The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects.
David B. Yaden, Roland R. Griffiths
ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci December 10, 2020 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00194 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychedelic healing Entheogenic therapy Mind-altering treatment Subjective experience Psychedelic journey Mind-altering experience Psychological journey Inner experience Mental health Psychological well-being Emotional health Mental wellness Healing potential Long-term benefits Enduring outcomes Sustained improvements Lasting healing Prolonged effects Therapeutic efficacy |
| Citations | 534 |
| Key findings | Subjective effects of psychedelics are necessary for their enduring beneficial effects and account for the majority of those benefits. |
Abstract
Classic psychedelics produce altered states of consciousness that individuals often interpret as meaningful experiences. Across a number of human studies, when the participant-rated intensity of the overall drug effects are statistically controlled for, certain subjective effects predict therapeutic and other desirable outcomes. Underlying neurobiological mechanisms are likely necessary but not sufficient to confer full and enduring beneficial effects. We propose that the subjective effects of psychedelics are necessary for their enduring beneficial effects and that these subjective effects account for the majority of their benefit.