Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
February 1, 2018
Petter Grahl Johnstad
156 citations
Men in their 30s with stable jobs and relationships and extensive entheogen experience microdose psychedelics—taking about one tenth of a recreational dose—in phases, reporting mostly positive effects such as improved mood, cognition, and creativity, which often helped counteract symptoms of anxiety and depression. Some users reported challenges and did not continue the practice. The findings are not generalizable but may inform future research questions and hypotheses.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 27, 2021
Petter Grahl Johnstad
53 citations
Challenging psychedelic experiences, or 'bad trips,' involve a broader range of characteristics than previously recognized. Based on interviews with 38 participants and a survey of 319 participants (median age 33, 81% male) recruited from online communities, confusion emerged as an important aspect alongside the near-ubiquitous fear. Despite often dramatic narratives, participants were convinced the experience had positive long-term consequences. Meditation practice had paradoxical effects on challenging experiences, suggesting a fruitful area for further research.
Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
February 1, 2021
Petter Grahl Johnstad
44 citations
Researchers still know little about who uses psychedelics and how use affects long-term mental health. A methodological review of psychedelics studies shows that different studies focus on different segments of the user population, which likely have different usage patterns and consequences. Studies of problematic users tend to find negative mental health effects, while studies of infrequent users tend to find positive effects. Because the field lacks a reliable model of the user population, it is hard to assess the broader validity of findings. The article presents three theoretical models to help contextualize findings and clarify disagreements.
Method & Theory in the Study of Religion
December 17, 2020
Petter Grahl Johnstad
11 citations
Entheogen users report two distinct types of spiritual experience. One type resembles classic mystical experiences and is predicted by having a spiritual affiliation, motivation, and practice. The other type involves insight, positive feelings, and improved connections to others and nature, and is predicted only by spiritual motivation, not by affiliation or practices. These findings suggest competing conceptualizations of spirituality among users.
Journal of Scientific Exploration
September 15, 2020
Petter Grahl Johnstad
4 citations
An interview study of 40 psychedelic users found that 16 reported telepathic experiences. Three types emerged: information-exchange telepathy (communicating in images and words), telempathy (direct exchange of feeling-states), and a state of self-dissolution where one could not distinguish one's own thoughts from a partner's. Some participants disliked the loss of privacy in intense telepathic states and were hesitant to repeat them, while others became accustomed and experienced them regularly. The authors conclude that further studies are warranted and suggest an experimental research design.