Journal of Psychedelic Studies
February 25, 2019
Jenna Varley
4 citations
Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin are being studied again for treating anxiety and depression in terminally ill patients, building on research from the 1960s. Recent clinical trials show higher methodological quality and demonstrate a profound impact for these patients. However, gaps remain in understanding Western views on death, how the psychedelic experience helps those facing death, and how suffering and distress are defined in psychiatry and medicine. This article critically evaluates recent studies and suggests that anthropology can contribute valuable knowledge to this emerging field.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
November 24, 2025
Petri J. Kajonius, David Sjöström, Emma Claesdotter-Knutsson
3 citations
Most people who have had a psychedelic experience rank it among the most meaningful events in their lives, and personality traits shape how the experience unfolds. In a survey of 400 experienced users, those higher in openness reported more mystical and positive aspects, while those higher in neuroticism reported more challenging and negative aspects. The findings suggest that individual differences in personality influence both the quality and lasting impact of psychedelic experiences, and future research should measure and control for these traits.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 15, 2025
Sara G. Gloeckler, Julien Thibault Lévesque, Alexandre Lehmann et al.
3 citations
Music is a standard part of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, but the role of silence is not well understood. In a compassionate-access program in Canada, two breast cancer patients undergoing psilocybin therapy experienced a 30-minute silent period that included mindfulness exercises and therapist discussion. One patient initially found the absence of music difficult but later found the mindfulness exercises highly meaningful. The other patient reported that music had evoked challenging memories early in the session, which were then productively explored during the silent period. The findings suggest that integrating silent intervals may enhance mindfulness and therapist-patient interactions, offering distinct therapeutic benefits. The authors call for more detailed reporting on session components in psychedelic research.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 21, 2024
Caroline Griffin, Alec Knight
3 citations
A systematic review of 27 studies involving 984 participants from the Global South found that psychedelics such as ayahuasca, iboga, 5-MeO-DMT, psilocybin, and MDMA show promise for treating depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders. All studies followed ethical and medical guidelines, and no serious adverse events were reported. The research suggests these substances, traditionally used as plant medicines, are safe and potentially cost-effective, offering a new treatment option for mental health conditions in regions with considerable unmet needs.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 30, 2024
Jacob S. Aday, K. Boehnke, Moss Herberholz et al.
3 citations
Most people who use psychedelics in naturalistic settings consider altered states of consciousness very or extremely important to the therapeutic effects (76%), yet a majority (61%) are moderately to extremely likely to try a non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analog for treating a mental health condition. Participants regard approximately $70–80 per hour as a reasonable cost for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy services, a figure well below current market projections. The findings suggest that while the subjective experience is valued, openness to alternatives exists, and the perceived affordable price for treatment is lower than anticipated.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 10, 2024
Jarrett Robert Rose
3 citations
A new edited collection, Expanding Mindscapes: A Global History of Psychedelics, shifts focus from the dominant narrative of 1960s American psychedelia to neglected international episodes. The book's 20 chapters, organized into three parts, trace how psychedelic knowledge and culture flowed across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, blending with local contexts. Chapters explore diverse topics, including Jean-Paul Sartre's mescaline experiments in 1930s France and the use of LSD research at Sainte-Anne Hospital in postwar France to critique ingrained problems in French psychiatry, such as its emphasis on biology over social factors and detached over compassionate approaches.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 21, 2024
Denis Fradkin
3 citations
Psychedelic experiences produce altered states of consciousness that are difficult to understand, attracting research across neuroscience, pharmacology, psychology, and philosophy. This paper examines the metaphysical debate between internalism and externalism—whether the 'breakthrough' level of psychedelic phenomenology depends directly on external factors. The author provides a coherent account of essential phenomenal characteristics of psychedelic experiences, integrates fragmented philosophical debates into the traditional internalist-externalist framework, and explores whether the externalist position (often linked to non-naturalism) is compatible with naturalistic explanations. The paper concludes in favor of weak internalism, noting that while externalism remains more speculative, it cannot be rejected until further progress in consciousness research is made.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 2, 2023
Mark Haden, Birgitta Woods, Sarah A. Paschall
3 citations
A review of current and historical research and clinical reports finds that the relationship between psychedelics and schizophrenia is complex, with some evidence that psychedelics may benefit this population. Specifically, lower doses of psychedelics, mostly LSD, appear to have a potential beneficial impact on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
September 21, 2022
Thais Guimarães Bourscheid, Leonardo Corrêa Cardoso, Marcelo Henrique Nascimento Santana et al.
3 citations
Snuff is a fine aromatic powder traditionally made from dried leaves, tobacco, roots, peels, and seeds. Its use for indigenous religious purposes dates to pre-Columbian times across the Americas and is considered sacred in indigenous culture. Colonizers trivialized its consumption, leading to industrialization for commerce. Commercial snuff now consists mainly of industrialized tobacco without medicinal plants or spiritual intent, posing health risks. In shamanism, plants serve as vehicles to access other realms, enabling dialogue with spirits and acquisition of knowledge. Plants in shamanic snuff vary by locality; Erythroxylum coca is used in Amazon communities, alongside Chacrona and Mariri in ayahuasca preparation. Distinguishing recreational from shamanic snuff and studying their effects is essential.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 19, 2022
M. Winkelman
3 citations
The book Fly Agaric is a comprehensive compendium of 29 chapters on the iconic mushroom Amanita muscaria, edited and co-authored by Kevin Feeney alongside a dozen researchers. It covers mushroom identification, religion, culture, folklore, archaeological evidence, diet, cuisine, pharmacology, and physiological effects. The work updates Gordon Wasson's theory that A. muscaria was the ancient Vedic sacrament Soma, supported by a third filter in preparation. It provides technical details for identifying psychoactive Amanita species, distinguishing look-alikes, and understanding the pharmacology of muscimol and ibotenic acid. The book assembles ethnographic, linguistic, historical, ecological, and biological evidence to trace the prehistorical and historical cultural traditions of fly agaric use.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 19, 2021
Cody Gilbert, Mitch Earleywine, Maha N. Mian et al.
3 citations
Ayahuasca affects some depressive symptoms more than others. In a retrospective survey of over 120 participants who used ayahuasca, affective symptoms such as hope, depressed mood, and happiness improved more than cognitive, interpersonal, and somatic symptoms like restless sleep, loneliness, and difficulty focusing. This pattern of symptom specificity resembles that of serotonergic antidepressant medications. People seeking relief from affective symptoms may find ayahuasca more helpful, while those targeting sleep, loneliness, or concentration problems may benefit less. The rapid onset of relief could also be useful for jumpstarting psychotherapy.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
February 12, 2026
Matthew Hicks, Olivia Hicks, Ryan Bradley et al.
2 citations
Group psilocybin therapy is feasible for low-income adults with depression in Oregon's regulated psilocybin program. In an open-label study, 20 participants began treatment and 19 completed two psilocybin administration sessions one week apart, with preparation and integration sessions online. No severe adverse events occurred; participants rated satisfaction 4.8 out of 5, reporting moderate to high benefit and no harm. Exploratory outcomes showed a significant decrease in Hamilton Depression scores with a strong effect size (Cohen's d = 1.89), and all eight domains of the PROMIS-29 significantly improved with effect sizes from 0.667 to 1.774. Further research with comparator groups is warranted.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
October 22, 2025
Sonia David, Anupama Sadasivan
2 citations
Queer and non-binary people are largely left out of psychedelic research and therapy. A review of 44 studies from 2014 to 2024 found that 36.7% of clinical trials lacked data on gender-diverse participants or failed to recruit them due to structural barriers. In contrast, 32.7% of qualitative studies emphasized identity affirmation and community care, but only 10.2% addressed intersecting oppressions. Three themes emerged: clinical exclusion and epistemic violence, embodied healing through altered states, and grassroots queer psychedelic practices. The authors call for queer-affirming, intersectional, and decolonial methods to ensure psychedelic therapies support collective liberation rather than reinforce marginalization.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
July 3, 2025
Mark Haden, Sarah A. Paschall, Birgitta Woods
2 citations
A review of 104 peer-reviewed articles finds that naturalistic use of psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, mescaline, and 5-MeO-DMT is associated with reductions in depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use disorders, interpersonal violence, and suicidality, while enhancing emotional well-being, social connectedness, spirituality, nature relatedness, psychological flexibility, and physical health. Benefits appear across diverse populations, including those with trauma, addictions, chronic pain, older adults, and marginalized groups. Adverse effects are typically short-lived and linked to risk factors like youth, high doses, psychological vulnerability, and poor set and setting. The authors argue that prohibitionist policies are outdated and harmful, advocating for legalization, regulated access, and evidence-informed education grounded in harm reduction and Indigenous cultural models.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 12, 2025
Musheerah Nuha, Lisa Reynolds, Jessee Fia’ali’i
2 citations
Pasifika healthcare professionals in New Zealand generally have low awareness of psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy, but they support further research and see potential benefits, especially when spiritual and Indigenous elements are prioritized. Openness to such therapy is linked to awareness and ethnic identity, while strong religious or spiritual beliefs, prior research roles, or experience treating anxiety/depression in professional roles hinder it. Qualitative interviews confirm openness to research despite cultural and religious concerns, driven by inadequate mental health treatments for Pasifika communities, but impeded by insufficient information on efficacy.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 17, 2025
Daria Dikovskaya, Bhargav Srinivasa Desikan, Joel Frohlich et al.
2 citations
A preliminary investigation into altered states of consciousness (ASC) analyzed 300 narrative reports across 12 induction methods, including meditation, float tank, and several psychedelics. Most psychedelics (except LSD), along with salvia and ketamine, shared similar content with non-pharmacological methods. In qualitative analysis, most psychedelics except LSD were deemed both positive and authentic, with authenticity predicting positive sentiment across all methods. Latent themes charted a trajectory from baseline to metaphysical experience, and text-to-image AI illustrated the underlying structure. The findings suggest that some ASC induction methods, such as salvia, ketamine, or 5-MeO-DMT, may be characterized as 'mind-manifesting,' but not others like LSD, datura, or DPH.
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.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
February 5, 2025
Shannon Hughes, Lucia Terpak, Reilly Capps et al.
2 citations
Underground psilocybin mushroom practitioners in a western U.S. state, mostly white women aged 31–50 with extensive personal inner-directed work, guide others through sessions. Benefits include reduced depression, OCD, addiction symptoms, greater self-knowledge, reduced death anxiety, and increased joy. Practitioners screen out clients with severe trauma, personality disorders, or lacking social support; moving too quickly into high-dose sessions without preparation is a key risk. A direct personal relationship with mushrooms is seen as critical for safety. Policy priorities emphasize respectful reciprocity and equitable access. The findings suggest that mysticism, relationality, and holistic healing may be more central to outcomes than mystical-type experiences alone.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 27, 2024
Tehseen Noorani, R. Liebert
2 citations
As psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) faces criticism of its trial evidence and moves toward legalization in some places, this paper proposes evaluating PAT not only through individual-level data but also through its collective, societal effects. Drawing on the transformative paradigm of evaluation, which prioritizes social justice and marginalized expertise, the authors outline a 'grassroots' approach. They offer eight examples of social issues linked to PAT and psychedelic use, suggesting relevant expertise and evaluation questions for each. The approach is guided by three values: rhizomatic accountability, dark reflexivity, and more-than-human hosting, which align with the contemporary practice of PAT. The aim is to spur discussion and action toward study designs that capture psychedelics' transformative potential in medicalized societies.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 29, 2024
Arghavan Nepton, Hesam Farahani, Monnica T. Williams et al.
2 citations
Depression involves a wide range of biological changes, from gene variations to epigenetic modifications, not only serotonergic mechanisms. Therapy response to antidepressants is linked to epigenetic regulation of genes in the serotonergic system. Persistent depressive symptoms may involve stable molecular adaptations in the brain at the epigenetic level. Responses to psychotherapy for mood disorders correlate with epigenetic alterations, including in genes regulating the serotonergic and glutamatergic systems and the HPA axis. Ketamine's antidepressant effects may be linked to epigenetic alterations, and further exploration of BDNF's relation with ketamine in epigenetic signaling is warranted. Understanding these mechanisms may help gauge therapy efficacy and duration.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
September 11, 2023
Dax Oliver
2 citations
Positive mood should not be a criterion for identifying mystical experiences in psychedelic studies. Unlike feelings of self-dissolution and time-transcendence, positive mood does not distinguish mystical experiences from other emotionally powerful states such as being in love. Other proposed mystical criteria can occur with non-positive moods, and framing all mystical experiences as solely positive is not more pragmatic.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
August 14, 2023
K. Blevins
2 citations
Race is a significant factor in psychedelic experiences for racially marginalized populations, yet many studies ignore social categories like race. Drawing on critical phenomenology, anthropology, and psychedelic studies, this article argues that consciousness is fundamentally intersubjective, even during psychedelic-induced experiences. Intersubjectivity enables meaning and socialization, processes enacted through social categories. Therefore, research on psychedelic experiences must account for how social categories shape embodied experiences and their effects. This approach foregrounds identity, power, and context in clinical and naturalistic research.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
August 18, 2022
Corey Botansky, John Innes
2 citations
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face stigma that hinders community acceptance of psychoactive drugs used to augment psychotherapy. An experiment gave participants information about a client with PTSD or a physical condition (Parkinson's disease) with psychological symptoms. Participants felt more empathy for the PTSD client, and an empathy manipulation further increased this. Although participants viewed PTSD clients as more responsible for their condition, they also showed greater willingness to help, which increased with empathy. Fostering empathy may encourage community endorsement of enhanced therapy for mental illness, potentially influencing medical practitioners' acceptance.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 19, 2021
Michael A. Winkelman
2 citations
The author argues that the Buddhist sacramental substance amrita originated in the Vedic soma, an entheogenic ritual drink. Drawing on ancient texts and archaeological evidence, the analysis contends that soma traditions did not originate with Indo-Aryan peoples but were instead obtained from the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC). Depictions of ceramic strainers associated with soma ritual resemble earlier Harappan artifacts, suggesting cultural transfer. The author further traces parallels between the Vedic myth The Churning of the Ocean and the Tibetan Buddhist text Immaculate Crystal Garland, showing that Buddhist accounts of amrita derive from earlier Sanskrit versions. Additional evidence links features of Vajrayana deities to psychoactive mushrooms such as fly agaric and Psilocybe cubensis.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
November 12, 2020
Anne Vallely
2 citations
Psychedelic medicine's potential to transform healthcare depends not only on novel treatments but also on new explanations of illness. Non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by psychedelics challenge the notion of an ontologically distinct self, revealing it as an anthropocentric fiction at the root of individual, social, and ecological malaise. Based on the testimonies of three African American women therapists who served as clients, psychedelic healing is an embodied process shaped by historical, social, and cultural factors, tied to community. Healing occurs through reconnecting personal narrative with collective narrative, including embodied collective trauma. The self is not unchanging but constituted by history, culture, and racialized oppression. Psychedelics strip away protective shields, creating radical vulnerability that grounds healing.