Co-using a low dose of MDMA with psilocybin or LSD is associated with less intense challenging experiences—such as grief and fear—and increased feelings of self-compassion, love, and gratitude, compared to using psilocybin or LSD alone. In a survey of 698 people planning to use these substances, the 27 who also took a low dose of MDMA reported these benefits without a reduction in mystical-type experiences or compassion. Medium-to-high MDMA doses did not show the same effects. The findings suggest MDMA may buffer against some difficult aspects of psychedelic experiences, but the study's small, non-experimental convenience sample limits certainty.
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) may help alleviate psychiatric and existential distress in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal neurodegenerative disease with an average survival of 3-4 years. The authors suggest PAP could also intervene on neuropathological dimensions of ALS, based on neuroprotective properties of psychedelics and robust improvements seen in other populations. They call for future preclinical trials in ALS models and rigorous clinical trials, given the lack of effective treatments for both disease progression and psychological distress.
People who have used psychedelics, either currently or in the past, report higher levels of compassionate love, self-compassion, and life satisfaction compared to those who have never used psychedelics. Current users also show greater self-compassion and life satisfaction than past users. Lifetime mystical-type experiences are positively linked to these aspects of positive psychological functioning across all groups, not just among psychedelic users. The findings, based on a cross-sectional survey of 984 people, suggest that psychedelic use and mystical experiences may support well-being, but the study is limited by self-reporting, its cross-sectional design, and a homogenous sample.