Association between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use and Sick Leave in a Population-Based Sample

Introduction

Hypertension prevalence and associated costs are increasing globally, driven by multiple modifiable risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity and alcohol use, together with psychosocial contributors including chronic stress, depression and anxiety. Recent work has also implicated low-grade inflammation and serotonergic system alterations in the pathophysiology of hypertension. Although classic psychedelics (serotonin 2A receptor agonists) have been studied primarily for mental health outcomes over the past two decades, emerging evidence suggests these compounds can produce persistent changes in behaviour and mental state that may indirectly affect cardiovascular risk factors, and they may also have immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory effects relevant to blood pressure regulation. Simonsson and colleagues set out to examine whether lifetime use of classic psychedelics is associated with lower odds of having been told by a medical professional that one had hypertension in the past 12 months. Building on prior population findings that therapeutic associations may differ across psychedelic classes, the investigators also tested whether associations varied by the three main classes of classic psychedelics — tryptamines (DMT, ayahuasca, psilocybin), lysergamides (LSD), and phenethylamines (mescaline, peyote, San Pedro). The authors hypothesised that lifetime classic psychedelic use would be associated with lower odds of recent hypertension, and that tryptamine use would show the strongest association.