Frontiers in Psychology
May 15, 2025
Jake Hooper, Emily L Gyongyosi, Kent E. Hutchison et al.
5 citations
Aesthetic qualities of psychedelic experiences are linked to better psychological outcomes, including greater emotional breakthroughs, psychological insight, behavioral change, and mystical experiences, while also being associated with less fear and paranoia. In a survey of 96 people who used classic psychedelics in the past year, aesthetic experience predicted improvements in depression, anxiety, and quality of life independently of age, gender, or mystical experience. The findings suggest that the aesthetic environment in psychedelic-assisted therapy may actively contribute to therapeutic benefits rather than being merely perceptual enhancements.
May 22, 2025
Judith Hooper, Sarah Williams, Raeghan L. Mueller et al.
2 citations
preprint
Age and cannabis co-use influence the acute effects and therapeutic outcomes of psilocybin. In a cross-sectional study of 365 current psilocybin users aged 18–77, younger participants reported more adverse experiences, while older adults had milder subjective effects. However, age did not significantly affect mystical experiences, psychological insight, or psychological outcomes. Polysubstance use patterns varied by age, with younger adults more likely to co-use nicotine. Cannabis co-use was associated with greater improvements in quality of life, anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse, suggesting potential synergies between psilocybin and THC.
December 10, 2025
Judith Hooper, Sarah Williams, Raeghan L. Mueller et al.
preprint
Among 365 current psilocybin users aged 18–77, younger adults (18–25) reported more adverse acute experiences, while older adults (55–77) had milder effects. Age did not significantly affect mystical experiences, psychological insight, or psychological outcomes. Polysubstance use patterns differed by age: younger adults more often co-used nicotine with psilocybin. Cannabis co-use with psilocybin was linked to greater perceived improvements in quality of life, anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse, suggesting possible synergies between psilocybin and THC. The findings indicate that age and cannabis co-use may shape some of psilocybin’s acute effects and therapeutic outcomes.
PsyArXiv
October 18, 2024
Jake Hooper, Emily L Gyongyosi, Kent E. Hutchison et al.
preprint
Aesthetic qualities of psychedelic experiences—such as beauty, awe, and sensory richness—are linked to better therapeutic outcomes. In a cross-sectional survey, people who had recently used psilocybin, LSD, or DMT completed questionnaires about their acute experiences and later psychological well-being. Aesthetic experiences positively predicted emotional breakthroughs, psychological insight, mystical experiences, and general improvements in depression, anxiety, and quality of life. They were negatively associated with challenging experiences like fear and paranoia. The findings suggest that enhancing the aesthetic environment during psychedelic therapy could improve therapeutic benefits.
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
February 1, 2024
Laurel P Gibson, Raeghan L. Mueller, Evan A Winiger et al.
Regular cannabis users who self-administered commercially available edible products experienced increased intoxication and elation, decreased tension, and no change in paranoia two hours after use. Those who consumed a CBD-dominant product reported less intoxication than those who used a THC-only or THC+CBD product. Participants who used a THC+CBD product consumed less THC and had lower plasma THC levels than those using a THC-only product, yet reported similar positive and psychotomimetic effects. Psychotomimetic effects were very low across all conditions. The findings suggest that edible products containing CBD may allow experienced users to achieve desired effects with lower THC exposure, potentially reducing harm.