Psychedelics and health behaviour change.
Study Goal
The researchers explored the potential of psychedelic substances like psilocybin to promote positive lifestyle changes, including mindfulness practices, for improved health and well-being.
Results Summary
The abstract suggests that psilocybin may facilitate favourable behavioural changes in conditions marked by rigid patterns, such as depression and anxiety, but does not specifically report results on mindfulness.
Population
Patients with depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and other rigid behavioural patterns.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
healthful behaviours such as maintaining a balanced diet, being physically active and refraining from smoking | decrease | the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other serious conditions | - | - | have major impacts on | #1 |
psychedelic substances such as psilocybin | increase | positive lifestyle change conducive to good overall health | - | - | could be used to assist in promoting | #2 |
psilocybin | increase | patients with depression, anxiety and other conditions marked by rigid behavioural patterns, including substance (mis)use | patients with depression, anxiety and other conditions marked by rigid behavioural patterns, including substance (mis)use | - | has been shown to predict favourable changes in | #3 |
Therapeutic models including psychedelic experiences and common behaviour change methods (e.g., Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing) | neutral | addiction and eating disorders | - | - | are already being tested for | #4 |
this research | increase | improved diet, exercise, nature exposure and also mindfulness or stress reduction practices | - | - | may soon be extended to help promote | #5 |
Healthful behaviours such as maintaining a balanced diet, being physically active and refraining from smoking have major impacts on the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other serious conditions. The burden of the so-called 'lifestyle diseases'-in personal suffering, premature mortality and public health costs-is considerable. Consequently, interventions designed to promote healthy behaviours are increasingly being studied, e.g., using psychobiological models of behavioural regulation and change. In this article, we explore the notion that psychedelic substances such as psilocybin could be used to assist in promoting positive lifestyle change conducive to good overall health. Psilocybin has a low toxicity, is non-addictive and has been shown to predict favourable changes in patients with depression, anxiety and other conditions marked by rigid behavioural patterns, including substance (mis)use. While it is still early days for modern psychedelic science, research is advancing fast and results are promising. Here we describe psychedelics' proposed mechanisms of action and research findings pertinent to health behaviour change science, hoping to generate discussion and new research hypotheses linking the two areas. Therapeutic models including psychedelic experiences and common behaviour change methods (e.g., Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing) are already being tested for addiction and eating disorders. We believe this research may soon be extended to help promote improved diet, exercise, nature exposure and also mindfulness or stress reduction practices, all of which can contribute to physical and psychological health and well-being.