npj Mental Health Research
January 29, 2026
Eirini K. Argyri, Flora Fraser, Stefan Schilling et al.
Psychedelic substances are increasingly recognized for their potential to catalyse transformative shifts in worldviews. Central to these transformations may be the integration of self-transcendent states. This mixed-methods study explored transformative psychedelic experiences, focussing on subsequent epistemic shifts. Ninety participants completed the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-S), and the...
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
2026
Eirini K. Argyri, Jules Evans
3 citations
Psychedelic substances have been increasingly recognised for their potential in treating various mental health conditions, yet they can also induce what we call ontologically challenging psychedelic experiences (OCPEs), a concept developed in our research to describe experiences that profoundly disrupt an individual's sense of self, reality, and existence. We present OCPEs not as a diagnostic...
Harm Reduct J
December 9, 2025
Eirini K. Argyri, Joy Krecké, Oliver Robinson et al.
4 citations
Practitioner perspectives on extended difficulties and optimal support strategies following psychedelic experiences: a qualitative analysis.
Research Square
May 13, 2025
Eirini K. Argyri, Joy Krecké, Oliver Robinson et al.
2 citations
Abstract Background As the use of psychedelics increases in both therapeutic and non-clinical settings, reports of extended post-experience difficulties have also emerged. While many individuals integrate their experiences effectively, others face persistent challenges. Despite growing recognition of these issues, there is limited research on best practices for mitigating and addressing...
Research Square
March 31, 2025
Eirini K. Argyri, Flora Fraser, Stefan Schilling et al.
Abstract Psychedelic substances are increasingly recognized for their potential to catalyse transformative shifts in worldviews. Central to these transformations are states of awe, a self-transcendent, epistemic emotion. This mixed-methods study explored how awe during psychedelic trips relates to lasting changes in boundaries between self and world, and epistemic shifts that follow...
The Journal of Sex Research
March 28, 2025
Daniel J. Kruger, Eirini K. Argyri, Justin K. Mogilski et al.
7 citations
= 581). Most participants (70.2%) reported perceived impacts of psychedelic experiences on their sexuality and/or sexual experiences, with 65.4% noting short-term effects during psychedelic experiences and 52.8% reporting long-term effects, although no individual effect was endorsed by most participants. A higher proportion of participants indicated that psychedelic experiences enhanced, rather...
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...
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...
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...