People of color in North America report improvements in racial trauma and mental health symptoms following psychedelic experiences
Monnica T. Williams, Alan K. Davis, Yitong Xin, Nathan D. Sepeda, Pamela Colón Grigas, Sinead M. Sinnott, Angela M. Haeny
Drugs Education Prevention and Policy December 10, 2020 DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2020.1854688 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA may reduce symptoms of racial trauma among Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) after a racist experience. In a cross-sectional survey of 313 diverse BIPOC in the US and Canada, participants retrospectively reported mental health symptoms 30 days before and 30 days after using a psychedelic. Analysis showed significant decreases in traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and stress following the experience. A strong positive relationship emerged between acute psychedelic effects (mystical-type, insight, and challenging experiences) and reductions in psychopathology, even after controlling for prior discrimination and time since the experience. The findings suggest psychedelics could lessen the negative impact of racial trauma, though further research on psychedelic-assisted therapy for race-based trauma is needed.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 313 |
| Population | Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in the US and Canada |
| Interventions | Psilocybin Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) 3 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) |
| Duration | 30 days before and 30 days after the psychedelic experience |
| Topics | Anxiety Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Mental health Clinical psychology Psychiatry |
| Citations | 100 |
| Key finding | Psychedelics were associated with significant decreases in traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and stress after a racist experience, with a strong positive relationship between acute psychedelic effects and reduced psychopathology. |
Abstract
This study examined how psychedelics reduced symptoms of racial trauma among black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) subsequent to an experience of racism. A cross-sectional internet-based survey included questions about experiences with racism, mental health symptoms, and acute and enduring psychedelic effects. Changes in mental health were assessed by retrospective report of symptoms in the 30 days before and 30 days after an experience with psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). We recruited 313 diverse BIPOC in the US and Canada. Results revealed a significant (p p p p c = 0.52, p < .001) between the dimension of acute psychedelic effects (mystical-type, insight, and challenging experiences) and decreases in a cluster of subsequent psychopathology (traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and stress), while controlling for the frequency of prior discrimination and the time since the psychedelic experience. BIPOC have been underrepresented in psychedelic studies. Psychedelics may decrease the negative impact of racial trauma. Future studies should examine the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy for individuals with a history of race-based trauma.