Group psilocybin in an integrative retreat setting enhances social connection: an observational case report
Dayne Rayford, Shivani Dayal, Kosu Boudreau, Dingle Spence, Marik Hazan, Aza Stephen Allsop
October 14, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/rt5u9_v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Qualitative Case report |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Participants in a group psilocybin ceremony conducted in an integrative retreat setting |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Measures | Social Perception Assessment (SPA), Watts Connectedness Scale (WCS), Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Key findings | Participants in a group psilocybin ceremony showed significant increases in perceived social connectedness on the Social Perception Assessment and Watts Connectedness Scale, and significant decreases in distress on the Subjective Units of Distress Scale. The authors argue that group-based psychedelic administration warrants study and may generate social benefits not captured in individual therapeutic models. |
Abstract
Background and aimsPsilocybin can induce profound alterations in perception, emotion and self-referential processing. These changes are often accompanied by increased feelings of interpersonal connection, found via both psychometric survey data and anecdotally collected qualitative data. Despite recent increases in psychedelic research and treatment, most clinical trials have been performed in individualized patient treatment paradigms. Few studies have examined the outcomes of psilocybin in group contexts, even though ceremonial and group-based usage is historically ecological and may uniquely enhance group dynamics and social bonding.MethodsThis case study investigated psychological and social outcomes among participants (n=14) of a group psilocybin ceremony conducted in an integrative retreat setting. Participants completed a series of psychometric surveys and performed a social behavioral task designed to measure social perceptions at baseline and again at two timepoints following the psilocybin ceremonies.Results and conclusionsOur results indicate significant increases in perceived social connectedness on the Social Perception Assessment (SPA) and the Watts Connectedness Scale (WCS) as well as significant decreases in distress on the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). These findings highlight the importance of studying group-based psychedelic administration and suggest that collective settings may generate synergistic social benefits not captured in individual therapeutic models.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin Mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata) Intoxication with Myocardial Infarction 18-year-old man | 1998 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual-feedback (MVF) Person with leg amputation and phantom-limb pain | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Microdosing psilocybin for chronic pain: a case series Individuals with chronic neuropathic pain | 2022 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Psilocybin and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Individual with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | 2014 | Case study | n = 1 |