1. Psychedelics and the inner healer: Myth or mechanism?
- Author
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Peill, Joseph, Marguilho, Miriam, Erritzoe, David, Barba, Tommaso, Greenway, Kyle, Rosas, Fernando, Timmermann, Christopher, and Carhart-Harris, Robin
- Subjects
Healing ,Telos ,automatic ,psychedelic ,Humans ,Hallucinogens ,Psilocybin ,Double-Blind Method ,Adult ,Male ,Female ,Middle Aged ,Depression ,Young Adult ,Dose-Response Relationship ,Drug - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Reference to an intrinsic healing mechanism or an inner healer is commonplace amongst psychedelic drug-using cultures. The inner healer refers to the belief that psychedelic compounds, plants or concoctions have an intrinsically regenerative action on the mind and brain, analogous to intrinsic healing mechanisms within the physical body, for example, after sickness or injury. AIMS: Here, we sought to test and critique this idea by devising a single subjective rating item pertaining to perceived inner healing effects. METHODS: The item was issued to 59 patients after a single high (25 mg, n = 30) or placebo (1 mg, n = 29) dose of psilocybin in a double-blind randomised controlled trial of psilocybin for depression. RESULTS: Inner healer scores were higher after the high versus placebo dose of psilocybin (t = 3.88, p
- Published
- 2024