Journal of Psychedelic Studies

A Semantic Scale Network Analysis of the Revised Mystical Experiences Questionnaire: A Call for Collaboration

Mitch Earleywine, Fiona Low, Joseph De Leo — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Background and aims

Multiple laboratories have proposed measures of subjective effects of psychedelics as potential mediators of their therapeutic impact. Other work has identified individual differences that covary with subjective responses in informative ways. The range of potential measures of responses, traits, and outcomes is vast. Ideas for new measures are likely numerous. The field will progress efficiently if proposed new scales can add incremental validity. Semantic Scale Network analyses identify conceptual overlap among scales based on items (rather than participant ratings), which could help laboratories avoid putting effort into measures that are unlikely to account for unique variance. Semantic Scale Network analyses can also reveal links to constructs from disparate research literatures, potentially helping investigators generate novel hypotheses and explain connections among disparate findings. The results of Semantic Scale Network analyses have the potential to improve as more investigators enter their scales into the corpus.

Method

Example analyses using the revised Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ) underscore the uniqueness and discriminant validity of the MEQ subscales.

Results

Findings dovetail with published theorizing and suggest potentially novel links with different therapeutic effects. The MEQ total or subscales overlap with measures of awe, inspiration, regret, dissatisfaction, transcendence, depression, fatigue, and spirituality. Links with measures of stress, alexithymia, and gender identity suggest lines of further work.

Conclusions

This analytic approach might suggest unique applications for psychedelic-assisted treatments and provide perspectives on phenomena outside the field. As psychedelic researchers enter their scales to the corpus for Semantic Scale Network analyses, the field will benefit.

Philosophical Issues in Psychedelic Research

Jaipreet Mattu, Dr. Letheby — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Serotonergic (or “classic”) psychedelics have struck many researchers as raising significant philosophical questions that, until recently, were largely unexplored by academic philosophers. This paper provides an overview of four emerging lines of research at the intersection of academic philosophy and psychedelic science that have gained considerable traction in the last decade: selfless consciousness, psychedelic epistemology, psychedelic ethics, and spiritual/religious naturalism. In this paper, we highlight philosophical questions concerning (i) psychedelics, self-consciousness, and phenomenal consciousness, (ii) the epistemic profile of the psychedelic experience; (iii) ethical concerns about the appropriate use of psychedelics; and (iv) whether spiritual or religious dimensions of psychedelic use are compatible with a naturalistic worldview.

Psychedelic treatment for co-occurring alcohol misuse and post-traumatic stress symptoms among United States Special Operations Forces Veterans

Pratheek Mangini; Alan K Davis, Lynnette A Averill — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Background & Aims: Special Operations Forces Veterans (SOFV) have unique treatment needs stemming from multiple repeated forms of combat exposure resulting in a complex sequela of problems including alcohol misuse and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Current approved pharmacologic treatments for alcohol misuse and PTSD are lacking in adherence and efficacy, warranting novel treatment development. The current study examined the correlations between psychedelic treatment and changes in alcohol misuse among trauma exposed United States SOFV. Method: An anonymous internet-based survey was conducted among SOFV who completed a specific psychedelic clinical program in Mexico. Retrospective questions probed alcohol use and post-traumatic stress symptoms during the 30-days before and 30-days after the psychedelic treatment. A total of 65 SOFV completed treatment and were eligible for contact. Of these, 51 (78%) completed the survey, and 32 (49%) reported alcohol misuse (> 4 on the AUDIT-C) in the 30 days prior to treatment and were included in analyses (Mean Age=40; male=94%; Caucasian/White=97%). Results: There were significant and very large reductions in retrospective reports of alcohol use (p<.001; d=-1.4) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (p<.001; d=-2.3) and a significant and large increase in psychological flexibility (p<.001; d=1.5), from before-to-after the psychedelic treatment. In the 30 days after treatment, 72% reduced their alcohol consumption to non-risky levels (28% abstinent; 44% non-risky drinking). Increases in psychological flexibility were strongly associated with reductions in alcohol use and post-traumatic stress symptoms (rs range -0.36 to -0.89; ps<.05). Conclusion: Rigorous longitudinal studies should be conducted to determine whether psychedelic-assisted therapy holds promise as an intervention in this population.

An experience with Holotropic Breathwork is associated with improvement in non-judgement and well-being while reducing symptoms of stress in a Czech-speaking population

Dr.; Dr. , Dr., Michael Vancura, Dr. — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Background: Holotropic breathwork (Grof ® Breathwork), was developed by Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof as a ‘non-drug’ alternative technique to evoke altered states of consciousness (ASC). Interestingly, although HBW has been anecdotally reported to evoke experiences and mental health effects corresponding to those of psychedelic substances, the scientific literature on the matter is scarce.

Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the (sub)acute and long-term effects of HBW on well-being, and whether these depend on the depth of the experience evoked by the HBW session.

Methods: A naturalistic observational design was employed in the present study. Between January 2019 and July 2020, 58 Czech-speaking participants who had an experience with HBW were assessed using three separate anonymous online-surveys created and hosted on Qualtrics. Assessments of mindfulness, satisfaction with life, depression, anxiety, and stress were made once prior to (baseline), and two times following (sub-acutely and 4-weeks) the participants’ experience with HBW. The ego dissolution inventory and the 5-dimensional altered states of consciousness scale was used to quantify the HBW experience.

Results: Despite low ratings of the psychedelic experience (mean range of 0- 34% out of 100%), ratings of non-judgment and satisfaction with life significantly increased sub-acutely following the HBW session and persisted for 4-weeks. Finally, stress-related symptoms significantly decreased 4-weeks after HBW.

Conclusion: An experience with HBW may be associated with improvement in non-judgment, subjective well-being, and reductions of stress-related symptoms. However, further multidisciplinary research is needed.