While some studies suggest that psychedelic use may be linked to positive environmental attitudes and health behaviors, the relationship between these factors remains underexplored. This study investigates the associations between lifetime use of psilocybin and LSD, environmental attitudes, and dietary behaviors using data from two UK birth cohort studies: the 1958 National Child Development...
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian psychoactive brew, has gained increasing attention for its potential health benefits; however, no previous research has investigated its use in Portugal. This study aims to evaluate the health status, lifestyle behaviors, and psychosocial well-being of Portuguese ayahuasca users, comparing their self-reported health indicators with population norms. A...
Upwards of 50% of people do not respond to the primary treatment modalities for major depressive disorder (MDD), which has led to increased attention and use of alternative methods, including exercise and psychedelics. While interventions using either exercise or psychedelics have demonstrated largely positive results in isolation, their synergistic potential has yet to be explored. As such,...
While microdosing psychedelics is increasingly popular for enhancing well-being, its effects on health behavior change (HBC) remain poorly understood. This study investigated self-reported health-related behavior changes and putative underlying psychological mechanisms associated with psychedelic microdosing in a naturalistic setting. A retrospective mixed-method survey was conducted with 365...
Health-related behaviors are essential determinants of health and well-being, yet unhealthy patterns persist globally. Psychedelics may represent an innovative tool for facilitating positive behavior change. This study investigated retrospective health-related behavior changes attributed to past psychedelic experiences. An online survey was completed by 271 adults who reported on the...
In addition to evidence supporting the use of psychedelics in treating alcohol and tobacco misuse, emerging research suggests that psychedelic experiences may also facilitate beneficial changes in other health behaviors, such as diet, exercise, and meditation. This retrospective, survey-based study explored perceived health behavior changes following psychedelic experiences, from the...
Psychedelic treatments show promise for improving health and well-being. This article summarizes the history of early psychedelic research and its recent renaissance. Although much of this research focuses on mental health and substance abuse, observational studies have linked psychedelic use to outcomes such as healthier diet, lower rates of heart disease, and even spontaneous, positive...
Psychedelics have been increasingly studied for their potential to influence mental health and well-being, yet their relationship with broader health behaviors remains underexplored. This study examined associations between lifetime psychedelic use and health-related behaviors, including substance use, dietary habits, and impulsive tendencies. Using an extensive cross-sectional online survey,...
Psychedelic research has traditionally focused on controlled, clinical settings to evaluate the therapeutic potential of substances such as psilocybin. However, in recent years, there has been growing interest in naturalistic research, which explores psychedelic use in real-world settings. This review aims to critically analyze trends in naturalistic psychedelic research, focusing on sample...
Ketamine has garnered attention for its rapid efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression, offering a novel mechanism as a non-monoaminergic agent. Despite its potential, limited research has explored mental health professionals' perspectives on its use. This study assesses the attitudes, knowledge, and concerns of Portuguese psychiatrists and psychologists...
Healthful behaviours such as maintaining a balanced diet, being physically active and refraining from smoking have major impacts on the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other serious conditions. The burden of the so-called ‘lifestyle diseases’—in personal suffering, premature mortality and public health costs—is considerable. Consequently, interventions designed...
Healthful behaviors such as maintaining a balanced diet, being physically active, and refraining from smoking have major impacts on the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other serious conditions. The burden of the so-called “lifestyle diseases” - in personal suffering, premature mortality, and public health costs - is considerable. Consequently, interventions...