Association between mystical-type experiences under psychedelics and improvements in well-being or mental health - A comprehensive review of the evidence
This pre-registered comprehensive review of 44 studies found that mystical-type experiences occasioned by classic psychedelics are generally associated with medium-to-long-term improvements in some aspects of well‑being and mental health—particularly general well‑being, life satisfaction, attitudes and behaviour, and anxiety—with stronger evidence in healthy and cross‑sectional samples. The review also indicates that psychological insights and emotional breakthroughs may be as or more closely linked to positive outcomes and should be routinely measured in future research.
Authors
- Kangaslampi, S.
Published
Abstract
Background and aimsIngestion or administration of classic psychedelics is sometimes associated with improvements in well-being or mental health. Acute mystical-type experiences that psychedelics occasion have been suggested to be related to such improvements. Meanwhile, other features of the psychedelic experience, such as psychological insights and emotional breakthroughs, are also increasingly being studied. This review aimed to collect and assess the available evidence for mystical-type experiences under psychedelics associating with medium-to-long term improvements in well-being or mental health, on their own and as compared with other features of the acute experience.
Methods
I conducted a pre-registered, comprehensive review of existing empirical studies on the topic, based on a systematic search of the literature.
Results
Forty-four eligible studies were found, with most reporting positive associations between mystical-type experiences and improvements in well-being or mental health. The current level of evidence appeared stronger among healthy people, in cross-sectional studies, and for links with positive changes in general well-being and life satisfaction, attitudes and behavior, and anxiety, than for depression or other aspects of well-being and mental health. A few studies suggested that psychological insights and emotional breakthroughs may be as or more closely associated with positive changes than mystical-type experiences.
Conclusions
Despite their significant limitations, the identified studies suggest that mystical-type experiences under psychedelics are associated with improvements in some areas of well-being. However, psychological insights and emotional breakthroughs might be at least as important and should also be measured in future studies.
Research Summary of 'Association between mystical-type experiences under psychedelics and improvements in well-being or mental health - A comprehensive review of the evidence'
Introduction
Psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD have been increasingly associated with improvements in well-being and mental health in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Explanations for these benefits often focus on subjective, acute effects of the drugs; among these, mystical-type experiences—characterised by feelings of unity, noetic quality, transcendence of space and time, sacredness, strong positive mood and ineffability—have been proposed as important contributors. Other acute phenomena (for example, ego dissolution, oceanic boundlessness, psychological insight, and emotional breakthrough) are also discussed in the literature, and instruments such as the Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ) and subscales of the Altered States of Consciousness (ASC) or the Ego Dissolution Inventory (EDI) are commonly used to quantify these states. Kangaslampi set out to comprehensively collect and synthesise quantitative empirical evidence testing whether mystical-type experiences occasioned by classic psychedelics are associated with medium-to-long term improvements in well-being or mental health. The review also aimed to compare the strength of any such associations with those of other acute experiential features (notably psychological insights and emotional breakthroughs), with the intent of clarifying which aspects of the acute psychedelic experience most closely track subsequent positive changes.
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Study Details
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Kangaslampi, S. (2023). Association between mystical-type experiences under psychedelics and improvements in well-being or mental health - A comprehensive review of the evidence. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 7(1), 18-28. https://doi.org/10.1556/2054.2023.00243
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