Psychedelics and the ‘inner healer’: Myth or mechanism?
Joseph Peill, Miriam Marguilho, David Erritzøe, Tommaso Barba, Kyle T. Greenway, Fernando E. Rosas, Christopher Timmermann, Robin Carhart-Harris
Journal of Psychopharmacology April 12, 2024 DOI: 10.1177/02698811241239206 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 59 |
| Population | Patients with depression |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Dose | 25 mg or 1 mg |
| Duration | 2-week follow-up |
| Keywords | Telos Automatic Psychedelic-therapy Natural-healing Mental-health Mind-body-medicine |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | Inner healer scores were higher after a high versus placebo dose of psilocybin, and within the high-dose group, these scores predicted improved depressive symptoms at two weeks. |
Abstract
Background: Reference to an intrinsic healing mechanism or an ‘inner healer’ is commonplace amongst psychedelic drug-using cultures. The ‘inner healer’ refers to the belief that psychedelic compounds, plants or concoctions have an intrinsically regenerative action on the mind and brain, analogous to intrinsic healing mechanisms within the physical body, for example, after sickness or injury.
Aims: Here, we sought to test and critique this idea by devising a single subjective rating item pertaining to perceived ‘inner healing’ effects.
Methods: The item was issued to 59 patients after a single high (25 mg, n = 30) or ‘placebo’ (1 mg, n = 29) dose of psilocybin in a double-blind randomised controlled trial of psilocybin for depression.
Results: Inner healer scores were higher after the high versus placebo dose of psilocybin ( t = 3.88, p < 0.001). Within the high-dose sub-sample only, inner healer scores predicted improved depressive symptomatology at 2 weeks post-dosing.
Conclusions: The principle of activating inner healing mechanisms via psychedelics is scientifically nascent; however, this study takes a positivist and pragmatic step forward, asking whether it warrants further examination.