Caveats: only Hopkins studies, only MEQ data, only psilocybin trials.
In clinical settings, facilitators can meaningfully shape patients' experiences, which may carry into therapeutic effects.
📄 Check out the full paper for more: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In other words, facilitators seem to have the biggest impact on psychedelic experiences when therapeutic stakes are highest. For healthy volunteers, the experience was shaped almost entirely by the drug itself and individual differences, not who facilitated the session.
🔍 Key finding: In clinical populations, facilitators accounted for 13.6% of variance in “mystical” experiences. In healthy volunteers? Just 0.8%.
‼️New paper‼️ Does your psychedelic facilitator shape your experience?
This is a key question considering that the psychedelic experience can predict treatment outcomes.
We analyzed the largest dataset of its kind, featuring 20yrs+ of psilocybin trials from @jhpsychedelics.bsky.social
Love this new review on psychedelics & emotions from colleagues!
One theme—how we measure positive emotions— resonates with our paper on why distinct positive emotions need more focus in psychedelic science, given their potential role in therapeutic benefits: www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/...
📢Had a blast presenting our work on psychedelic facilitator's effects at #PS2025, catching up w/ friends, & seeing what's next for the field, like:
New trials w/ novel psychedelics?
New start-ups to help scale treatments?
Regulatory updates?
A new conference outfit for me?
So many possibilities
How much do psychedelics' subjective effects--which can predict treatment outcomes--shift depending on who guides/facilitates your experience?
Looking forward to presenting on years of trial data examining this question at #PsychedelicScience2025!
Check it out at 10am on 6/19 & hmu if in town!
Huge thanks to friends at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social
and @schoolofppls.bsky.social for hosting me and sparking some great discussions on psychedelics, well-being, and more.
(I promise I have more than one outfit)
Our new paper - the first peer-reviewed brain and phenomenological examination of 5-MeO-DMT is out in Neuro of Consciousness.
TLDR: We tested whether ‘the mount Everest’ of psychedelics could induce a complete state of consciousness deconstruction while preserving awareness. 1/n
#neuroskyence
Excited to continue exploring these questions and more via rigorous scientific approaches.
Science is a powerful source of discovery and innovation to expand our knowledge and improve our lives.
How can non-pharmacological (awe, meditation) and pharmacological (psychedelics) improve our health and well-being? What external and internal factors influence these states?
Great fun presenting my program of research covering the science of self-transcendence at @ucl.ac.uk and @uclsap.bsky.social’s @unityproject.bsky.social project.
‼️Excited to speak at this year's @breakingconvention.bsky.social ! I'll cover our work on how much people's subjective effects differ by who guides them, spanning years of clinical trials and hundreds of participants at @JHPsychedelics. First time attending Breaking Convention, too! 👋
So the first "psilocybin healing centre" has finally opened in Colorado. Price is USD$2,000 for an 8-hour facilitated dose session plus a couple of pre and post consultations.
How awe-inspiring are psychedelic experiences and why might emotions like awe play a role in psychedelics' benefits?
Excited to speak on this in our @affectscience.bsky.social symposium on awe today! #AffectScience2025
‼️Compelling new RCT work on psilocybin for AUD led by the outstanding @nathalierieser.bsky.social! Raises important questions about what might and might not work in psychedelic-assisted treatment for AUD. A monumental effort that grows our knowledge of psychedelics👏
🌎 This project is the culmination of enormous effort across multiple outstanding researchers, including Nathan Sepeda, Samantha Hilbert, Bilal Bari, @fredbarrettphd.bsky.social, @existwell.bsky.social, and Sandeep Nayak.
These data span decades & several clinical trials
@jhpsychedelics.bsky.social--the largest dataset of its kind.
❓ How much do psychedelic guides influence people's hashtag psychedelic experiences in clinical trials?
📢 Next Friday at ISRP (www.isrpsych.org), I'll present some exciting work on the impacts of guides/therapists on people's psychedelic subjective effects.
Here at Hopkins, we now have a clinic for people experiencing difficulties after a psychedelic experience--the first of it's kind. Please share widely to help get the word out for those who might need help!
Proud to be part of such a world-class team extending research & care around psychedelics.
Come join us at what I think is one of the coolest places to work, study, and thrive, all while expanding our understanding of psychedelics 🪐
A new review of prep materials led by CPCR Faculty David Yaden (@existwell.bsky.social) shows psilocybin trial prep materials strongly emphasize safety yet can also shape participant expectations—highlighting a delicate balance between ensuring well-being and avoiding unintended bias.
Is this only for Berkeley-affiliated applicants?
✨Proud to have led this paper, with Peter Hendricks, @scipsychedelics.bsky.social's Dacher Keltner, and @existwell.bsky.social. Looking forward to continuing to blend my PhD work on awe/emotions with my @jhpsychedelics.bsky.social postdoc on clinical trials of psychedelics!
💡We argue that better capturing positive emotions during/from the trip can improve our understanding of psychedelics’ therapeutic benefits, possibly leading to more precise and effective psychedelic interventions (keeping in mind negative/challenging feelings can also occur).
🔬Emotions like awe, compassion, and gratitude are tied to a host of unique cognitive and behavioral effects.
They can decrease stress & boost generosity, social connection, generosity, and meaning — important components of well-being. e.g., journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
🧠Psychedelics are known for their many subjective effects, like strong emotions. But, despite extensive research on emotions, distinct positive emotions in psychedelics are often overlooked. We argue that such emotions could help underlie psychedelics’ therapeutic potential.
Why should we consider distinct positive emotions--like awe, compassion, or gratitude--in psychedelic science? 🧵
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/MMUW7...
New article on psychedelic risks and benefits in naturalistic use led by CPCR postdoc Sean Goldy (@seangoldy.bsky.social), featuring David Yaden (@existwell.bsky.social) and many others. Check out the thread below !
Link to original publication: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
10/ 📖 Want to dive deeper? Check out the paper!
Huge thanks to Ben Du, Julia Rohde, @sdpnayak.bsky.social, Justin Strickland, Rebecca Ehrenkranz, Michael Levine, @fredbarrettphd.bsky.social, & @existwell.bsky.social for helping get this out!
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
