Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression

A re-analysis of a pilot study (n=14) on how psychedelics increase nature-relatedness and decrease authoritarianism. Although the active participants (n=7, with treatment-resistant depression) increased on both, their final scores on those measures were very similar to that of the non-treated (non-depressed) group.

Abstract of Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression

Rationale: Previous research suggests that classical psychedelic compounds can induce lasting changes in personality traits, attitudes and beliefs in both healthy subjects and patient populations.

Aim: Here we sought to investigate the effects of psilocybin on nature relatedness and libertarian–authoritarian political perspective in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Methods: This open-label pilot study with a mixed-model design studied the effects of psilocybin on measures of nature relatedness and libertarian–authoritarian political perspective in patients with moderate to severe TRD (n=7) versus age-matched non-treated healthy control subjects (n=7). Psilocybin was administered in two oral dosing sessions (10 mg and 25 mg) 1 week apart. Main outcome measures were collected 1 week and 7–12 months after the second dosing session. Nature relatedness and libertarian–authoritarian political perspective were assessed using the Nature Relatedness Scale (NR-6) and Political Perspective Questionnaire (PPQ-5), respectively.

Results: Nature relatedness significantly increased (t(6)=−4.242, p=0.003) and authoritarianism significantly decreased (t(6)=2.120, p=0.039) for the patients 1 week after the dosing sessions. At 7–12 months post-dosing, nature relatedness remained significantly increased (t(5)=−2.707, p=0.021) and authoritarianism remained decreased at trend level (t(5)=−1.811, p=0.065). No differences were found on either measure for the non-treated healthy control subjects.

Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that psilocybin with psychological support might produce lasting changes in attitudes and beliefs. Although it would be premature to infer causality from this small study, the possibility of drug-induced changes in belief systems seems sufficiently intriguing and timely to deserve further investigation.

Authors: Taylor Lyons & Robin L. Carhart-Harris

Notes on Abstract of Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression

Earlier studies have shown that psychedelics can promote enduring changes in personality traits, attitudes, and beliefs (e.g. MacLean et al., 2011). This paper builds on the work that has been done before and looks specifically at how psychedelics relate to nature-relatedness and political perspectives. Although this study was only done with a small group of participants (7 in the active condition, 7 control), a later study by Kettner and colleagues (2019) did also confirm the nature-relatedness results in an online survey (n=654).

The present study works with a dataset of participants from Carhart-Harris and colleagues in 2016, the participants who got psilocybin had treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One may assume that the participants (n=7) were the ones who were asked to fill in these specific questionnaires (from the n=12 in the other study).

If one looks at the results of the study, two things ask for your attention. The first is that the scores on both measures didn’t change all that much (the ‘power’ was not as large, although it was significantly changed). And second, the TRD participants significantly improved in their depression scores, and their scores on the two other measures are now very similar to the control group. Or in other words, they came from low nature-relatedness and high authoritarianism to being very close to what the control group had.

So one wonders if the same level of effects can be found with ‘healthy normal’ participants, or that psychedelics bring someone closer to what is normal/healthy. The paper does cite other surveys where people do indicate that nature-relatedness (and other mental health outcomes) are improved after a psychedelic experience.

The authors do note as much in the final discussion and more (double-blind) study needs to be done to see why and for whom nature-relatedness and political views are changed.

Summary of Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression

In a psychologically supportive setting, a single high dose of psilocybin can promote enduring changes in personality traits, attitudes and beliefs. Psilocybin has also been shown to improve symptoms of addiction, anxiety and depression.

Psychedelic drug use is not associated with increased incidence of mental health problems, but rather with lower rates of suicidality and psychological distress, as well as greater optimism and concern for others, nature and the environment. Psychedelics have been found to positively affect one’s sense of feeling part of nature, and to promote psychological wellbeing. This has been shown to improve mood and cognitive functioning in patients with major depressive disorder, and reduce the population prevalence of depression.

Previous research suggests that psychedelic compounds can change personality traits.

A recent study found that lifetime psychedelic drug use positively predicted nature-relatedness and negatively predicted authoritarian political views. Moreover, a recent study found that treatment-resistant depression patients experienced rapid and enduring reductions in depressive symptoms after psychologically supported psilocybin therapy.

To access this content, you must purchase one of the following memberships: Sprout Membership, Pro Membership, Pro Membership Unlimited, Business Membership or Business Membership Unlimited. The membership will give you access to exclusive data, including summaries of psychedelic research papers, extended company info, and our member-only visualisations. Save yourself multiple hours each week by accessing Blossom’s resource library.

Find this paper

Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression

https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881117748902

Open Access | Google Scholar | Backup | 🕊

Cite this paper (APA)

Lyons, T., & Carhart-Harris, R. L. (2018). Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Journal of psychopharmacology32(7), 811-819.

Study details

Compounds studied
Psilocybin

Topics studied
Depression Treatment-Resistant Depression Personality

Study characteristics
Original Re-analysis Open-Label

Participants
14 Humans

Institutes

Institutes associated with this publication

Imperial College London
The Centre for Psychedelic Research studies the action (in the brain) and clinical use of psychedelics, with a focus on depression.

Compound Details

The psychedelics given at which dose and how many times

Psilocybin 10 - 25
mg | 2x

Linked Research Papers

Notable research papers that build on or are influenced by this paper

Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study
This is the first modern study (n=12) on psilocybin and its effects on treatment-resistant depression (TRD). It shows that two sessions with psilocybin (10mg and 25mg) in combination with psychological support can reduce depressive symptoms over periods of one week to three months after treatment. Psilocybin was well tolerated by all of the patients, and no serious or unexpected adverse events occurred.

Linked Clinical Trial

Assessing the subjective intensity of oral psilocybin in patients with treatment-resistant depression: A Pilot Study (PSILODEP-PILOT)
This open-label trial (n=12), also known as PSILODEP-PILOT is the first to test psilocybin in patients in the UK. The study found psilocybin (10-25mg, x2) to be well-tolerated.

PDF of Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression