Deconstructing Psychedelic Phenomenology: A Thematic Analysis of Discrete Phases of the Psychedelic Experience.
Hugh McGovern, L Bajo, G Hassed, R Hoefnagels, M Levey, N Rose, Alexander de Foe, Brendan Hutchinson
Brain and Behavior July 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.70687 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People posting about psychedelic experiences on online forums |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Eudaimonia Experience Health psychology Psychedelics Qualitative methods |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | People describe psychedelic experiences in a sequential structure covering preparatory, acute, and post-experience stages, with distinct themes at each stage. |
Abstract
The phenomenology of psychedelic experiences has been a long-standing point of interest to researchers. However, internal experience has been relatively relegated, with much work done on the clinical outcomes of psychedelic therapies. Our reflexive thematic analysis revealed that structurally, people on fora write about their experiences sequentially, considering factors prior to (preparatory), during (acute phase), and after their account of ingesting psychedelics. Themes constructed prior to experience were (1) subjective knowledge and perception of psychedelics, (2) intention and efforts to mentally prepare, and (3) experiential aids. Generated themes during the experience were (1) sensory and cognitive distortions, (2) mindset and affective quality, and (3) environmental stability and support. Experiential impact on behavior and outlook was constructed as the unitary theme following the experience. Future work should look more closely at the role of set and setting within the context of the stages leading up to, during, and after psychedelic administration.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences Cardiac arrest survivors | 2018 | Qualitative study | n = 34 |
| Phenomenology and Sequelae of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Use Psychiatrists who had taken MDMA | 1992 | Qualitative study | n = 20 |
| A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners | 2014 | Qualitative study | |
| Evoking the ineffable: The phenomenology of extreme sports. Extreme sports participants across three continents, including BASE jumping, big wave... | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 15 |
| Phenomenology and content of the inhaled N, N-dimethyltryptamine (N, N-DMT) experience. Naturalistic inhaled N,N-DMT experiences posted to the r/DMT Reddit community | 2022 | Qualitative analysis | n = 3,778 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Psychedelics in Mental Health: Opportunities and Challenges. Brain and Behavior July 1, 2026
- Embodied Transformation: Psychedelic Therapy Through the Lens of Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science December 1, 2026
- Why taking the trip out of psychedelic medicine is a mistake. International Journal of Drug Policy September 9, 2026
Cites 26
- Psychedelics and the essential importance of context. Journal of Psychopharmacology February 15, 2018
- Constructing drug effects: A history of set and setting Drug Science, Policy and Law 2017
- Predicting Responses to Psychedelics: A Prospective Study Frontiers in Pharmacology November 2, 2018
- Adverse effects of psychedelics: From anecdotes and misinformation to systematic science. Journal of Psychopharmacology February 2, 2022
- Self unbound: ego dissolution in psychedelic experience Neuroscience of Consciousness 2017
and 21 more in the library