"Trauma" has become a widely circulating cultural framework for making suffering intelligible. Sociological research has documented its institutional expansion but paid less attention to how people use it to organize experiences that disrupt orientation to body, self, and world. This article examines that situated process in non-clinical psychedelic contexts. Drawing on 48 in-depth interviews...
The October 7th, 2023, attack at the Nova rave represents an unprecedented scenario in trauma research: A mass casualty event in which most participants were under the influence of psychedelics. Using a mixed-methods phenomenological design, 45 survivors were interviewed. Participants were categorized by substance use: classic psychedelics (n = 24), empathogens (n = 19), and ketamine (n = 2)....
Abstract Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly consulted by individuals for support during psychedelic experiences ("trip sitting"), yet no framework exists to evaluate whether these models can accurately simulate or safely respond to altered states of consciousness. We aimed to determine if LLMs can be induced to generate narratives resembling human psychedelic experiences and to...
Psychedelics induce transformative experiences leading to lasting changes in attitudes and behaviour, with outcomes depending on both pharmacological factors and the context of the experience ('set and setting'), marking a paradigm shift in mental health treatment. As psychedelics transition from traditional contexts to clinical settings, tension emerges between authenticity and...
This mixed-methods study examines how participant-identified childhood or youth trauma resurfaces during psychedelic states and how such episodes relate to post-experience trajectories. Including events participants identified as traumatic during psychedelic experiences, and subsequent psychological outcomes, both positive and negative. While psychedelics can facilitate emotional processing of...
Objective: On 7 October 2023, a mass-casualty attack at the Nova festival in Israel created an unprecedented convergence of collective trauma and altered states of consciousness. Many survivors were under the influence of psychedelics or other psychoactive substances at the time of the attack. This study explored how survivors made sense of and navigated recovery, with a focus on relational,...
Abstract This mixed-methods study investigated the relationship between recalled childhood trauma during psychedelic experiences and subsequent extended psychological difficulties. While psychedelics can facilitate emotional processing of autobiographical material, a minority experience adverse effects or re-traumatization when trauma resurfaces. Phase 1 surveyed 608 individuals who experienced...
This fiction article is about trauma and grief, resilience and the celebration of life. It also addresses the role psychedelics can play in bringing about change in our traumatized society by inspiring us and showing us how to use the present as a possibility for fundamental transformation. It is written in the form of a short story to exemplify how these substances work and underline the...
While psychedelic substances are extensively studied through the lens of various academic disciplines, their impact on the therapeutic practice of mental health professionals is yet to be explored. This firsthand experience is deemed crucial for effectively assisting patients in the process of integrating a psychedelic experience.The aim of this study was to explore the psychological and...
Abstract: Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is increasingly used for trauma-related disorders, raising ethical questions beyond client safety. We argue that PAT clients have epistemic needs and clinicians have corresponding obligations that call for epistemic humility and discipline, which are essential for regulating foreseeable epistemic risks and for PAT's ethical structure. Drawing on...
Abstract Background Psychedelic substances are increasingly used outside clinical trials, yet individuals seeking support after challenging experiences often report that available services are inadequate or misaligned with their needs. While prior research documents both beneficial and adverse outcomes of naturalistic use, less is known about how such experiences are received and interpreted...