Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology and Addiction
September 1, 2026
Beatrice Dal Bianco, Matteo Buonarroti, Alessandro Lo Jacono et al.
Background: Epidemiological data on psychedelic use in Italy is limited. In this study, Italian responders in the Global Psychedelic Survey 2025 were subanalyzed to describe patterns of use, motivations, subjective experiences, and health correlates. Methods: Adults (≥21 years) with lifetime psychedelic exposure, residing in or born in Italy or San Marino, were surveyed in a web-based,...
July 31, 2026
Samantha Lee Treasure, Alexander de Foe, Sam Gandy et al.
The primary aim of this study is to explore the demographic, experiential, and phenomenological variables of entity encounters during out-of-body experiences (OBEs) through an online survey shared with adults.
June 19, 2026
Jules Evans, Christian Jurlando, David Luke et al.
preprint
Sorcery, black magic, and supernatural harm are central to many Amazonian shamanic traditions, yet their role in contemporary Western psychedelic culture has received little systematic empirical attention. Ethnographic work suggests that Western participants in ayahuasca tourism often downplay indigenous sorcery frameworks in favour of psychological or therapeutic interpretations of difficult...
Research Square
June 9, 2026
Iryana Mosina, David Luke
Abstract Background . It is widely accepted that beyond the pharmacological predictors, individuals’ pre-drug mental disposition, including intentions , influences the psychedelic experience. However, is it not fully clear how intentions and outcomes relate. This study explores the intention qualities beyond classically assessed category and explicitness in association with outcomes. Methods ....
Research Square
May 21, 2026
Ali Wright, David Luke, Oliver Robinson et al.
Abstract Background Psychedelic consumption in naturalistic settings is rising, and a significant minority of users experience extended psychological difficulties. Yet, research exploring these challenges remains limited. Despite widespread endorsement of integration practices, little is known about how therapists approach integration for heterogeneous extended difficulties. Methods Nineteen...
Research Square
May 14, 2026
Sam Barfoot, David Luke, Oliver Robinson et al.
Abstract Background As interest in psychedelics grows, concerns remain about ethical use and the documentation of adverse psychological effects. Use is increasing, yet long-term challenges - particularly among adolescents and young adults - are under-researched. This group is especially vulnerable, highlighting the need to understand how psychedelic-related challenges are experienced in...
Research Square
April 8, 2026
Oliver Robinson, David Luke, Jules Evans et al.
1 citation
As psychedelic use increases and integrates with mainstream medicine, understanding the prevalence and nature of postpsychedelic adverse outcomes is critical. We investigated extended difficulties after psychedelic use via the Global Psychedelic Survey (GPS) 2025, which is a multilingual online survey of people who have used psychedelics. Data on the prevalence, characteristics, and...
Drug Science Policy and Law
September 1, 2025
David Nutt, David Erritzøe, Anne Katrin Schlag et al.
9 citations
Psychedelics are undergoing a clinical research renaissance, with compounds such as psilocybin advancing to Phase 3 trials for treatment-resistant depression and receiving fast-track or breakthrough designations from regulatory agencies. Despite this progress, the field lacks standardized terminology to guide clinical development, dosing, safety monitoring, and regulatory classification. Here,...
Psychoactives
March 4, 2025
Nadine Loh, David Luke
2 citations
Accumulating psychedelic research has demonstrated a potential for improving mental health and wellbeing, yet studies in the context of eating disorders (EDs) are lim- ited. This study aims to explore the subjective effects of psychedelic experiences to gain insight into the benefits and risks for people with EDs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight adults aged 25–54 (mean age...
Psychiatr Res Clin Pract
February 11, 2025
Jules Evans, Marc Aixalà, Brian T Anderson et al.
18 citations
Objective: This article outlines recommendations from 30 psychedelic researchers on how to create a better psychedelic safety net. Methods: A survey of 30 psychedelic researchers asked them to identify key critical research gaps around psychedelic harm and safety. Results: The critical research gaps identified by the authors included defining the main types of psychedelic harm, the predictors...
PLoS One
2025
Eirini K. Argyri, Jules Evans, David Luke et al.
27 citations
Psychedelic induced mystical experiences have been largely assumed to drive the therapeutic effects of these substances, which may in part be mediated by changes in metaphysical beliefs. However, there is growing evidence that psychedelic experiences can also trigger long lasting distress. Studies of persisting difficulties suggest a high prevalence of ontological challenges (related to the way...
Frontiers in Psychology
2025
Pascal Michael, David Luke, Oliver Robinson
2 citations
Classical near-death experiences (NDEs) refer to states of disconnected consciousness characterised by a range of features occurring in the context of being close to death. Various psychedelic substances, such as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), consistently replicate NDE features and may be considered 'near-death-like experiences.' However, a systematic qualitative analysis comparing the...
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies
December 31, 2024
Pascal Michael, David Luke, Oliver Robinson
3 citations
Introduction: Virtually no studies have looked at psychopharmacological combinations as models of the near-death experience (NDE), which is inadequate given the evidently complex neurochemistry occurring near- or at death. An example of such a combination is "changa," a smoked mixture of the psychedelic N,N-DMT and monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)-containing plants, and as such has been...
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 3, 2024
Oliver Robinson, J. Evans, Rosalind McAlpine et al.
21 citations
Psychedelic drugs show promising therapeutic potential; however, some users experience extended difficulties following their use. This study investigated the prevalence, severity, duration, and associated coping strategies of post-psychedelic difficulties. We conducted an online survey of 159 participants, all of whom reported experiencing difficulties lasting more than one day after...
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
September 9, 2024
Ana Ferreira, Sharon Martindale, David Luke
Abstract Background and Aims This naturalistic mixed methods field study, aimed to assess the potential of a psilocybin induced experience, to help Emergency Medical Service Workers (EMSW) to address psychological and stress related symptoms stemming from a challenging working environment, known to contribute to occupational burnout (OB). Methods This exploration was conducted with an...
Frontiers in Psychology
May 28, 2024
Oliver Robinson, Jules Evans, David Luke et al.
24 citations
Introduction A growing body of literature is investigating the difficulties that some individuals encounter after psychedelic experiences. Existing research has explored the nature and predictors of these difficulties; however, a research gap exists in understanding how individuals endeavour to cope with such difficulties. Methods The current study collected data from an international cohort of...
PLoS One
October 24, 2023
Jules Evans, Oliver Robinson, Eirini K. Argyri et al.
166 citations
Long-term adverse experiences following psychedelic use can persist for weeks, months, or even years, and are relatively unexplored in psychedelic research. Our convergent mixed-method study gained quantitative and qualitative data from 608 participants who reported extended difficulties following psychedelic experiences. Data was gathered on the context of use, the nature and duration of the...
June 29, 2023
David Luke, Pascal Michael, Oliver Robinson
Introduction: Much research has focused on the modeling of the near-death experience (NDE) by classical and atypical psychedelics; however, to date, no study has reported on the relationship between the NDE and the experience induced by the highly potent, endogenous psychedelic drug 5-Methoxy-DMT (5MeO-DMT). This article presents a case study of an individual who is popularly documented to have...
Psychoactives
May 25, 2023
Alexander Irvine, David Luke, Freya Harrild et al.
22 citations
Objective: To explore the perceived influence of psychedelic experiences on participants’ relationship with the natural world. Method: A total of 272 participants reporting previous use of psychedelics completed free-text response requests via an online survey. Thematic analysis was used to explore group participant responses. Results: Participants who described a pre-existing relationship with...
Frontiers in Psychology
2023
Pascal Michael, David Luke, Oliver Robinson
19 citations
Much research has focused on the modeling of the near-death experience (NDE) by classical and atypical psychedelics; however, to date, no study has reported on the relationship between the NDE and the experience induced by the highly potent, endogenous psychedelic drug 5-Methoxy-DMT (5MeO-DMT). This article presents a case study of an individual who is popularly documented to have had a...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
2023
Matthias Forstmann, Christina Sagioglou, Alexander Irvine et al.
18 citations
Background: Past research reports a positive relationship between experience with classic serotonergic psychedelics and nature relatedness (NR). However, these studies typically do not distinguish between different psychedelic compounds, which have a unique psychopharmacology and may be used in specific contexts and with different intentions. Likewise, it is not clear whether these findings can...
Frontiers in Psychology
2023
Pascal Michael, David Luke, Oliver Robinson
16 citations
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is an endogenous serotonergic psychedelic capable of producing radical shifts in an experience that have significant implications for consciousness and its neural correlates, especially given the "disconnected consciousness" suggested by the "breakthrough" DMT state. Its increasing usage and clinical trial indicate the growing importance of a thorough elucidation of...
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
August 8, 2022
Alexander Irvine, David Luke
27 citations
Abstract Background and Aims Little is known about individual differences in Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD). This study investigated visual processing style and personality across two HPPD types (HPPD I and HPPD II) and a Non-HPPD group. Methods An online survey was delivered to participants sourced from online HPPD and psychedelic user groups and forums ( N = 117). Using...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
March 1, 2022
Neiloufar Family, Peter S. Hendricks, Luke T. J. Williams et al.
23 citations
Background: Classic psychedelics hold promise as therapeutics for psychiatric disorders, but require scalable intervention protocols. This proof-of-concept study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and subjective effects of 50, 75, and 100 µg lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in healthy adults within a novel intervention paradigm. Methods: Up to three participants were...
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
March 1, 2022
David Luke
18 citations
This paper explores the nature of psychedelically-induced anomalous experiences for what they reveal regarding the nature of 'expanded consciousness' and its implications for humanistic and transpersonal psychology, parapsychology and the psychology and underlying neuroscience of such experiences. Taking a multidisciplinary approach this essay reviews the nature of ten transpersonal or...