Psychedelics are associated with changes in spiritual beliefs and orientations in US veterans
Randi Brown, Kenneth Shinozuka, Irakli Kaloiani, Lena Kozyr, Dylan Orion, Afik Faerman, Maheen M. Adamson
Research Square February 27, 2026 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8960226/v1 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA survey of 151 US veterans who received funding for psychedelic treatment found that after their most memorable psychedelic experience, the proportion who endorsed an active belief in God or a higher power increased significantly, while the proportion who denied such belief decreased significantly. No significant changes occurred in affiliation with spiritual or religious groups, but qualitative analysis indicated shifts in the nature of participants' relationship with spirituality. The findings suggest that psychedelic experiences can catalyze increased spiritual connection and reorientation, especially among those who previously doubted or did not believe.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Survey Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 151 |
| Population | US veterans who received funding to attend a psychedelic-based treatment |
| Intervention | psychedelic-based treatment |
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Spirituality Religious experience Perception Parapsychology |
| Key finding | After a memorable psychedelic experience, the proportion of participants endorsing belief in God or a higher power significantly increased, while the proportion denying such belief significantly decreased. |
Abstract
Abstract The acute effects of psychedelic medicines include shifts in perception and awareness that can often include mystical or spiritual elements. Research suggests that these experiences can also extend into more persisting changes in spirituality, yet this area is underexplored. This study examined the effects of psychedelic experiences on spiritual beliefs using a survey of N = 151 people who had received funding to attend a psychedelic-based treatment. Participants were primarily United States (US) veterans who retrospectively completed an online survey assessing the impact of their most memorable psychedelic experience on thoughts, emotions, and behavior. When comparing beliefs reported after one’s most memorable psychedelic experience with those reported before, the proportion of participants who endorsed an active belief in God or a higher power was significantly higher, and the proportion who denied a belief in God or a higher power was significantly lower. We did not observe significant changes in affiliation with spiritual or religious groups after the psychedelic experience, but qualitative analysis suggested that the nature of the participants’ relationship with spirituality exhibited some shifts. These findings suggest that psychedelic experiences can act as a catalyst for increased spiritual connection and reorientation, particularly among individuals who previously identified as doubting or nonbelieving.