PSYCHEDELICS MAY HELP THOSE WITH ANXIETY

A more mystical and insightful psychedelic drug experience may be related to a long-term decrease in anxiety and depression symptoms, according to new research in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Researchers used machine learning to analyze information gathered from almost 1,000 survey respondents about their prior non-clinical experiences with psychedelic drugs. According to the findings, people who earned the highest on questionnaires assessing the mystical and insightful character of their experiences reported consistent improvements in their anxiety and depression symptoms.

“These subtypes are not only associated with reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms and other markers of psychological wellbeing, but the structure of these subtypes and their subsequent impact on mental health are highly reproducible across multiple psychedelic substances,” the researchers explained in their report.

“The present analysis suggests that psychedelic experiences, in particular those that are associated with enduring improvements in mental health, may be characterized by reproducible and predictable subtypes of the subjective psychedelic effects.”

“These findings also suggest that efforts to increase psychedelic associated personal and mystical insight experiences may be key to maximizing the beneficial impact of clinical approaches using this treatment in their patients.”