Creativity and Psychoactive Substance Use: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Creativity and the use of psychoactive substances have long been linked in both cultural narratives and scientific inquiry, with particular interest since the discovery of LSD. Earlier literature and anecdotal reports suggest artists may use substances to access altered perceptual states, depersonalization, derealization, regressive or ecstatic inspiration phases, or to provoke unusual cognitive modes. Such substance use has been proposed as a form of self-medication to regulate emotions, manage interpersonal relations, or alleviate internal tension during the creative process. Historical examples cited include mescaline and LSD experiences reported by well-known writers and painters, and theoretical propositions that psychoactive drugs might both stimulate experiential phases of inspiration and assist in subsequent reorganisation of material created during those states. Iszáj and colleagues set out to systematically review empirical studies and case reports published in peer-reviewed outlets that examine the relationship between psychoactive substance use and creativity or the artistic creative process. The objective was to collate and evaluate available evidence about whether and how different substances relate to creative performance, creative style, or artistic production, and to identify methodological gaps in the literature. The review therefore focuses on empirical papers and case studies across substance classes, artistic domains, and study designs rather than on anecdote or non-empirical commentary.