Curious about Psilocybin? Prevalence and correlates of interest among adults with chronic pain.
Carolyn M. L. Crawford, Zach Walsh, W. Francois Louw, Susan Holtzman
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 949 |
| Population | Individuals seeking care at an outpatient pain clinic in Western Canada |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Key findings | One-third (33.2%) of people living with chronic pain expressed interest in psilocybin education. Interest was associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.17), anxious symptoms (r = 0.10), lower financial wellbeing (r = -0.20), and younger age (r = -0.26), and was more strongly tied to depressive symptoms, lower financial wellbeing, and younger age than interest in cannabis education. The authors argue this highlights a need for evidence-based education on psilocybin for this population. |
Abstract
Chronic pain is a prevalent and disabling condition, making access to safe and effective pain treatments a public health priority. Early but encouraging results have emerged from research investigating the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for people living with chronic pain (PLCP). This growing line of work urges an understanding of PLCP’s receptivity to this treatment. Aim. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which PLCP are interested in learning about psilocybin and factors that characterize interested individuals. The secondary aim was to compare these results to the prevalence and correlates of cannabis education interest. Methods. Individuals seeking care at an outpatient pain clinic in Western Canada (n = 949) completed a cross-sectional survey assessing current support needs, educational interests, physical and mental health, and demographics. Results. One-third (33.2%) indicated an interest in psilocybin education. Psilocybin interest was significantly related to depressive symptoms (r = 0.17), anxious symptoms (r = 0.10), lower financial wellbeing (r = -0.20), and younger age (r = -0.26). Nearly one-third (29.3%) of participants interested in learning about psilocybin were not interested in cannabis education. Compared to interest in cannabis education, interest in psilocybin education was more strongly correlated with depressive symptoms (z = 2.1, P = .033), lower financial wellbeing (z = -3.4, P < .001), and younger age (z = -6.7, P < .001). Conclusion. Results highlight a pressing need for evidence-based education for PLCP on psilocybin and a greater understanding of the informational needs of PLCP regarding this topic.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences Individuals who had consumed psilocybin mushrooms and experienced a psychologically... | 2016 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 1,993 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use Individuals with prior alcohol use disorder who reported cessation or reduction in... | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 343 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |