Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings

Summary & key facts

Researchers ran field studies with more than 1,200 people at six multiday mass gatherings in the US and UK. They found that people who reported using classic psychedelics (like LSD or psilocybin) also reported better mood. That link was statistically explained by two things people reported after the experience: that it felt transformative and that they felt more socially connected. The effects were stronger when the psychedelic use happened in the past 24 hours versus the past week. The study controlled for demographics and other drug use and used self-reported data in real-world settings.

Key facts:

• The study included over 1,200 participants across six multiday mass gatherings in the United States and the United Kingdom.
• Psychedelic substance use (examples named were LSD and psilocybin) was significantly associated with higher positive mood after controlling for demographics and use of other psychoactive substances.
• The association between psychedelic use and better mood was statistically mediated by self-reported transformative experience and increased social connectedness.
• The mood and social effects were larger for people who had taken psychedelics within the last 24 hours compared with those who had used them within the last week.
• The data come from naturalistic, observational field studies and rely on participants' self-reports, so the findings describe associations seen in real-world settings rather than proving direct cause-and-effect.

Abstract

Past research suggests that use of psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin may have positive effects on mood and feelings of social connectedness. These psychological effects are thought to be highly sensitive to context, but robust and direct evidence for them in a naturalistic setting is scarce. In a series of field studies involving over 1,200 participants across six multiday mass gatherings in the United States and the United Kingdom, we investigated the effects of psychedelic substance use on transformative experience, social connectedness, and positive mood. This approach allowed us to test preregistered hypotheses with high ecological validity and statistical precision. Controlling for a host of demographic variables and the use of other psychoactive substances, we found that psychedelic substance use was significantly associated with positive mood-an effect sequentially mediated by self-reported transformative experience and increased social connectedness. These effects were particularly pronounced for those who had taken psychedelic substances within the last 24 h (compared to the last week). Overall, this research provides robust evidence for positive affective and social consequences of psychedelic substance use in naturalistic settings.

Topics

Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques Chemical synthesis and alkaloids Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Cognitive psychology Developmental psychology Epistemology Mood Naturalism Philosophy Psychology Psychotherapist Social connectedness Social psychology Transformative learning

Substances

LSD Psilocybin

Conditions & symptoms

Feeling disconnected from others Sadness or low mood