Title & Introduction

  • Paper Title: A Pilot Study of the Effect of Group-Administered Psilocybin on Psychological Flexibility and Outcomes
  • Published In: Journal of Psychedelic Studies
  • Publish date: April 5, 2024
  • Authors: Brian Pilecki, Jason Luoma, Kati M. Lear
  • Objective: To assess the impact of group-administered psilocybin on psychological flexibility and related outcomes.
  • Importance: Psychological flexibility is a core mechanism of therapeutic change in psychedelic-assisted therapy. This study examines whether group-administered psilocybin enhances psychological flexibility and associated well-being factors.

Summary & Takeaways

Key Takeaway:
Group-administered psilocybin led to significant improvements in psychological flexibility, self-compassion, and emotional expressivity, suggesting that psychedelic experiences contribute to long-term mental well-being.

Practical Application:

  • Findings support the use of psilocybin retreats for psychological and emotional growth.
  • Psychological flexibility training may enhance the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
  • Results could inform the development of structured group-based psychedelic therapy interventions.

Key Background Information

  • Context: Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown promising results in treating mental health conditions, but its underlying mechanisms require further exploration. Psychological flexibility may be a key factor in sustaining long-term benefits.
  • Hypothesis: Group-administered psilocybin improves psychological flexibility, emotional well-being, and cognitive processing, leading to enhanced mental health outcomes.

Methodology

  • Study Design: Pilot study measuring psychological flexibility and emotional well-being before and after psilocybin administration in a retreat setting.
  • Participants: Nine individuals aged 41–68, attending a 7-day psilocybin retreat.
  • Intervention/Exposure: Three psilocybin sessions during the retreat, with self-selected dosages ranging from 5 to 12 grams of dried mushrooms.
  • Controls: No control group; longitudinal comparisons were made.
  • Duration: Psychological measures were taken at baseline, 2 weeks post-retreat, and 6 months post-retreat.

Key Findings

Primary Outcomes:

  • Psychological flexibility significantly increased, as measured by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), particularly at the 6-month follow-up.
  • Significant improvements in self-compassion, cognitive defusion, and valued living were observed.
  • Participants experienced notable reductions in negative emotional expressivity and emotional impulse intensity.

Secondary Outcomes:

  • Increased belief in oneness and social safeness two weeks post-retreat, though effects diminished by six months.
  • Higher scores on the Mystical Experiences Questionnaire correlated with positive psychological outcomes.
  • No significant effects on burnout levels were observed.

Interpretation & Implications

  • Conclusion: Group-administered psilocybin appears to enhance psychological flexibility, supporting its potential as a mechanism of change in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
  • Implications: Findings suggest that integrating psychological flexibility practices with psychedelic therapy may enhance therapeutic outcomes. Future studies should explore controlled comparisons and long-term follow-ups.
  • Limitations: Small sample size, lack of control group, and self-reported data may limit generalizability. Further research is needed to confirm findings in larger populations.

Researchers & Publication

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