it. A systematic review of 36 articles found that 25 mentioned music, mostly in studies of psilocybin and MDMA for depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Procedures varied widely across studies, partly because different disorders and substances were investigated, and partly because no uniform guidelines exist. Identifying which features of music are prioritized may help guide future clinical practice and research.
Clinical Therapeutics
June 1, 2026
Anna Luiza Guimarães, Fernando R. Beserra, Lucas Cruz et al.
Interviews with 26 stakeholders in Brazil—including Indigenous leaders, clinicians, activists, and policymakers—revealed four barriers (accessibility, regulation, limited knowledge, and risks), three facilitators (need for innovation, scientific advancements, and legal loopholes), and four perspectives (integration of ancestral knowledge, idealization/mysticism/scientific rigor, user autonomy, and tangible social benefits) for psychedelic research and regulation. Themes were shared across groups but varied in emphasis, highlighting cultural, political, scientific, and clinical considerations for a region with a rich history of traditional psychedelic use.
Research Square (Research Square)
August 23, 2023
Lucas Villar Magalhães da Cruz, Bheatrix Bienemann Favero, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes et al.
First-time ayahuasca users with treatment-resistant depression and healthy controls described their subjective experiences in open-ended questions. Textual analysis of responses from nine depressed and 20 healthy individuals revealed five clusters: altered consciousness, cognitive changes, somatic alterations, auditory experiences, and visual perceptual content. Depressed participants reported more aversive bodily reactions, suggesting specific experiential features in depression. The results align with prior psychedelic research and may guide therapeutic applications of ayahuasca.