Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK.
Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 21;14(1):28817. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-79931-w.
Psychedelic substances are garnering renewed interest for their potential therapeutic applications, yet the mechanisms by which challenging experiences during psychedelic use contribute to positive outcomes remains poorly understood. Here we present a mixed-methods investigation into the strategies individuals employ to navigate difficult psychedelic experiences and their relationship to emotional breakthrough. Qualitative analysis of accounts from psilocybin retreat participants (n = 16) informed the development of the Responses to Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Inventory (ReCiPE). In a subsequent online survey (n = 529), exploratory factor analysis of the ReCiPE revealed three primary response strategies: Acceptance and Reappraisal, Sensory Regulation and Physical Interaction, and Social Support and Disclosure. Exploratory correlation and multiple regression analyses demonstrated significant relationships between different types of challenges, response strategies and emotional breakthrough. Notably, Acceptance and Reappraisal, and Social Support and Disclosure strategies were positively associated with greater emotional breakthrough. Fear-related challenges were negatively associated with emotional breakthrough and involved fewer adaptive coping strategies. These findings elucidate the complex interplay between challenging experiences and adaptive responses in psychedelic contexts, offering insights for optimising therapeutic protocols and enhancing safety in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
迷幻物质因其潜在的治疗应用而重新引起关注，但人们对迷幻使用过程中挑战性体验如何促成积极结果的机制仍知之甚少。在这里，我们采用混合方法研究了个体在应对困难的迷幻体验时所采用的策略，以及这些策略与情感突破的关系。对迷幻蘑菇静修参与者（n=16）的描述进行的定性分析为应对挑战性迷幻体验量表（ReCiPE）的开发提供了信息。在随后的在线调查中（n=529），对 ReCiPE 的探索性因子分析显示出三种主要的应对策略：接受和重新评估、感觉调节和身体互动以及社会支持和披露。探索性相关和多元回归分析表明，不同类型的挑战、应对策略和情感突破之间存在显著关系。值得注意的是，接受和重新评估以及社会支持和披露策略与更大的情感突破呈正相关。与恐惧相关的挑战与情感突破呈负相关，涉及的适应性应对策略较少。这些发现阐明了迷幻环境中挑战性体验和适应性反应之间的复杂相互作用，为优化治疗方案和提高临床和非临床环境中的安全性提供了见解。
