Priorities for psychedelic research among people who use psychedelics.

The research priorities of people who have used psychedelics differ from those of institutional researchers. An online survey of 1192 U.S. adults who reported past psychedelic use identified seven major domains for future research: therapeutic efficacy, best practices for non-clinical use, safety and adverse experiences, broader understanding including indigenous traditions, non-medical outcomes like creativity and spiritual awakening, best practices for therapy, and best practices for research. Institutional researchers emphasized molecular, neurological, and clinical topics, while users prioritized non-clinical use and societal and cultural issues.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Most academic psychedelic research is clinically oriented, with industry research primarily focusing on the medicalization of these substances. Given the rapid policy changes and the surge in interest among researchers and the public, it is imperative to assess and document the research priorities of the broader psychedelic community. This study aimed to identify these priorities through an anonymous online survey conducted in 2022 among U.S. adults who self-reported past psychedelic use. A trained team coded the responses of 1192 participants to an open-ended question regarding their views on the priorities for psychedelic research. Emerging themes and sub-themes were compared to research topics discussed during a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Workshop on future psychedelic research directions held in the same year. Participants identified seven major domains for future research: 1) therapeutic efficacy for treating health and medical conditions; 2) best practices for non-clinical psychedelic use; 3) general safety and adverse experiences; 4) promoting a broad understanding of psychedelics, including indigenous traditions and community impacts; 5) desirable outcomes for non-medical psychedelic use, such as increases in creativity and spiritual awakening; 6) best practices for psychedelic-assisted therapy; and 7) best practices for psychedelic research. Although there was some overlap between the research priorities of psychedelic users and those of influential institutional researchers, notable differences were observed. Institutional researchers emphasized molecular, neurological, and clinical research, whereas psychedelic users prioritized best practices for non-clinical use and broader societal and cultural issues.