1. Predicting the Intensity of Psychedelic-Induced Mystical and Challenging Experience in a Healthy Population: An Exploratory Post-Hoc Analysis.
- Author
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Ko K, Carter B, Cleare AJ, and Rucker JJ
- Abstract
Introduction: In psychedelic therapy, mystical as well as challenging experience may influence therapeutic outcome. However, predictors of such experience have not been sufficiently established. Determining predictors of their intensity is, therefore, potentially beneficial in targeting psilocybin therapy for depression., Methods: In a post hoc data analysis of a Phase 1, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-groups clinical trial, dosage, personality traits, affect, and individual data were analysed as possible clinical predictors. Eighty-nine healthy volunteers were randomised to receive a single dose of placebo, 10 mg of psilocybin, or 25 mg of psilocybin. ANOVA was used to analyse the relationship between dosage and mystical and/or challenging experience, and correlation analysis for all other variables., Results: The intensity of both mystical and challenging experience was strongly associated with higher dosage. Age was negatively correlated with intensity of challenging experience. Correlation between identified personality traits and either mystical or challenging experience was minimal, with the exception of positive correlation between neuroticism and challenging experience at higher dose. Neither positive nor negative affect indicated correlation with the intensity of either type of experience., Discussion: A limitation of this study is its post hoc, exploratory design; recommendations for further research are provided., Competing Interests: KK is a PhD student and member of Psychoactive Trials Group [PTG] at King’s College London [KCL]. KCL receives grant funding from COMPASS Pathways Plc. and Beckley PsyTech to undertake phase 1 and Phase 2 trials with psychedelics, including psilocybin. BC is a reader in biostatistics at The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience [IoPPN] at KCL. JJR is an honorary consultant psychiatrist at The South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust [SLaM, NHS UK], a consultant psychiatrist at Sapphire Medical Clinics and Senior Clinical Lecturer at the IoPPN at KCL. JJR leads PTG at KCL. COMPASS Pathways Plc has paid for JJR to attend trial-related meetings and conferences to present the results of research using psilocybin. JJR has undertaken paid consultancy work for Beckley PsyTech, Delica Therapeutics and Clerkenwell Health. AJC is employed by KCL and is an honorary consultant for SLaM (NHS UK). He has recently received or is due to receive honoraria for presentations and/or serving on advisory boards from Janssen, Otsuka, Medscape and COMPASS Pathways Plc.; and research grant support from Protexin Probiotics International Ltd. Additionally, he is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and KCL. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2023 Ko et al.)
- Published
- 2023
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