Skip to content

Flashbacks Through Time: Historical Development and Current Use of the Term "Flashback" in Psychedelic and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Research.

Ricarda Evens

Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice March 3, 2026 DOI: 10.1176/appi.prcp.20250129 (opens in new tab)

Read Full Text
Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Topics PTSD
Key points Argues that "flashback" means something specific in PTSD—intrusive, vivid memories with a "here-and-now" quality—but functions in psychedelic research as an umbrella term for multiple distinct post-acute experiences with potentially different causes. This ambiguity, the authors contend, impedes systematic research and clinical understanding, and they propose developing a more differentiated vocabulary.

Abstract

In psychiatry, the term flashback is widely recognized in relation to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as in the characterization of post-psychedelic experiences. Although it is now most commonly associated with PTSD, the term was originally introduced in the context of psychedelics. While it broadly denotes specific forms of re-experiencing in both fields, its precise meaning differs significantly between them. In PTSD, flashbacks refer to intrusive, vivid memories with a pronounced "here-and-now" quality. In psychedelic research, however, the term flashback does not function as a clearly defined symptom but rather as an umbrella term encompassing multiple similar yet distinct forms of post-acute psychedelic experiences that potentially arise from different causal mechanisms. This terminological ambiguity complicates systematic investigation and precise clinical understanding of post-psychedelic symptoms, ultimately limiting effective care for affected individuals. As research into the classification and treatment of post-psychedelic difficulties advances, the development of a more differentiated and clearly defined vocabulary is needed. Greater conceptual clarity would facilitate improved scientific communication, more targeted research, and better clinical care for individuals navigating the often complex aftermath of psychedelic experiences.

Comparable studies

Other theoretical and historical papers on PTSD, 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
The potential use of N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA) assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders comorbid with PTSD. 2021 Theoretical or philosophical paper
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in adolescents: rationale, potential, risks, and considerations. Adolescents with PTSD 2024 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Agency in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Implications for Therapy 2023 Theoretical or philosophical paper
The Inner World in the Outer World: The Phenomenology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from a Psychoanalytic Perspective 1996 Theoretical or philosophical paper

Citations in the library

Cites 5

Related reading

Explore topics

PTSD