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Psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience in combination with meditation and other spiritual practices produces enduring positive changes in psychological functioning and in trait measures of prosocial attitudes and behaviors

Roland R. Griffiths, Matthew W. Johnson, William A. Richards, Brian D. Richards, Robert L. Jesse, Katherine A Maclean, Frederick S. Barrett, Mary P Cosimano, Maggie A Klinedinst

Journal of Psychopharmacology October 11, 2017 DOI: 10.1177/0269881117731279 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Double-blind Longitudinal Peer reviewed
Sample size 75
Population Healthy participants
Intervention Psilocybin
Dose 1 mg/70 kg; 20 and 30 mg/70 kg
Duration 6-month follow-up
Topics Meditation Psilocybin Mystical experience
Keywords Spirituality Prosocial behavior Trait Hallucinogen Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Religious experience
Citations 528
Registration NCT00802282
Key findings High-dose psilocybin, combined with meditation and spiritual practices, produced enduring increases in prosocial attitudes and healthy psychological functioning at six months, mediated by mystical-type experience and practice rates.

Abstract

Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences with participant-attributed increases in well-being. However, little research has examined enduring changes in traits. This study administered psilocybin to participants who undertook a program of meditation/spiritual practices. Healthy participants were randomized to three groups (25 each): (1) very low-dose (1 mg/70 kg on sessions 1 and 2) with moderate-level (“standard”) support for spiritual-practice (LD-SS); (2) high-dose (20 and 30 mg/70 kg on sessions 1 and 2, respectively) with standard support (HD-SS); and (3) high-dose (20 and 30 mg/70kg on sessions 1 and 2, respectively) with high support for spiritual practice (HD-HS). Psilocybin was administered double-blind and instructions to participants/staff minimized expectancy confounds. Psilocybin was administered 1 and 2 months after spiritual-practice initiation. Outcomes at 6 months included rates of spiritual practice and persisting effects of psilocybin. Compared with low-dose, high-dose psilocybin produced greater acute and persisting effects. At 6 months, compared with LD-SS, both high-dose groups showed large significant positive changes on longitudinal measures of interpersonal closeness, gratitude, life meaning/purpose, forgiveness, death transcendence, daily spiritual experiences, religious faith and coping, and community observer ratings. Determinants of enduring effects were psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience and rates of meditation/spiritual practices. Psilocybin can occasion enduring trait-level increases in prosocial attitudes/behaviors and in healthy psychological functioning. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00802282

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

  • State of the evidence: Psilocybin and meditation Supports

    High-dose psilocybin combined with meditation and spiritual practices produced enduring increases in prosocial attitudes and psychological functioning at six months, mediated by mystical-type experience and practice rates.

    Synthesized

  • State of the evidence: Mystical experience Supports

    High-dose psilocybin combined with meditation and spiritual practices produced enduring increases in prosocial attitudes and psychological functioning at six months, mediated by mystical-type experience and practice rates.

    Synthesized

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on psilocybin and meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Psilocybin-assisted mindfulness training modulates self-consciousness and brain default mode network connectivity with lasting effects. Participants following a single administration of psilocybin during a 5-day mindfulness... 2019 Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study n = 38
Characterization and prediction of acute and sustained response to psychedelic psilocybin in a mindfulness group retreat. Meditators participating in a 5-day mindfulness group retreat 2019 Randomized controlled trial n = 39
Clinical Interpretations of Patient Experience in a Trial of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder Participants in an ongoing trial of psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder 2018 Double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial n = 3
Meditating on psychedelics. A randomized placebo-controlled study of DMT and harmine in a mindfulness retreat Experienced meditators 2024 Randomized controlled trial n = 40
Psilocybin enhances insightfulness in meditation: a perspective on the global topology of brain imaging during meditation. Experienced meditators 2024 Randomized controlled trial n = 36

Citations in the library

Cited by 143

and 138 more in the library

Cites 3

Related reading

Explore topics

Meditation Psilocybin Mystical experience Mysticism

By condition and practice

Psilocybin and meditation