Clinically relevant acute subjective effects of psychedelics beyond mystical experience
Goldy, S. P., Griffiths, R. R., Weiss, B., Yaden, D. B.
This review (2024) examines the acute subjective effects of classic psychedelics, their relationship to risks and therapeutic benefits, and the current limitations in measuring these effects. It discusses existing measures, their construct validity, and predictive value for outcomes, while proposing recommendations for improving conceptualization and measurement in future research.
Abstract
The administration of classic psychedelics has been associated with well-being and mental health benefits as well as risks and adverse events. The acute subjective effects of psychedelics might have a causal role in these risks and therapeutic benefits, but inconsistencies and limitations in the conceptualization and measurement of these acute subjective effects hinder research and clinical advances. In this Review, we outline current characterizations and psychometric examinations of the acute subjective effects of psychedelics, evaluate the construct validity of commonly used measures and describe findings showing that specific acute subjective effects predict certain outcomes. We discuss how to balance the limitations of existing measures with methodological advances in practice and elaborate on well-known methods and other psychological processes that can help inform the creation of new measures. We suggest actionable recommendations for how the field can transcend current conceptualizations and provide guidance on best practices until the next generation of measures is validated.