Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39075756›Full record

ArticleJournal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)2024

From chaos to kaleidoscope: Exploring factors in psychedelic self-treatment for mental health conditions.

Claire Walker, Timothy Piatkowski, Jason Ferris, Emma Davies, Monica Barratt, Adam Winstock, Cheneal Puljević

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Claire WalkerSchool of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Timothy PiatkowskiSchool of Applied Psychology and Center for Mental Health, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6177-0266
Jason FerrisCenter for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7474-0173
Emma DaviesCenter for Psychological Research, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
Monica BarrattSocial Equity Research Center and Digital Ethnography Research Center, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Adam WinstockUniversity College London, London, UK.
Cheneal PuljevićSchool of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThis study explores how individuals self-treat psychiatric conditions with psychedelics outside medical guidance bridging the gap in understanding unregulated therapeutic use.

aimsThe primary objective was to extract specific factors underlying the effects of psychedelics, exploring their relationship with the need for medication, particularly for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Additionally, we aimed to understand how the likelihood of being prescribed pharmacological medication varies based on mental health diagnoses and demographic factors.

methodsThis research utilised the Global Drug Survey 2020, an annual online survey focused on substance use patterns and demographics, incorporating modules addressing mental health and psychedelic use. The study employed Exploratory Factor Analysis to discern latent factors underlying the self-reported effects of psychedelics. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to investigate the association between identified factors and the likelihood of current prescribed medication usage.

resultsIn all, 2552 respondents reported using psychedelics for self-treatment of mental health conditions. Three significant factors were identified: Improved Mental Health, Improved Self-Awareness and Neuro-Sensory Changes. The majority of the sample reported a history of depression (80%) or anxiety (65.6%), with a significant association observed between reported factors of psychedelics' effects and current medication usage for mental health, especially notable in cases of depression or comorbid depression and anxiety.

conclusionsPerceived symptom improvement following psychedelic self-treatment may reduce the need for medically supervised pharmacological interventions. These findings highlight the potential of psychedelics to positively influence mental health and self-awareness, paving the way for further research into their therapeutic application.

Indexed as

HallucinogensAdolescentAdultAgedAnxietyDepressionFemaleHumansMaleMental DisordersMental HealthMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultHallucinogensAnxietydepressionmental healthpsychedelicsself-treatment

Identifiers

PMID39075756
PMCPMC11311900

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.