Improvements in well-being following naturalistic psychedelic use and underlying mechanisms of change in older adults: A prospective cohort study.

Older adults (age 60+) who participated in a guided psychedelic group retreat showed significant improvements in well-being, with larger gains among those with a prior psychiatric diagnosis. Compared to younger adults, older adults experienced weaker acute psychedelic effects, and these effects did not predict well-being changes. Instead, a sense of communitas—the relational or social connection during the group session—predicted well-being improvements in older adults, suggesting that the social context of psychedelic therapy may be especially important for this age group.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Affective symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, and loneliness are prevalent and highly debilitating symptoms among older adults (OA). Serotonergic psychedelics are novel experimental interventions for affective disorders, yet little is known regarding their effects in OA. Using a prospective cohort design, we identified 62 OA (age ≥ 60 years) and 62 matched younger adults (YA) who completed surveys two weeks before, and one day, two weeks, four weeks, and six months after a guided psychedelic group session in a retreat setting. Mixed linear regression analyses revealed significant well-being improvements in OA and YA, amplified in OA with a history of a psychiatric diagnosis. Compared to YA, acute subjective psychedelic effects were attenuated in OA and did not significantly predict well-being changes. However, a psychosocial measure of Communitas emerged as a predictor in OA, suggesting that the relational components in psychedelic group settings may hold particular value for OA.