Exploring practitioners’ perceptions of health behavior changes associated with psychedelic experiences

Scientific Reports, vol. 15, pp. 41812

Abstract

In addition to evidence supporting the use of psychedelics in treating alcohol and tobacco misuse, emerging research suggests that psychedelic experiences may also facilitate beneficial changes in other health behaviors, such as diet, exercise, and meditation. This retrospective, survey-based study explored perceived health behavior changes following psychedelic experiences, from the perspective of 96 psychedelic practitioners, working in both legal and underground contexts. Practitioners reported on perceived changes in their clients' or patients' behaviors, including physical activity, diet and nutrition, contemplative practices, and time spent in nature, as well as on their own behavior changes, and potential mechanisms underlying these changes. Behaviors with the highest proportion of clients perceived as having changed in a positive direction included contemplative practices (61.4%), time spent in nature (60.1%), eating patterns (56.9%), and diet and nutrition (56%). These findings suggest that practitioners often perceive psychedelic experiences as associated with positive health behavior change. Future research is needed to validate these findings, explore the extent and mechanisms of potential changes, and assess whether such effects are sustained over the long-term. Understanding these effects may help inform future behavior change interventions and public health policy.

Authors 8

1. Laura Lopes de Carvalho

   University of Lisbon · Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudo da Performance Humana

   Affiliation as printed

   Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

   Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

2. Jorge Encantado

   University of Lisbon · Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudo da Performance Humana

   Affiliation as printed

   Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

   Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

3. Michiel van Elk Aachen Cognitive Psychology Unit

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

4. Arlen C. Moller

   Illinois Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, USA

5. Talea M. Cornelius

   Columbia University Irving Medical Center · Columbia University

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, US

6. Christopher B. Timmermann

   University College London · Imperial College London

   Affiliation as printed

   DMT Research Group, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK

   Department of Experimental Psychology, UCL, London, UK

7. Diogo Veiga

   University of Lisbon · Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudo da Performance Humana

   Affiliation as printed

   Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

   Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

8. Pedro J. Teixeira corresponding

   University of Lisbon · Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudo da Performance Humana

   Affiliation as printed

   Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. pteixeira@fmh.ulisboa.pt

   Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal