Psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA may reduce symptoms of racial trauma among Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) after a racist experience. In a cross-sectional survey of 313 diverse BIPOC in the US and Canada, participants retrospectively reported mental health symptoms 30 days before and 30 days after using a psychedelic. Analysis showed significant decreases in traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and stress following the experience. A strong positive relationship emerged between acute psychedelic effects (mystical-type, insight, and challenging experiences) and reductions in psychopathology, even after controlling for prior discrimination and time since the experience. The findings suggest psychedelics could lessen the negative impact of racial trauma, though further research on psychedelic-assisted therapy for race-based trauma is needed.
Among 211 racially and ethnically minoritized (REM) adults in the US and Canada, retrospective reports indicated that after their most memorable psychedelic experience, alcohol use and drug use were perceived to have decreased. The reduction in alcohol use was greater for Indigenous participants, those who took a high dose, those with a stronger ethnic identity, and those who reported fewer depressive symptoms. Perceived increases in psychological flexibility and reductions in racial trauma symptoms appeared to mediate the link between acute psychedelic effects and reduced substance use. The authors suggest psychedelic experiences may help REM people reduce alcohol and drug use by increasing psychological flexibility and easing racial trauma, but call for longitudinal replication.
A single-session digital intervention combining cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness training for binge-eating disorder was tested in 21 adults. All participants completed the 60-minute program and rated its usability, satisfaction, engagement, visual appeal, understandability, helpfulness, and desire to continue as excellent—averaging above four on a five-point scale. At one-month follow-up, participants showed large reductions in binge eating episodes and binge eating scale scores, and medium reductions in overall eating disorder symptoms. The pilot suggests the single session is acceptable, feasible, and preliminarily effective for reducing binge eating.