Improvements in well-being following naturalistic psychedelic use and underlying mechanisms of change in older adults: A prospective cohort study.
Hannes Kettner, Leor Roseman, Adam Gazzaley, Robin Carhart-Harris, Lorenzo Pasquini
Research Square March 8, 2024 preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3977169/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective cohort study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 124 |
| Population | Older adults (age 60+) and matched younger adults in a retreat setting |
| Intervention | guided psychedelic group session |
| Duration | 6-month follow-up |
| Keywords | Aging Cohort study Mental health Naturalistic Psychedelics Well-being |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Well-being improved in both older and younger adults after a guided psychedelic session, but in older adults communitas—not acute drug effects—predicted those improvements. |
Abstract
Affective symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, and loneliness are prevalent and highly debilitating symptoms among older adults (OA). Serotonergic psychedelics are novel experimental interventions for affective disorders, yet little is known regarding their effects in OA. Using a prospective cohort design, we identified 62 OA (age ≥ 60 years) and 62 matched younger adults (YA) who completed surveys two weeks before, and one day, two weeks, four weeks, and six months after a guided psychedelic group session in a retreat setting. Mixed linear regression analyses revealed significant well-being improvements in OA and YA, amplified in OA with a history of a psychiatric diagnosis. Compared to YA, acute subjective psychedelic effects were attenuated in OA and did not significantly predict well-being changes. However, a psychosocial measure of Communitas emerged as a predictor in OA, suggesting that the relational components in psychedelic group settings may hold particular value for OA.