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Longitudinal associations between psychedelic use and unusual visual experiences in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Otto Simonsson, Peter S. Hendricks, Cecilia Ud Stenfors, Simon B. Goldberg, Ludwig Honk, Walter Osika

Journal of Psychopharmacology 2024 DOI: 10.1177/02698811231218931 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Longitudinal observational study Cross-sectional Peer reviewed
Sample size 9,732
Population US and UK adult populations representative by sex, age, and ethnicity
Intervention naturalistic psychedelic use
Duration 2-month study period
Topics LSD Mescaline Psilocybin
Keywords Hppd Risks Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Visual effects Visual phenomena Visual perception sight Vision Adverse effects
Key findings Psychedelic use during the two-month study period was associated with greater increases in unusual visual experiences, especially among first-time users.

Abstract

Whereas findings from case reports and cross-sectional studies suggest that naturalistic psychedelic use may be associated with unusual visual experiences that occur after the acute pharmacological effects have subsided, such findings need to be replicated in longitudinal studies to better understand potential cause-and-effect relationships. To investigate longitudinal associations between naturalistic psychedelic use and unusual visual experiences. Using a longitudinal observational research design with samples representative of the US and UK adult populations with regard to sex, age, and ethnicity (N = 9732), we investigated the relationship between psychedelic use during the 2-month study period and changes in past-week unusual visual experiences. The follow-up survey was completed by 79% of respondents (n = 7667), with 100 respondents reporting psychedelic use during the 2-month study period (1.3% of those who responded at follow-up). In covariate-adjusted regression models, the results showed that, as hypothesized, psychedelic use during the 2-month study period was associated with greater increases in unusual visual experiences. Notably, there was an interaction between lifetime psychedelic use and psychedelic use during the study period on unusual visual experiences such that those who used psychedelics for the first time reported greater increases in unusual visual experiences. Psychedelic use may elicit unusual visual experiences that occur after the acute pharmacological effects have subsided, especially among those who have not used psychedelics previously. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to further elucidate these relationships.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on mescaline, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults 2015 Observational cohort n = 135,095
Long-lasting subjective effects of LSD in normal subjects Healthy participants 2017 Observational cohort n = 16
Psychological and cognitive effects of long-term peyote use among Native Americans. Navajo Native Americans aged 18-45 2005 Observational cohort n = 176
Mescaline-induced psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurometabolic effects in normal subjects: experimental psychosis as a tool for psychiatric research. Normal men who were volunteers 1992 Observational cohort n = 12
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methyl-amphetamine (STP): A New Hallucinogenic Drug Normal control volunteers 1967 Observational study

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