Facing trauma under the influence of psychedelics: A phenomenological study with Nova rave survivors.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) May 1, 2026 Guy Simon, Maya Gal-Birman, Nir Tadmor et al.
In the October 7, 2023, attack at the Nova rave, 45 survivors were interviewed using a mixed-methods phenomenological design. Participants used classic psychedelics (24), empathogens (19), or ketamine (2). A dissociative phenomenon termed "adaptive psychedelic dissociation" emerged, combining emotional detachment, derealization, depersonalization, automatic behaviors, and preserved functionality. Participants' awareness of their substance use created an "epistemic container" that helped contain traumatic input in real time but complicated later meaning-making. Psychedelic effects appeared suppressed during acute trauma and resurged afterward. Substance use had a predominantly positive impact on immediate survival (75%-79%) and emotional coping (83%-84%), but mixed outcomes in aftermath processing (42%-53% positive, 25%-26% negative). This paradox suggests acute adaptive benefits with integration challenges.