Classic psychedelics, health behavior, and physical health
In a US-representative sample (N = 2,822), lifetime use of classic psychedelics was associated with healthier tobacco- and diet-related behaviours, and among users greater psychological insight during their most insightful psychedelic experience predicted healthier exercise habits, healthier BMI and better diet (with some alcohol-related improvements). Although causality cannot be inferred, the results suggest psychological insight from classic psychedelic experiences may facilitate positive health-behaviour change, particularly for weight management.
Authors
- Otto Simonsson
- Peter Hendricks
- Wojciech Osika
Published
Abstract
Background
Preliminary evidence suggests that classic psychedelics may be effective in the treatment of some psychiatric disorders, yet little remains known about their effects on health behavior and physical health.
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate associations of lifetime classic psychedelic use and psychological insight during one’s most insightful classic psychedelic experience with health behavior and physical health.
Methods
Using data representative of the US population with regard to sex, age, and ethnicity ( N = 2822), this study examined associations of lifetime classic psychedelic use and psychological insight with health behavior and physical health.
Results
Lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with more healthy tobacco-related and diet-related behavior ( β = 0.05 and 0.09, respectively). Among lifetime classic psychedelic users ( n = 613), greater Psychological Insight Questionnaire (PIQ) total scale, PIQ Avoidance and Maladaptive Patterns (AMP) subscale, and PIQ Goals and Adaptive Patterns (GAP) subscale scores were each associated with higher odds of more healthy exercise-related behavior [adjusted odds ratios (aOR) (95% confidence interval, CI = 1.38 (1.13–1.68), 1.38 (1.13–1.68), and 1.32 (1.10–1.60), respectively] and higher odds of having a healthy body mass index (BMI) [aOR (95% CI) = 1.32 (1.07–1.63), 1.36 (1.10–1.69), and 1.23 (1.01–1.50), respectively], and greater GAP subscale scores were associated with more healthy diet-related behavior ( β = 0.10). All PIQ scales were positively associated with some health behavior improvements (overall, diet, exercise) attributed to respondents’ most insightful classic psychedelic experience ( β = 0.42, 0.18, and 0.17; β = 0.40, 0.19, and 0.17; and β = 0.40, 0.15, and 0.15, respectively), but only PIQ total scale and AMP subscale scores were positively associated with alcohol-related health behavior improvements ( β = 0.13 and 0.16, respectively).
Conclusion
Although these results cannot demonstrate causality, they suggest that psychological insight during a classic psychedelic experience may lead to positive health behavior change and better physical health in some domains, in particular in those related to weight management.
Research Summary of 'Classic psychedelics, health behavior, and physical health'
Introduction
Earlier research has reported associations between lifetime use of classic psychedelics (serotonin 2A receptor agonists such as mescaline and psilocybin) and better physical health in population samples, including lower odds of overweight/obesity and of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. It is plausible that such associations could be mediated, at least in part, by changes in health behaviour; qualitative and cross-sectional studies have reported spontaneous improvements in diet, exercise, and substance use following psychedelic experiences, and several measures of the acute psychedelic experience (for example, mystical experience and ego-dissolution scales) predict longer-term outcomes. Recent work identifies psychological insight as a potentially important common feature of the psychedelic experience, but its relationship to health behaviour and physical health has not been examined in a nationally representative sample free of pronounced self-selection bias. Simonsson and colleagues set out to test whether lifetime classic psychedelic use and the degree of psychological insight reported for respondents' single most insightful psychedelic experience are associated with multiple domains of health behaviour (tobacco, alcohol, diet, exercise) and with markers of physical health (body mass index categorised as healthy versus not, and a composite of noncommunicable disease (NCD) in the past year). Using a US adult sample representative on sex, age, and ethnicity, the authors hypothesised that lifetime use and greater psychological insight would each be associated with healthier behaviours, higher odds of healthy BMI, and lower odds of recent NCD.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Topics
- Authors
- APA Citation
Simonsson, O., Hendricks, P. S., Chambers, R., Osika, W., & Goldberg, S. B. (2022). Classic psychedelics, health behavior, and physical health. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 12. https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253221135363
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Papers cited by this study that are also in Blossom
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Simonsson, O., Sexton, J. D., Hendricks, P. S. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)
Simonsson, O., Osika, W., Carhart-Harris, R. L. et al. · Scientific Reports (2021)
Simonsson, O., Hendricks, P. S., Carhart-Harris, R. et al. · Hypertension (2021)
Teixeira, P. J., Johnson, M. W., Timmermann, C. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)
Garcia-Romeu, A., Davis, A. K., Fire Erowid et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2019)
Ona, G., Kohek, M., Massaguer, T. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2019)
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Barrett, F. S., Johnson, M. W., Griffiths, R. R. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)
Uthaug, M. V., Van Oorsouw, &. K., Kuypers, &. K. P. C. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2018)
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Barrett, F. S., Bradstreet, M. P., Leoutsakos, J. M. S. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Carbonaro, T. M., Bradstreet, M. P., Barrett, F. S. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Davis, A. K., Streeter Barrett, F., Griffiths, R. R. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)
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Cited By (3)
Papers in Blossom that reference this study
Kugel, J., Laukkonen, R., Yaden, D. B. et al. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2025)
Borkel, L. F., Rojas-Hernández, J., Henríquez-Hernández, L. A. et al. · Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology (2023)
Simonsson, A., Simonsson, O., Chambers, R. et al. · Mindfulness (2023)
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