Exploring practitioners' perceptions of health behavior changes associated with psychedelic experiences.
Laura C. Carvalho, Jorge Encantado, Michiel van Elk, Arlen C. Moller, Talea Cornelius, Christopher Timmermann, Diogo Veiga, Pedro J. Teixeira
Sci Rep November 25, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-25818-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective survey-based study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 96 |
| Population | Psychedelic practitioners working in legal and underground contexts |
| Key findings | Practitioners perceived that psychedelic experiences were associated with positive changes in health behaviors, especially contemplative practices and time spent in nature. |
Abstract
In addition to evidence supporting the use of psychedelics in treating alcohol and tobacco misuse, emerging research suggests that psychedelic experiences may also facilitate beneficial changes in other health behaviors, such as diet, exercise, and meditation. This retrospective, survey-based study explored perceived health behavior changes following psychedelic experiences, from the perspective of 96 psychedelic practitioners, working in both legal and underground contexts. Practitioners reported on perceived changes in their clients' or patients' behaviors, including physical activity, diet and nutrition, contemplative practices, and time spent in nature, as well as on their own behavior changes, and potential mechanisms underlying these changes. Behaviors with the highest proportion of clients perceived as having changed in a positive direction included contemplative practices (61.4%), time spent in nature (60.1%), eating patterns (56.9%), and diet and nutrition (56%). These findings suggest that practitioners often perceive psychedelic experiences as associated with positive health behavior change. Future research is needed to validate these findings, explore the extent and mechanisms of potential changes, and assess whether such effects are sustained over the long-term. Understanding these effects may help inform future behavior change interventions and public health policy.