Pharmacological Reports
November 6, 2023
Paweł Holas, Justyna Kamińska
39 citations
Psychedelic and meditation-based interventions show overlapping neurophysiological and phenomenological features and can enhance each other when combined. Both approaches have been validated as alternative treatments for depression, addictions, and anxiety disorders, producing moderate to large effects and long-term symptom reduction and well-being improvements in clinical and healthy populations. Shared mechanisms include altered self-consciousness, present-moment awareness, and antidepressant action via neuromodulation. Research indicates synergistic benefits when the two are used together, but more theoretical and methodologically rigorous studies are needed before clinical application. This review discusses the theoretical rationale for combining psychedelics with mindfulness training, including the predictive coding framework, and offers suggestions for integration.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 25, 2025
Przemysław Rupiński, Weronika Drabek, Paweł Holas
2 citations
A systematic review of seven studies found a generally positive association between psychedelic use and an enhanced sense of life purpose, particularly in structured clinical or ritual contexts. Recreational use produced mixed outcomes, though intentional use combined with mindfulness practices was linked to greater life meaning. The evidence supports moderate certainty regarding these effects, but further randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the role of specific contextual and individual factors. These findings suggest potential applications in clinical settings for enhancing psychospiritual well-being.
Dialogues Clin Neurosci
March 6, 2025
Paweł Holas, Justyna Kamińska, Marcin Zajenkowski
2 citations
A new scale, the Concerns and Openness towards Psychedelic Scale (COPS), was developed to measure societal attitudes toward clinical psychedelic use. The scale captures two dimensions: concerns about risks and openness to therapeutic benefits. It was validated through surveys and shows good psychometric properties, enabling researchers to assess public perspectives as psychedelic therapy gains attention in mental health treatment.
Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii
January 1, 2025
Paweł Holas, Justyna Kamińska
1 citation
About 6% of Polish adults, predominantly young men in cities, have used classic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms. More research and public education are needed to advance the scientific study of psychedelic-assisted therapy and to change how the public views its potential therapeutic benefits.
October 16, 2025
Minka Witke, Paweł Holas
preprint
Mindfulness practice and psychedelic experiences are both linked to self-transcendence and nondual awareness, with ego dissolution acting as a key mediator in these connections. Ecological awareness also relates to a self-transcendent orientation. The findings suggest that these practices may foster a sense of expanded self and connection to the world, though the phenomena remain complex and require diverse research methods.
Research Square
August 15, 2024
Paweł Holas, Justyna Kamińska
Around 4% to 8% of Polish adults, or about 2 million people, have tried classic psychedelics like psilocybin or LSD at least once. Men were more likely than women to use these substances, with the largest group of users aged 25–34 and living in urban areas. Curiosity was the most common reason for trying them, and users typically described the experience as a mix of pleasant and unpleasant sensations. Many participants held negative views of psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy, but those with prior psychedelic experience had more positive attitudes.