After a single significant psychedelic experience, people reported an overall reduction in death anxiety, although some individuals reported an increase. This reduction was linked to a stronger belief in panpsychism—the idea that consciousness is fundamental and pervasive in the universe. No other metaphysical beliefs, such as belief in an afterlife or materialism, were associated with the change. The findings suggest that shifts in metaphysical worldview, particularly toward panpsychism, may play a role in how psychedelic experiences alter attitudes about death, pointing to a specific mechanism for future research.
A systematic review of 31 studies found largely consistent evidence that psychedelic experiences can change attitudes towards death and reduce death anxiety in both clinical and non-clinical populations. However, significant gaps remain in understanding the role of set and setting, differences across psychedelic substances, underlying psychological mechanisms, the potential for worsening death anxiety, and the influence of expectancy and placebo effects. Less is known about the reliability and strength of these effects, the conditions under which they emerge, and which aspects of the experience best predict them.
A survey of 106 adults who had a meaningful psychedelic experience found that increases in feelings of connectedness—to oneself, others, and the world—were linked to reduced fear of death and death avoidance. Participants reported these changes when comparing the three months before and after the experience. Greater connectedness in all three domains was associated with less fear of death, but only connectedness to self and others was tied to lower death avoidance. The intensity of the mystical experience was also related to greater connectedness and less fear of death, but not to death avoidance. The authors call for further research to clarify causality and whether these changes reflect adaptive acceptance or denial.