Uncovering psychological mechanisms mediating the effects of drugs: some issues and comments using the example of psychedelic drugs
S. Kangaslampi
Psychopharmacology November 5, 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05703-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Cross-sectional Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that recent attempts to identify the psychological mechanisms by which psychedelic drugs produce long-term benefits suffer from five recurring problems: conflating mediators and moderators, reliance on cross-sectional data, questionable statistical methods in mediation analysis, inherent assumptions and limitations of traditional mediation analysis, and insufficient criteria beyond mediation for establishing a mechanism. The author proposes suggested practices for future research. |
Abstract
Researchers have begun efforts to uncover the psychological mechanisms by which psychedelic drugs may have beneficial effects on long-term outcomes in some circumstances. The approaches several recent publications on the topic have taken to analyze such mechanisms have some pitfalls and limitations. Based on the rich literature on mechanisms and mediation analysis in psychological science, I comment on five particular issues: (1) Separating mediating and moderating factors, (2) problems inherent in using cross-sectional data, (3) statistical methods in mediation analysis, (4) assumptions and limitations inherent in traditional mediation analysis, and (5) criteria beyond mediation to establish a mechanism. Suggested practices for future research on the psychological mechanisms through which drugs have their effects are presented.
Citations in the library
Cited by 18
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- The intensity of the psychedelic experience is reliably associated with clinical improvements: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 1, 2025
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Cites 8
- Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Frontiers in Pharmacology January 17, 2018
- Emotional breakthrough and psychedelics: Validation of the Emotional Breakthrough Inventory. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 11, 2019
- Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science 2020
- Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 21, 2020
- Post-Psychedelic Reductions in Experiential Avoidance Are Associated With Decreases in Depression Severity and Suicidal Ideation Frontiers in Psychiatry August 7, 2020
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