Peri-traumatic consumption of classic psychedelics is associated with lower anxiety and post-traumatic responses 3 weeks after exposure.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) April 21, 2025 Einat Karp Barnir, Zohar Rubinstein, Rany Abend et al. 7 citations
Among 343 adult survivors of a single large-scale terrorist attack at a festival, those who had consumed classic psychedelics during the attack reported significantly lower levels of anxiety and post-traumatic symptoms three weeks later, compared to those who took 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or no psychedelics. The protective effect against post-traumatic responses was stronger for participants who did not use other recreational substances alongside the psychedelics. These findings suggest that classic psychedelics may modulate the formation of enduring trauma memories and confer a protective effect against the development of post-traumatic stress and anxiety.