Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 10, 2022
Nicolas G. Glynos, Jennifer Pierce, Alan K. Davis et al.
39 citations
In a survey of 354 North American adults with fibromyalgia, nearly 30% reported having used a psychedelic, most commonly LSD or psilocybin mushrooms. Most users rated their experience as neutral (59.4%) or positive (36.8%), and fewer than 3% reported negative effects on health or pain. Among the 12 participants who used a psychedelic specifically to treat chronic pain, 11 said their symptoms improved. Regardless of past use, most respondents believed psychedelics could help treat chronic pain and would join a clinical trial for such a treatment. The findings support further research into psychedelic-based therapies for fibromyalgia.
JAMA Health Forum
June 17, 2022
Kevin F. Boehnke, Alan K. Davis, Jenna McAfee
20 citations
Oregon's 2020 decriminalization of psilocybin and other illicit substances mirrors the trajectory of cannabis liberalization over the past 25 years, driven by arguments for compassionate use, personal freedom, and frustration with federal drug policy. The authors argue that psychedelics are poised to follow a similar pattern, reinforced by FDA breakthrough therapy designations for psilocybin and MDMA. They caution that medical cannabis policies expanded access and industry power but failed to integrate cannabis into medical practice, track health outcomes, or promote safe use, leading to increased emergency department visits and highly concentrated products. Extrapolating to psychedelics, they find this lack of integration troubling because oversight by trained monitors in clinical trials likely decreases adverse reactions and enhances treatment success.
Frontiers in Pain Research
March 18, 2025
Jenna McAfee, Avinash Hosanagar, Vijay Tarnal et al.
18 citations
In a small open-label pilot trial, five people with fibromyalgia received two doses of psilocybin (15 mg and 25 mg) along with psychotherapy. The treatment was well-tolerated: there were temporary increases in blood pressure or heart rate during dosing that returned to normal, no serious adverse events, and four of five participants had short-lived headaches. One month after the second dose, participants reported large reductions in pain severity, pain interference, and sleep disturbance. One participant rated their symptoms as very much improved, two as much improved, and two as minimally improved. Recruitment stopped early due to generalizability concerns and changing FDA guidance, but the results suggest psilocybin-assisted therapy is safe for fibromyalgia and warrants larger trials.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 19, 2024
Anne Baker, Niloufar Pouyan, Julie Barron et al.
9 citations
A survey of 107 people who provide psychedelic support services outside clinical trials found that 40.2% held a full or in-progress license and 44.9% lacked a relevant graduate degree. Almost all practitioners pre-screened clients, offered preparation, integration, and trip-sitting, and used primarily non-directive approaches. Clients most often consumed psilocybin for conditions similar to those in clinical research. Practitioners perceived mostly positive symptom changes, though a small proportion reported worsened personality disorder symptoms. Further research on naturalistic psychedelic-assisted therapy is needed.
The Journal of Sex Research
March 28, 2025
Daniel J. Kruger, Eirini K. Argyri, Justin K. Mogilski et al.
7 citations
A survey of 581 participants found that most (70.2%) reported psychedelic experiences affected their sexuality or sexual experiences, with 65.4% noting short-term effects and 52.8% reporting long-term effects. Psychedelic experiences were more often associated with enhanced relationship quality, attraction to partners, and sexual activities than with diminished ones. About 10% reported influences on gender identity or expression, citing increased authenticity and openness. One-quarter of women and one-eighth of men reported heightened same-sex attraction after use. More participants reported being polyamorous or in open relationships after psychedelic experiences than before. Effects were linked to larger doses, more frequent use, younger age, and identifying as a woman or gender diverse.
British Journal of Pain
February 11, 2025
Anne Baker, Stephanie Lake, Philippe Lucas et al.
7 citations
Most people with chronic pain who use psychedelics to self-treat report ceasing or decreasing their use of other substances, especially alcohol and prescription opioids. In a survey of 466 adults, 86.3% said they stopped or reduced at least one non-psychedelic substance because of psychedelic use, with 21.2% reporting the decrease lasted over 26 weeks. Alcohol (71.1%) and prescription opioids (64.1%) were most often decreased or stopped. Illicit opioids (27.8%) and cannabis (21.5%) were more likely to be increased or initiated. Psilocybin was rated the most effective psychedelic for physical and mental health symptoms. Findings suggest potential benefits and risks of naturalistic psychedelic use for chronic pain.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
February 5, 2025
Daniel J. Kruger, Jeff Albrecht, Jacob S. Aday et al.
3 citations
Motivations for using psychedelic drugs shift substantially from first use to later use. Initially, people typically use psychedelics for recreation or exploration, but over time use becomes more motivated by therapeutic or personal growth reasons, such as managing mental health conditions, spiritual growth, connecting with nature, improving creativity, and addressing trauma. These findings come from a large sample of 1,221 participants reporting naturalistic psychedelic use. The study is limited by its retrospective design but is the first to demonstrate that motivations change over time, with initial curiosity and recreation giving way to self-improvement goals like enhancing relationships and health.
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
January 1, 2026
Jacob S. Aday, Robin L. Carhart-Harris, Kevin F. Boehnke
2 citations
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen found in certain mushrooms, demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in a study involving 200 participants with treatment-resistant depression. After just three doses, 60% reported substantial symptom relief lasting up to six months. In comparison, traditional antidepressants typically show around 30% effectiveness. The findings suggest that psychedelics like psilocybin could revolutionize psychiatry by addressing the underlying pathogenesis of mental health disorders. This breakthrough highlights the need for more exploration into psychedelics and their implications for clinical psychology and medicine.
Harm Reduct J
November 25, 2025
Daniel J. Kruger, Gina Mersereau, Ashley Sullivan et al.
1 citation
Psilocybin is the most recommended psychedelic for first-time users, favored for its moderate intensity, dose-dependent effects, precise dosing, and short duration. Cannabis and MDMA/MDA are also recommended by about half and a third of experienced users, respectively. Substances like ayahuasca, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and Salvia divinorum are not recommended due to high intensity and safety risks. Mixing psychedelics with alcohol, stimulants, antidepressants, or narcotics is advised against. Additional advice includes embracing the experience, learning about the substance, and setting intentions.
PsyArXiv
September 4, 2025
Jacob S Aday, Robin Carhart-Harris, Kevin F. Boehnke
1 citation
preprint
Classic psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca are being explored as treatments for many health conditions, but predicting how individuals will respond is difficult. Age may be an important but underappreciated factor that moderates these responses. Older adults have unique disease processes for neuropsychiatric disorders and require special treatment considerations. Differences in life circumstances, body physiology, use of multiple medications, weight, and brain biology may create distinct risks and opportunities for older adults. A consistent trend in the literature is that psychedelic drug effects become blunted across the lifespan, a finding that has been overlooked.
Scientific Reports
April 15, 2026
Jacob S. Aday, Nicolas G. Glynos, Anne K. Baker et al.
A new questionnaire, the Psychedelic-related Major Life Changes Questionnaire (P-MLCQ), was developed to capture major life changes following psychedelic use that standard clinical measures miss. In a survey of 581 people who used psychedelics naturally, 83% reported at least one major life change influenced by their use, averaging 3.29 changes per person. The most common changes were in goals (54%), values (54%), and religion or spirituality (49%). These changes were rated highly positively on average. More frequent psychedelic use over the past five years was linked to more reported life changes. Women were 21% more likely than men to report changes, while older age and higher education were associated with fewer changes. The authors note that results may be influenced by positive bias and need replication in representative samples.
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
February 8, 2026
Michael J. Haupt, Savannah Pointe, Kevin F. Boehnke et al.
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic plant brew with centuries of traditional use in Central and South America, has drawn increased drug tourism and scientific interest for potential health benefits. A systematic review of 18 prospective studies found long-term changes in wellbeing, depression, psychiatric symptoms, substance misuse, cognitive flexibility, personality, and prosocial behavior among mostly unselected volunteers at retreat centers. While population-level mental health improvements were noted, some participants experienced persisting psychiatric complications. No prospective studies examined physical health conditions, though one reported decreased physical pain and another lasting neurometabolic changes in the posterior cingulate cortex. Limitations include small samples, unstandardized dosages, and lack of control groups.
November 4, 2024
Jacob S. Aday, Jenna McAfee, Deirdre A. Conroy et al.
preprint
In a small open-label proof-of-concept trial, five adults with fibromyalgia received two doses of psilocybin (15 mg and 25 mg) two weeks apart, along with psychotherapy sessions. No serious adverse events occurred; transient blood pressure or heart rate elevations during dosing resolved by the end of treatment, and four of five participants had temporary headaches. One month after the second dose, participants reported clinically meaningful improvements in pain severity, pain interference, and sleep disturbance. One participant rated their symptoms as very much improved, two as much improved, and two as minimally improved. Improvements were also seen in fibromyalgia symptoms, anxiety, and fatigue. The findings suggest psilocybin-assisted therapy is well-tolerated and warrants larger randomized controlled trials.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
August 4, 2023
Kasey Cox, Cody Weston, Moss Herberholz et al.
A survey of 1,221 adults who use psychedelics found that most do so without clinical support. Only 22% disclosed their use to a primary care provider, while 58% told a psychiatric provider. Participants had less confidence in primary care providers' ability to integrate psychedelics into treatment. Common reasons for not disclosing included stigma, lack of provider knowledge, and legal concerns. 23% took psychedelics on the same day as potentially interacting psychiatric medications. Although 81% desired therapist support during experiences, only 15% had received it. The disconnection from clinical care may lead to safety issues such as inadequate screening, lack of support for adverse events, and drug interactions.