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Classic psychedelic use reduced suicidal thinking, attempts

Classic psychedelic use may be associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality, according to data recently published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

“Despite advances in mental health treatments, suicide rates generally have not declined in the past 60 years. Novel and potentially more effective interventions need to be explored,” researcher Peter S. Hendricks, PhD, assistant professor in the department of health behavior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a press release. “This study sets the stage for future research to test the efficacy of classic psychedelics in addressing suicidality as well as pathologies associated with increased suicide risk (eg, affective disturbance, addiction and impulsive-aggressive personality traits).”

Peter S. Hendricks

Hendricks and colleagues used 2008 to 2012 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health survey of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. The analysis examined the relationships of classic psychedelic use with psychological distress and suicidality for 191,382 adults.

Data indicate that lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of past month psychological distress (19%; P=.0002), past year suicidal thinking (14%; P=.001), past year suicidal planning (29%; P=.01), and past year suicide attempt (36%; P=.008), researchers wrote.

However, they reported that lifetime illicit use of other drugs was associated with an increased likelihood of all outcomes.

“Classic psychedelics carry a contentious recent history and barriers to their clinical evaluation remain. Growing evidence including the present research suggests that classic psychedelics may have the potential to alleviate human suffering associated with mental illness,” the researchers wrote.

Further research is warranted, they concluded.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.