DOES THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF THE PSILOCYBIN EXPERIENCE PREDICT LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON MOOD AND WELL-BEING IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS?

INTRODUCTION: The mechanisms by which the psychedelic drug psilocybin, a novel rapid-acting antidepressant, improves depressive symptoms are still unclear. One candidate mechanism is the impact of the phenomenology of the psychedelic experience, with positive phenomenology hypothesised to be associated with positive long-term outcomes and fearful phenomenology hypothesised to be associated with negative long-term outcomes. The present study investigated how phenomenology influences long-term effects on mood, spirituality, and relationships with self, life, and others following single and repeated experiences in healthy volunteers.