Depressive DisordersSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Set & SettingPersonality & Trait FactorsInterpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness

Predictors and potentiators of psychedelic-occasioned mystical experiences

This review (2022) examines factors that contribute to the occurrence and intensity of mystical experiences and enhance their long-term benefits, including music, meditation and spiritual practices and nature-based settings. The review provides food for thought on these factors and more, and how they might be optimised to increase the chances of a mystical experience occurring, while also considering factors that are negatively associated with mystical experiences with suggestions on how these might be mitigated.

Authors

  • Sam Gandy

Published

Journal of Psychedelic Studies
meta Study

Abstract

Mystical experiences are often described as being among the most profound and meaningful events of a person’s life. Their occurrence, while a normal but uncommon phenomenon, is reliably occasioned by psychedelic substances under the appropriate conditions, although care is needed around the context of usage to help ensure safe and beneficial experiences. The occurrence of mystical experiences in psychedelic sessions is a key mediator of the sustained psychological benefits reported in both healthy and clinical populations. Certain factors including set and setting, drug dosage, trait absorption, drug type, intention and states of surrender and acceptance all predict or influence the occurrence of mystical experiences. Various additional factors may further contribute to the occurrence and intensity of mystical experiences and enhance their long-term benefits, including music, meditation and spiritual practices and nature-based settings. This review examines these factors and considers how they might be optimised to increase the chances of a mystical experience occurring, while also considering factors that are negatively associated with mystical experiences with suggestions on how these might be mitigated where applicable. Finally, potential future research avenues for furthering our knowledge of psychedelic mystical experiences and how their benefits might be enhanced is suggested. Maximising the potential for the occurrence of mystical experiences is an important aspect of the beneficial application of psychedelics.

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Research Summary of 'Predictors and potentiators of psychedelic-occasioned mystical experiences'

Introduction

Mystical experiences are described by the authors as states characterised by unity, transcendence of time and space, intense positive mood, a sense of sacredness, ineffability and a noetic quality (a felt sense that what is revealed is true). Historically reported across cultures, these experiences can occur spontaneously but are reliably occasioned by psychedelic substances when the psychological and environmental context is supportive. Earlier research links the occurrence and intensity of psychedelic-occasioned mystical experiences to durable positive changes in well-being, prosocial attitudes, meaning in life and reductions in clinical symptoms across conditions such as depression, addiction and existential distress. This review sets out to examine the factors that predict or potentiate the occurrence and intensity of mystical experiences during psychedelic sessions, and to consider practical ways these factors might be optimised while noting elements that are negatively associated with such experiences. Gandy frames mystical experiences as a key mediator of long-term therapeutic benefit from psychedelics and aims to collate evidence on pharmacological, psychological and contextual determinants (for example: set and setting, dose, trait absorption, drug type, intention, surrender and acceptance), as well as potential augmenting practices such as music, meditation and nature-based settings. The paper also highlights concerns about suggestibility and priming and proposes avenues for future research to refine understanding and clinical practice.

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Study Details

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