Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)Safety & Risk ManagementSet & SettingSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)

Constructing drug effects: a history of set and setting

This paper traces the historical evolution of the concept of "set and setting" from the 19th-century Club des Hashischins through mid-20th-century psychotomimetic research to Timothy Leary’s formulation, showing how non‑pharmacological psychological, social and cultural factors shape drug effects. It argues for the concept’s centrality across psychopharmacology, introduces "collective set and setting" to capture broader social forces, and highlights implications for drug research and policy.

Authors

  • Ido Hartogsohn

Published

Drug Science Policy and Law
meta Study

Abstract

Set and setting is a term which refers to the psychological, social, and cultural parameters which shape the response to psychedelic drugs. The concept is considered fundamental to psychedelic research and has also been used to describe nonpharmacological factors which shape the effects of other agents such as alcohol, heroin, amphetamines, or cocaine. This paper reviews the history and evolution of the concept of set and setting from the 19th-century Parisian Club des Hashischins, through to 1950s psychotomimetic research on nondrug determinants of psychopharmacology, the use of extra-drug techniques by psychedelic therapists of the 1950s, and the invention of the concept of set and setting by Leary. Later developments and expansions on the concept of set and setting are discussed, and the term of collective set and setting is suggested as a theoretical tool to describe the social forces which shape individual set and setting situations. The concept of set and setting, it is argued, is crucial not only for psychedelic research but also for advancing drug research and developing more effective drug policy.

Available with Blossom Pro

Research Summary of 'Constructing drug effects: a history of set and setting'

Introduction

Hartogsohn frames the paper around a central question: to what extent are psychoactive drug effects fixed pharmacological responses versus constructions shaped by psychological, social and cultural parameters? The introduction situates this inquiry within a long-running but incompletely resolved debate about ‘‘nondrug parameters of psychopharmacology’’. It notes established phenomena—placebo effects and cross-cultural variation in drug responses—while arguing that a coherent, testable account of how extra‑pharmacological variables operate is still lacking. The author highlights the practical urgency of the issue for harm reduction and drug policy as jurisdictions move towards decriminalisation and medicalised models of use. The paper proposes the concept of set and setting as a productive framework for studying these extra‑pharmacological influences. Set is defined as the internal state of the person (personality, preparation, expectations, intention, mood) and setting as the environment (physical, social and cultural context). Hartogsohn states the aims as providing a preliminary history of the concept, tracing its evolution from 19th‑century hashish experimentation through mid‑20th‑century clinical work to contemporary debates, and suggesting analytical extensions (for example, ‘‘collective set and setting’’) and practical implications for research, therapy and policy.

Expert Research Summaries

Go Pro to access AI-powered section-by-section summaries, editorial takes, and the full research toolkit.

Full Text PDF

Full Paper PDF

Create a free account to open full-text PDFs.

Study Details

References (7)

Papers cited by this study that are also in Blossom

25 cited
Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance

Griffiths, R. R., Richards, W. A., Mccann, U. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2006)

Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: what do we know after 50 years?

Halpern, J. H., Pope Jr, H. G. · Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2003)

204 cited
Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety

Johnson, M. W., Richards, W. A., Griffiths, R. R. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2008)

Reactions to psilocybin administered in a supportive environment

Leary, T., Litwin, G. H., Metzner, R. · Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (1977)

Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action

Vollenweider, F. X., Vollenweider-Scherpenhuyzen, M. F. I., Bäbler, A. et al. · NeuroReport (1998)

Cited By (114)

Papers in Blossom that reference this study

Mixed-methods analysis on psychedelic-augmented meditation experiences from a randomized controlled mindfulness retreat

Schlomberg, J. T. T., Meling, D., Grylka, R. et al. · Scientific Reports (2026)

Participant Experiences of Microdosed Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in a 6-Week Randomised Controlled Trial

Murphy, R. J., Wardlaw, M., Smith, T. et al. · Journal of Humanistic Psychology (2025)

Set and setting in psilocybin-assisted therapy: A qualitative study of patients with cancer and depression

Beaussant, Y., Tarbi, E., Nigam, K. B. et al. · General Hospital Psychiatry (2025)

Ayahuasca-inspired DMT/harmine formulation alters creative thinking dynamics during artistic creation

Suay, D., Aicher, H. D., Singer, B. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2025)

Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of co-administered N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmine in healthy subjects

Äbelö, A., Smallridge, J. W., Von Rotz, R. et al. · Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2025)

The effects of psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram on cognitive bias: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Henry, J., Giribaldi, B., Nutt, D. J. et al. · European Neuropsychopharmacology (2025)

Safety, tolerability and subjective effects of vaporized N,N-Dimethyltryptamine: A randomized double-blind clinical trial

Wießner, I., Falchi-Carvalho, M., Laborde, S. et al. · European Neuropsychopharmacology (2025)

An international Delphi consensus for reporting of setting in psychedelic clinical trials

Pronovost-Morgan, C., Greenway, K. T., Roseman, L. · Nature Medicine (2025)

Show all 114 papers
Compass Psychological Support Model for COMP360 Psilocybin Treatment of Serious Mental Health Conditions

Kirlic, N., Lennard-Jones, M., Atli, M. et al. · American Journal of Psychiatry (2025)

DMT micro-phenomenology

Sanders, J. W., Milliere, R., Daily, Z. G. et al. · Preprints (2024)

Practical considerations in the establishment of psychedelic research programs

Murnane, K. S., Barnett, B. S., Vest, •. M. F. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2024)

The conceptual framework for the therapeutic approach used in phase 3 trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD

O'Donnell, K., Okano, L., Alpert, M. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2024)

23 cited
Meditating on psychedelics. A randomized placebo-controlled study of DMT and harmine in a mindfulness retreat

Meling, D., Egger, K., Aicher, H. D. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2024)

A Transformative Trip? Experiences of Psychedelic Use

Neitzke-Spruill, L., Beit, C., Robinson, J. et al. · Neuroethics (2024)

Developing an Ethics and Policy Framework for Psychedelic Clinical Care: A Consensus Statement

McGuire, A. L., Cohen, I. G., Sisti, D. et al. · JAMA Network Open (2024)

Mind the Psychedelic Hype: Characterizing the Risks and Benefits of Psychedelics for Depression

Meling, D., Ehrenkra, R., Nayak, S. et al. · Psychoactives (2024)

The unique neural signature of your trip: Functional connectome fingerprints of subjective psilocybin experience

Tolle, H. M., Farah, J. C., Mallaroni, P. et al. · Network Neuroscience (2024)

Brain substates induced by DMT relate to sympathetic output and meaningfulness of the experience

Pasquini, L., Simon, A. J., Gallen, C. L. et al. · Biorxiv (2024)

4 cited
Subjective long-term emotional and social effects of recreational MDMA use: the role of setting and intentions

Elmer, T., Vannoy, T. K., Studerus, E. et al. · Scientific Reports (2024)

10 cited
Patient perspectives and experiences with psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression: a qualitative study

Breeksema, J. J., Niemeijer, A. R., Krediet, E. et al. · Scientific Reports (2024)

Synthetic surprise as the foundation of the psychedelic experience

De Filippo, R., Schmitz, D. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2024)

Set and setting predict psychopathology, wellbeing and meaningfulness of psychedelic experiences: a correlational study

Borkel, L. F., Rojas-Hernández, J., Henríquez-Hernández, L. A. et al. · Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology (2023)

4 cited
Nature-themed video intervention may improve cardiovascular safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder

Heinzerling, K. G., Sergi, K., Linton, M. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2023)

Improvement in OCD symptoms associated with serotoninergic psychedelics: a retrospective online survey

Buot, A., Pallares, C., Oganesyan, A. et al. · Scientific Reports (2023)

22 cited
Therapeutic mechanisms of psychedelics and entactogens

Heifets, B. D., Olson, D. E. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2023)

Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis: A systematic review of pre-clinical studies

Lima da Cruz, R. V., Leão, R. N., Moulin, T. C. · Biorxiv (2023)

N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-Occasioned Familiarity and the Sense of Familiarity Questionnaire (SOF-Q)

Lawrence, D. W., Timmermann, C. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2023)

Harnessing placebo: Lessons from psychedelic science

Pronovost-Morgan, C., Hartogsohn, I., Ramaekers, J. G. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2023)

Impact of a Naturalistic Psychedelic Experience on Smoking: A Retrospective Survey

Romeo, B., Fauvel, B., Verroust, V. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2023)

Dose-response relationships of LSD-induced subjective experiences in humans

Prugger, J., Hirschfeld, T., Majic, T. et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2023)

19 cited
19 cited
Altered States of Consciousness During Ceremonial San Pedro Use

Bohn, A., Kiggen, M. H. H., Uthaug, M. V. et al. · International Journal for the Psychology of Religion (2022)

Psychedelic Identity Shift: A Critical Approach to Set And Setting

Devenot, N., Seale-Feldman, A., Smith, E. et al. · Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal (2022)

28 cited
Classic psychedelics, health behavior, and physical health

Simonsson, O., Hendricks, P. S., Chambers, R. et al. · Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology (2022)

25 cited
Body mass index (BMI) does not predict responses to psilocybin

Giribaldi, B., Lyons, T., Rosas, F. E. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)

15 cited
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for People with Eating Disorders

Gukasyan, N., Schreyer, C. C., Griffiths, R. R. et al. · Current Psychiatry Reports (2022)

A Psychoanalytic Perspective on Psychedelic Experience

Guss, J. · Psychoanalytic Dialogues (2022)

Antidepressant effects of a psychedelic experience in a large prospective naturalistic sample

Nygart, V., Pommerencke, L. M., Haijen, E. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)

46 cited
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy-A Systematic Review of Associated Psychological Interventions

Cavarra, M., Falzone, A., Ramaekers, J. G. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2022)

Traditional Amazonian medicine in addiction treatment: Qualitative results

O'shaughnessy, D. M., Sarnyai, Z., Quirk, F. et al. · SSM Qualitative Research in Health (2022)

Therapeutic Alliance and Rapport Modulate Responses to Psilocybin Assisted Therapy for Depression

Murphy, R., Murphy-Beiner, A., Kettner, H. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022)

162 cited
Predictors and potentiators of psychedelic-occasioned mystical experiences

Gandy, S. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2022)

Psilocybin-Induced Mystical-Type Experiences are Related to Persisting Positive Effects: A Quantitative and Qualitative Report

McCulloch, D. E-W., Madsen, M. K., Jensen, P. S. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022)

79 cited
Presence, Trust, and Empathy: Preferred Characteristics of Psychedelic Carers

Thal, S., Engels, L. B., Bright, S. J. · Journal of Humanistic Psychology (2022)

Virtual Reality as a Moderator of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Sekula, A. D., Downey, L., Puspanathan, P. · Frontiers in Psychology (2022)

19 cited
Effects of Setting on Psychedelic Experiences, Therapies, and Outcomes: A Rapid Scoping Review of the Literature

Golden, T. L., Magsamen, S., Sandu, C. C. et al. · Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences (2022)

Toward a positive psychology of psychoactive drug use

Arnaud, K. O. S. · Drugs Education Prevention and Policy (2021)

Ketamine as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Narrative Review

Keeler, J. L., Treasure, J., Juruena, M. F. et al. · Nutrients (2021)

Day trip to hell: A mixed methods study of challenging psychedelic experiences

Johnstad, P. G. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2021)

43 cited
Critical Period Plasticity as a Framework for Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Yehuda, R., Lepow, L., Morishita, H. · Frontiers in Neuroscience (2021)

Research abuses against people of colour and other vulnerable groups in early psychedelic research

Strauss, D., de la Salle, S., Sloshower, J. A. et al. · Journal of Medical Ethics (2021)

Ceremonial Ayahuasca in Amazonian Retreats-Mental Health and Epigenetic Outcomes From a Six-Month Naturalistic Study

Ruffell, S. G. D., Netzband, N., Tsang, W. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021)

56 cited
Psychedelic medicalization, public discourse, and the morality of ego dissolution

Gearin, A. K., Devenot, N. · International Journal of Cultural Studies (2021)

Relational Processes in Ayahuasca Groups of Palestinians and Israelis

Roseman, L., Ron, Y., Saca, A. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021)

30 cited
The Potential Role of Psychedelic Drugs in Mental Health Care of the Future

Gründer, G., Jungaberle, H., Gründer, G. · Pharmacopsychiatry (2021)

Challenges in translational research: MDMA in the laboratory versus therapeutic settings

de Wit, H., Bershad, A. K., Grob, C. S. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)

Set and Setting in the Santo Daime

Hartogsohn, I. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021)

A Qualitative Study of Intention and Impact of Ayahuasca Use by Westerners

Bathje, G. J., Fenton, J., Pillersdorf, D. et al. · Journal of Humanistic Psychology (2021)

18 cited
Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration: A Transtheoretical Model for Clinical Practice

Palhano-Fontes, F., Gorman, I., Nielson, E. M. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2021)

Dose-response relationships of psilocybin-induced subjective experiences in humans

Hirschfeld, T., Schmidt, T. T. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)

Positive expectations predict improved mental-health outcomes linked to psychedelic microdosing

Kaertner, L. S., Steinborn, M. B., Kettner, H. et al. · Scientific Reports (2021)

112 cited
The potential synergistic effects between psychedelic administration and nature contact for the improvement of mental health

Gandy, S., Forstmann, M., Carhart-Harris, R. L. et al. · Health Psychology Open (2020)

Isness: Using Multi-Person VR to Design Peak Mystical Type Experiences Comparable to Psychedelics

Glowacki, D. R., Wonnacott, M. D., Freire, R. et al. · Association for Computing Machinery (2020)

32 cited
Tripping on nothing: placebo psychedelics and contextual factors

Olson, J. A., Suissa-Rocheleau, L., Lifshitz, M. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2020)

Learning to Let Go: A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance

Wolff, M., Evens, R., Mertens, L. J. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2020)

Rostral Anterior Cingulate Thickness Predicts the Emotional Psilocybin Experience

Lewis, C. R., Preller, K. H., Braden, B. B. et al. · Biomedicines (2020)

24 cited
Reported effects of psychedelic use on those with low well-being given various emotional contexts

Mason, N. L., Dolder, P. C., Kuypers, K. P. C. · Drug Science Policy and Law (2020)

12 cited
Therapeutic Use of LSD in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trials

Fuentes, J. J., Fonseca, F., Elices, M. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2020)

From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent Manner

Kettner, H., Gandy, S., Haijen, E. C. H. M. et al. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2019)

131 cited
Toward a contextual psychedelic-assisted therapy: Perspectives from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and contextual behavioral science

Luoma, J. B., Sabucedo, P., Eriksson, J. et al. · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (2019)

Emotional breakthrough and psychedelics: validation of the emotional breakthrough inventory

Roseman, L., Haijen, E. C. H. M., Idialu-Ikato, K. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2019)

Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use

Garcia-Romeu, A., Davis, A. K., Fire Erowid et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2019)

211 cited
Current perspectives on psychedelic therapy: use of serotonergic hallucinogens in clinical interventions

Richards, W. A., Garcia-Romeu, A. · International Review of Psychiatry (2018)

Predicting responses to psychedelics: a prospective study

Haijen, E. C. H. M., Kaelen, M., Roseman, L. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2018)

339 cited
DMT models the near-death experience

Timmermann, C., Roseman, L., Williams, L. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2018)

Psychedelics: Where we are now, why we got here, what we must do

Belouin, S. J., Henningfield, J. E. · Neuropharmacology (2018)

Psychedelics and the essential importance of context

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Haijen, E. C. H. M. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2018)

Quality of acute psychedelic experience predicts therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression

Roseman, L., Nutt, D. J., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2018)

Your Personal Research Library

Go Pro to save papers, add notes, rate studies, and organize your research into custom shelves.

Constructing drug effects: a history of set and... — Research Summary & Context | Blossom