Tripping on nothing: placebo psychedelics and contextual factors
Psychopharmacology March 7, 2020 Jay A. Olson, Léah Suissa-Rocheleau, Michael Lifshitz et al. 148 citations
A placebo can produce psychedelic-like experiences in some people when the setting and expectations are carefully arranged. In a 4-hour group study with music, colored lights, and visual projections, 33 students took a placebo described as a psilocybin-like drug. Many reported no changes, but others showed effects as strong as those from moderate or high psilocybin doses. Most (61%) verbally reported some effect, such as seeing paintings move or reshape, feeling heavy, or experiencing a "come down" and then another "wave." Context and expectations can mimic psychedelic effects even without the drug.