The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects

Overview

Journal ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci

Publisher American Chemical Society

Specialty Biochemistry

Date 2021 Apr 16

PMID 33861219

Citations 128

Authors

David B Yaden

Roland R Griffiths

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Classic psychedelics produce altered states of consciousness that individuals often interpret as meaningful experiences. Across a number of human studies, when the participant-rated intensity of the overall drug effects are statistically controlled for, certain subjective effects predict therapeutic and other desirable outcomes. Underlying neurobiological mechanisms are likely necessary but not sufficient to confer full and enduring beneficial effects. We propose that the subjective effects of psychedelics are necessary for their enduring beneficial effects and that these subjective effects account for the majority of their benefit.

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