Classic psychedelics, health behavior, and physical health

Abstract

Background: Preliminary evidence suggests that classic psychedelics may be effective in the treatment of some psychiatric disorders, yet little remains known about their effects on health behavior and physical health. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate associations of lifetime classic psychedelic use and psychological insight during one’s most insightful classic psychedelic experience with health behavior and physical health. Methods: Using data representative of the US population with regard to sex, age, and ethnicity ( N = 2822), this study examined associations of lifetime classic psychedelic use and psychological insight with health behavior and physical health. Results: Lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with more healthy tobacco-related and diet-related behavior ( β = 0.05 and 0.09, respectively). Among lifetime classic psychedelic users ( n = 613), greater Psychological Insight Questionnaire (PIQ) total scale, PIQ Avoidance and Maladaptive Patterns (AMP) subscale, and PIQ Goals and Adaptive Patterns (GAP) subscale scores were each associated with higher odds of more healthy exercise-related behavior [adjusted odds ratios (aOR) (95% confidence interval, CI = 1.38 (1.13–1.68), 1.38 (1.13–1.68), and 1.32 (1.10–1.60), respectively] and higher odds of having a healthy body mass index (BMI) [aOR (95% CI) = 1.32 (1.07–1.63), 1.36 (1.10–1.69), and 1.23 (1.01–1.50), respectively], and greater GAP subscale scores were associated with more healthy diet-related behavior ( β = 0.10). All PIQ scales were positively associated with some health behavior improvements (overall, diet, exercise) attributed to respondents’ most insightful classic psychedelic experience ( β = 0.42, 0.18, and 0.17; β = 0.40, 0.19, and 0.17; and β = 0.40, 0.15, and 0.15, respectively), but only PIQ total scale and AMP subscale scores were positively associated with alcohol-related health behavior improvements ( β = 0.13 and 0.16, respectively). Conclusion: Although these results cannot demonstrate causality, they suggest that psychological insight during a classic psychedelic experience may lead to positive health behavior change and better physical health in some domains, in particular in those related to weight management.

Diminished psychedelic returns on distress: Marital status and household size

“…The present study replicates previous research that has analyzed the association between psychedelic use and health outcomes using the NSDUH [ 3 , 18 – 20 , 25 , 27 – 29 , 35 ]. While this paper replicates the study that analyzes the association between LCPU and distress, it aims to improve upon the previous research by addressing some of its limitations [ 3 ].…”

“…Previous research has found a strong correlation between drug use, risky behavior, and mental illness. Therefore, this study follows the guidance of similar research that uses the NSDUH to analyze the positive effects of psychedelics by including controls for other drug use that is negatively associated with poor health [ 3 , 18 – 20 , 25 , 27 – 29 ]. Those binary control variables include lifetime use of cocaine; marijuana use; 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/ecstasy); phencyclidine (PCP); inhalants; other stimulants; sedatives; pain relievers; and tobacco (smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, cigars, and daily cigarette use).…”

Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns

“…These results suggest that, at least for White people, psychedelics may be an important tool for helping convicts manage their stress and be productive members of society. Coupled with other research that has found psychedelics are associated with less violence (Hendricks et al, 2018; Simonsson et al, 2022), this lends support for interesting avenues of decriminalization.…”

“…Ever-expanding research analyzes psychedelics as a viable option for treating health problems, including depression, anxiety, suicidality, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug dependency, and other behavioral addictions (Barnett, Parker, et al, 2022;Davis, Barrett, et al, 2021;dos Santos et al, 2018;Mithoefer et al, 2019;Penn et al, 2021;Ronan Peck, 2021;Roseman et al, 2018;Yaden et al, 2021;Zeifman et al, 2021). Population studies have confirmed mainly clinical research showing that various psychedelics and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as "ecstasy," are associated with better physical health and mental health as well as with decreasing negative social behaviors, including committing larceny and domestic violence (Barnett, Ziegler, et al, 2022;Hendricks et al, 2014Hendricks et al, , 2015aHendricks et al, , 2015bHendricks et al, , 2018Jones and Nock, 2022a;Mellner et al, 2022;Sexton et al, 2019;Simonsson, Osika, et al, 2021;Simonsson, Sexton, et al, 2021;Simonsson et al, 2022;Walsh et al, 2016aWalsh et al, , 2016b.…”

Could classic psychedelics influence immigrants’ acculturation process? A narrative review contemplating how

“…obesity, hypertension; Simonsson et al, 2021aSimonsson et al, , 2021b and recent theorizing has proposed that psychedelics may help promote healthy behaviors regarding diet, exercise and stress reduction by increasing individuals' selfdetermination (Teixeira et al, 2022). Furthermore, classic psychedelic use in the general population has been associated with diet-related behaviors (Harris and Gurel, 2012;Simonsson et al, 2022), as well as smoking cessation (Daldegan-Bueno et al, 2022;Johnson et al, 2017) and alcohol cessation (Agin-Liebes et al, 2021b;Garcia-Romeu et al, 2019). Similarly, a recent crosssectional study focusing specifically on ethnic and racial minorities in the U.S. found classic psychedelic use to be associated with reduced drug and alcohol use (Haeny et al, 2023).…”