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Subtypes Indicating Success of Psychedelic Experiences Identified
There are 3 subtypes in people having psychedelic experiences that measure the success of the trip in regards to mental health—high scoring, low scoring, and positive scoring—according to a machine learning cluster analysis published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
“These findings suggest that efforts to increase psychedelic associated personal and mystical insight experiences may be key to maximizing beneficial impact of clinical approaches using this treatment in their patients,” lead author Aki Nikolaidis, Ohio State Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, said.
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“The fact that we found that they're associated with specific outcomes, and replicated that finding, really shows why it's important to understand the powerful nature of what is happening subjectively and its potential to yield a beneficial outcome," Nikolaidis continued.
Past studies have shown that subjective experiences affect the lasting impact of a psychedelic experience, though not in much detail. Researchers sought to better understand what subtypes exist and how they impact someone’s mental health.
Researchers analyzed survey responses from 985 people with prior non-clinical experiences with psychedelic drugs. Respondents described their experiences and whether they were “mystical”—inspiring a sense of spiritual mystery, awe, or fascination—psychologically insightful or challenging. Respondents also assessed their depression and anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction levels before and after their psychedelic experience.
The 3 subtypes of psychedelic experiences are defined as follows:
- High scoring—high ratings on the mystical and insightful assessments and moderate scores on challenging aspects of the experience
- Low scoring—low to moderate scores on mystical and insightful assessments and low scores on the challenging aspects.
- Positive scoring—high mystical and insightful ratings and low challenging ratings
The low-scoring group had the lowest depression and anxiety symptom levels before taking the drug and minimal symptom improvement following the psychedelic experience. Respondents with positive scoring tended to be younger.
"The group that had the highest insightful and mystical experiences and low challenging experiences showed the most benefit in terms of remission of anxiety and depression symptoms and other longer lasting benefits to their life," said Nikolaidis.
Subtypes—though partially based on demographic information, baseline mental health, and drug type and dose—are highly reproducible, according to researchers.
“Finding the variety of other outcomes that these subtypes might be related to is an interesting next step," authors concluded. "These could include adaptive or functional outcomes in people's quality of life or well-being, or a better understanding of their life's purpose or relationships."
