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Psychedelics and health behaviour change

Pedro J. Teixeira, Matthew W. Johnson, Christopher Timmermann, Rosalind Watts, David Erritzøe, Hannah Douglass, Hannes Kettner, Robin Carhart-Harris

Journal of Psychopharmacology May 29, 2021 DOI: 10.1177/02698811211008554 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Review Peer reviewed
Topics Addiction Anxiety Meditation Psilocybin
Keywords Motivational interviewing Psychological intervention Cognition Behavior change Public health Clinical psychology Health psychology Psychotherapist
Citations 87
Key findings Psilocybin and other psychedelics may assist in promoting positive lifestyle change conducive to good health, with research advancing rapidly and showing promising results.

Abstract

Healthful behaviours such as maintaining a balanced diet, being physically active and refraining from smoking have major impacts on the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other serious conditions. The burden of the so-called ‘lifestyle diseases’—in personal suffering, premature mortality and public health costs—is considerable. Consequently, interventions designed to promote healthy behaviours are increasingly being studied, e.g., using psychobiological models of behavioural regulation and change. In this article, we explore the notion that psychedelic substances such as psilocybin could be used to assist in promoting positive lifestyle change conducive to good overall health. Psilocybin has a low toxicity, is non-addictive and has been shown to predict favourable changes in patients with depression, anxiety and other conditions marked by rigid behavioural patterns, including substance (mis)use. While it is still early days for modern psychedelic science, research is advancing fast and results are promising. Here we describe psychedelics’ proposed mechanisms of action and research findings pertinent to health behaviour change science, hoping to generate discussion and new research hypotheses linking the two areas. Therapeutic models including psychedelic experiences and common behaviour change methods (e.g., Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing) are already being tested for addiction and eating disorders. We believe this research may soon be extended to help promote improved diet, exercise, nature exposure and also mindfulness or stress reduction practices, all of which can contribute to physical and psychological health and well-being.

Comparable studies

Other narrative reviews on psilocybin and meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness 2018 Review
Depression, Mindfulness, and Psilocybin: Possible Complementary Effects of Mindfulness Meditation and Psilocybin in the Treatment of Depression. A Review 2020 Review
Mindfulness meditation and psychedelics: potential synergies and commonalities 2023 Review
Psychedelics and Health Behavior Change - Journal of Psychopharmacology (in press) 2021 Review
The Alchemy of Mind: Integrating Sanyam and Joriki into the Framework of Fundamental Peace 2026 Integrative review

Citations in the library

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Addiction Anxiety Meditation Psilocybin Depression Psychedelic-assisted therapy

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