Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 21, 2020 Matthias Forstmann, Daniel Alexander Yudkin, Annayah Miranda Beatrice Prosser et al. 185 citations
Using psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin is linked to improved mood and stronger feelings of social connectedness in naturalistic settings. Across six multiday mass gatherings in the United States and the United Kingdom, over 1,200 participants were studied. Those who had taken psychedelics reported higher positive mood, an effect that occurred sequentially through transformative experiences and then increased social connectedness. The association was strongest for people who had used psychedelics within the previous 24 hours compared to the past week. The findings provide robust evidence that psychedelic use can have positive affective and social consequences in real-world contexts.