Sub-Acute Effects of Psilocybin on Empathy, Creative Thinking, and Subjective Well-Being
Natasha L. Mason, Elisabeth Mischler, Malin V. Uthaug, Kim P. C. Kuypers
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 26, 2019 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2019.1580804 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA single dose of psilocybin, given in a retreat setting, may boost creative thinking, empathy, and well-being for at least a week. The morning after use, divergent thinking and emotional empathy improved; seven days later, convergent thinking, certain types of emotional empathy, and life satisfaction remained enhanced. Changes in empathy were linked to changes in well-being. These sub-acute effects outlast acute intoxication and may help explain psilocybin's potential as a treatment for conditions like depression, where social interaction and well-being are impaired.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 55 |
| Population | Participants attending a psilocybin retreat |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Duration | 7-day follow-up |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Empathy Clinical psychology Developmental psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 176 |
| Key finding | A single administration of psilocybin in a social setting was associated with sub-acute enhancement of creative thinking, empathy, and subjective well-being that persisted up to seven days. |
Abstract
Creative thinking and empathy are crucial for everyday interactions and subjective well-being. This is emphasized by studies showing a reduction in these skills in populations where social interaction and subjective well-being are significantly compromised (e.g., depression). Anecdotal reports and recent studies suggest that a single administration of psilocybin can enhance such processes and could therefore be a potential treatment. However, it has yet to be assessed whether effects outlast acute intoxication. The present study aimed to assess the sub-acute effects of psilocybin on creative thinking, empathy, and well-being. Participants attending a psilocybin retreat completed tests of creative (convergent and divergent) thinking and empathy, and the satisfaction with life scale on three occasions: before ingesting psilocybin (N = 55), the morning after (N = 50), and seven days after (N = 22). Results indicated that psilocybin enhanced divergent thinking and emotional empathy the morning after use. Enhancements in convergent thinking, valence-specific emotional empathy, and well-being persisted seven days after use. Sub-acute changes in empathy correlated with changes in well-being. The study demonstrates that a single administration of psilocybin in a social setting may be associated with sub-acute enhancement of creative thinking, empathy, and subjective well-being. Future research should test whether these effects contribute to the therapeutic effects in clinical populations.