Results from the world’s largest study investigating the ‘naturalistic’ use of psilocybin outside of research settings have shown lasting therapeutic benefits.
Carried out by research non-profit Unlimited Sciences and published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, the observational study represents the world’s largest longitudinal dataset on naturalistic psilocybin use to date.
Results reveal the broad therapeutic potential of a single dose of psilocybin in producing lasting improvements in mental health and wellbeing, consistent with the growing body of evidence from clinical trials.
Unlimited Sciences Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer Matthew X. Lowe, Ph.D.,stated: “Outside of clinical research settings, psilocybin is capable of producing significant and persisting changes in psychological health and wellbeing, such as reductions in anxiety, depression and alcohol misuse.
“Additionally, our results indicate lasting changes in psychological functioning such as increased cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation and spiritual wellbeing, and even alterations to personality traits such as increased extraversion and reduced neuroticism.”
The study collected data from 8,006 participants over a two-year period, carrying out a series of six sequential surveys over several months to characterise self-reported psilocybin use patterns and subjective drug effects. The survey also collected data to assess changes to physical and mental health, personality, well-being, and psychological functioning before to after psilocybin use.
The authors write: “Though the findings reported here are generally positive in nature, questions remain about for whom such use may pose unnecessary risks, mechanisms underlying the persisting changes observed, and in what ways psilocybin’s unique profile of pharmacological effects may be optimally harnessed in clinical or other settings, presenting critical directions for future investigation.”
The authors point out some limitations of the study including being a predominantly White population, participant self-selection, response bias and that “some participants also reported other concurrent substance use during their psilocybin experience, potentially confounding results.”
Lowe continued: “We are facing a worldwide mental health epidemic and new treatment methods are critically needed. This research highlights the unique therapeutic potential of psychedelics in settings that lack structured psychological support and holds promise for future research seeking to understand how psilocybin can enhance wellbeing and spirituality.”
