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People of color in North America report improvements in racial trauma and mental health symptoms following psychedelic experiences
Open accessAbstract
This study examined how psychedelics reduced symptoms of racial trauma among black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) subsequent to an experience of racism. A cross-sectional internet-based survey included questions about experiences with racism, mental health symptoms, and acute and enduring psychedelic effects. Changes in mental health were assessed by retrospective report of symptoms in the 30 days before and 30 days after an experience with psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). We recruited 313 diverse BIPOC in the US and Canada. Results revealed a significant (p < .001) and moderate (d = −.45) reduction in traumatic stress symptoms from before-to-after the psychedelic experience. Similarly, participants reported decreases in depression (p < .001; d = −.52), anxiety (p < .001; d = −.53), and stress (p < .001; d = −.32). There was also a significant relationship (Rc = 0.52, p < .001) between the dimension of acute psychedelic effects (mystical-type, insight, and challenging experiences) and decreases in a cluster of subsequent psychopathology (traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and stress), while controlling for the frequency of prior discrimination and the time since the psychedelic experience. BIPOC have been underrepresented in psychedelic studies. Psychedelics may decrease the negative impact of racial trauma. Future studies should examine the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy for individuals with a history of race-based trauma.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Williams, M. T., Davis, A. K., Xin, Y., Sepeda, N. D., Grigas, P. C., Sinnott, S., & Haeny, A. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Williams, Monnica T.
- Venue
- Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2020-12-10
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 215-226
- ISSN
- 0968-7637 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3370
- PMC
- PMC8330400
- OpenAlex
- W3112172827
- Cited by
- 101
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 10
- FWCI
- 5.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Drugs Education Prevention and Policy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- University of Ottawa
- Canada Research Chairs Program
- National Institutes of Health (26, 63)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- psychedelics, racial trauma, BIPOC, psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, racism, traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, stress, mystical experience, psychedelic therapy, mental health
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