Characterization and prediction of acute and sustained response to psychedelic psilocybin in a mindfulness group retreat.
Lukasz Smigielski, Michael Kometer, Milan Scheidegger, Rainer Krähenmann, Theo Huber, Franz X. Vollenweider
Scientific Reports October 24, 2019 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50612-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 39 |
| Population | Meditators participating in a 5-day mindfulness group retreat |
| Interventions | Psilocybin mindfulness group retreat |
| Dose | 315 μg/kg PO |
| Duration | 5-day retreat, 4-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Hallucinogens Awareness Well-being Mental health Psychological health Wellness Therapeutic Treatment Intervention Healing |
| Citations | 174 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin increased meditation depth and positively experienced self-dissolution without anxiety, and enhanced post-intervention mindfulness and psychosocial functioning at 4-month follow-up compared with placebo. The authors propose that meditation may enhance psilocybin's positive effects while counteracting possible dysphoric responses. |
Abstract
Meditation and psychedelics have played key roles in humankind's search for self-transcendence and personal change. However, neither their possible synergistic effects, nor related state and trait predictors have been experimentally studied. To elucidate these issues, we administered double-blind the model psychedelic drug psilocybin (315 μg/kg PO) or placebo to meditators (n = 39) during a 5-day mindfulness group retreat. Psilocybin increased meditation depth and incidence of positively experienced self-dissolution along the perception-hallucination continuum, without concomitant anxiety. Openness, optimism, and emotional reappraisal were predictors of the acute response. Compared with placebo, psilocybin enhanced post-intervention mindfulness and produced larger positive changes in psychosocial functioning at a 4-month follow-up, which were corroborated by external ratings, and associated with magnitude of acute self-dissolution experience. Meditation seems to enhance psilocybin's positive effects while counteracting possible dysphoric responses. These findings highlight the interactions between non-pharmacological and pharmacological factors, and the role of emotion/attention regulation in shaping the experiential quality of psychedelic states, as well as the experience of selflessness as a modulator of behavior and attitudes. A better comprehension of mechanisms underlying most beneficial psychedelic experiences may guide therapeutic interventions across numerous mental conditions in the form of psychedelic-assisted applications.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Acute response to psilocybin in a mindfulness retreat setting predicted sustained improvements in well-being, with individual and contextual factors influencing the experience.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on psilocybin and meditation, most cited first.