Ewen Kervadec

The intensity of the psychedelic experience is reliably associated with clinical improvements: A systematic review and meta-analysis | Request PDF Request PDF | The intensity of the psychedelic experience is reliably associated with clinical improvements: A systematic review and meta-analysis | Background : Psychedelic-assisted therapies have de...

🔗 Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/4wcvfc2c
📄 And find us on ResearchGate: tinyurl.com/4umtp94d

Here's why researchers are making new psychedelic-like drugs — without the trip : Short Wave This week, we've heard from researchers trying to untangle the effects of the "trip" that often comes with psychedelics and ketamine from the ways these drugs might change the human brain. For part th...

These insights help frame the debate around non-hallucinogenic psychedelics: can we retain benefits while skipping the trip? www.npr.org/transcripts/...

💭 Psychedelic therapy likely relies on an interplay between neurobiology, phenomenology, and therapeutic context.
Subjective intensity plays a key role — but how essential is it for long-term change?

🚧 Key caveats to consider:
▸ Correlation ≠ causation — subjective intensity may be a marker, not a mechanism
▸ Inconsistent psychometric tools (MEQ, 5D-ASC…) may bias toward positive reports
▸ Neuroplastic effects may occur even without a consciousness-altering trip

📊 This correlation was stronger in structured, prospective clinical trials than in retrospective or naturalistic studies.
Why? Likely because of better support, preparation, and integration.

▸🌧️ Mood disorders → strong correlations, likely due to serotonergic involvement
▸🧪 Substance use disorders → weaker correlations, possibly due to neuroplastic mechanisms (BDNF, mGluR2) + more naturalistic data
▸🏥 Clinical trials > naturalistic use → set, setting matter

🔬 Main finding:
More intense subjective experiences were significantly associated with greater therapeutic benefits.
But it’s not as simple as “stronger is better.” Context and conditions matter.

We examined the link between intensity of the psychedelic experience and clinical outcomes — across mood, anxiety, and addiction disorders, in different study designs and settings.

Led by our team at CHU Hôpital Paul-Brousse, AP-HP (Greater Paris University Hospitals), we reviewed 30+ studies and >2250 psychedelic sessions to understand when and where subjective experience makes a difference.

📑 🌿 New study published! ✨ Can psychedelics heal without the trip? Or does the intensity of the experience matter for therapeutic outcomes? Our meta-analysis is now out in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews: tinyurl.com/4wcvfc2c

💭 These findings further show that a psychedelic experience is not just about the substance itself: intention, context, and other psychological factors are crucial.

📈 Dose-response relationship: higher doses were clearly associated with more intense mystical experiences.
🍷 Alcohol : alcohol use decreased the likelihood of having a profound mystical experience, highlighting the importance of screening for concurrent substance use in clinical settings or trials.

🔎 Key findings:
🌟 Intention matters: Spiritual, therapeutic, or self-exploration motivations were linked to more intense experiences than recreational use.
🧪 The type of substance plays a role: Ayahuasca and LSD were more strongly linked to mystical experiences than psilocybin.

A new study from our team at @hoppaulbrousse.bsky.social @ap-hp.bsky.social, analyzed 1,657 psychedelic experiences.

Published in Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, this research highlights key factors that influence the intensity of mystical experiences.

🔬🌈 New study published ! ✨ What factors influence the likelihood of a mystical experience under psychedelics ? 
🧩 Why are some psychedelic experiences intense and life-changing while others are not ? 

🔗 Curious to learn more ?: tinyurl.com/2xjadk3d
📄 ResearchGate page: tinyurl.com/y6k9e632

🌈📢 Vous avez eu une expérience avec la MDMA et/ou la kétamine ? Nous cherchons encore des témoignages pour une étude sur le vécu subjectif de ces substances.
🔗 lnkd.in/d5qneEAV