The potential synergistic effects between psychedelic administration and nature contact for the improvement of mental health.
Sam Gandy, Matthias Forstmann, Robin Lester Carhart-Harris, Christopher Timmermann, David Luke, Rosalind Watts
Health Psychology Open July 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1177/2055102920978123 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Mental health Well-being Psychological health Emotional health Mental wellness Mind health Psychiatric health Psychedelic treatment Hallucinogenic therapy Entheogenic therapy Mind-altering drug therapy Consciousness-expanding therapy Nature therapy Ecotherapy Nature-based therapy Wilderness therapy Green therapy Outdoor therapy Forest bathing Natural healing Integrative therapy Combined therapy Holistic healing Complementary therapy Synergistic healing Comprehensive healing Mind-body healing Innovative treatments Novel therapies Cutting-edge treatments New approaches Advanced treatments Emerging therapies |
| Citations | 64 |
| Key points | Argues that psychedelic therapy and nature contact share mechanisms such as reduced rumination and enhanced connectedness, and proposes that combining them in nature-based settings could complement preparation and integration while boosting nature relatedness as a distinct pathway to mental health benefits. |
Abstract
Therapeutic psychedelic administration and contact with nature have been associated with the same psychological mechanisms: decreased rumination and negative affect, enhanced psychological connectedness and mindfulness-related capacities, and heightened states of awe and transcendent experiences, all processes linked to improvements in mental health amongst clinical and healthy populations. Nature-based settings can have inherently psychologically soothing properties which may complement all stages of psychedelic therapy (mainly preparation and integration) whilst potentiating increases in nature relatedness, with associated psychological benefits. Maximising enhancement of nature relatedness through therapeutic psychedelic administration may constitute an independent and complementary pathway towards improvements in mental health that can be elicited by psychedelics.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Learning to Let Go: A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Awe: a putative mechanism underlying the effects of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations. | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 54
- Psychedelic integration: An analysis of the concept and its practice Frontiers in Psychology August 4, 2022
- Psychedelic Therapy's Transdiagnostic Effects: A Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Perspective Frontiers in Psychiatry December 17, 2021
- The Acceptance/Avoidance-Promoting Experiences Questionnaire (APEQ): A theory-based approach to psychedelic drugs’ effects on psychological flexibility Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2022
- New and emerging treatments for major depressive disorder. BMJ July 8, 2024
- Psychedelic unselfing: self-transcendence and change of values in psychedelic experiences Frontiers in Psychology June 14, 2023
and 49 more in the library
Cites 96
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
and 91 more in the library