title: Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences.
abstract: Acute and enduring adverse effects of psilocybin have been reported anecdotally, but have not been well characterized. For this study, 1993 individuals (mean age 30 yrs; 78% male) completed an online survey about their single most psychologically difficult or challenging experience (worst "bad trip") after consuming psilocybin mushrooms. Thirty-nine percent rated it among the top five most challenging experiences of his/her lifetime. Eleven percent put self or others at risk of physical harm; factors increasing the likelihood of risk included estimated dose, duration and difficulty of the experience, and absence of physical comfort and social support. Of the respondents, 2.6% behaved in a physically aggressive or violent manner and 2.7% received medical help. Of those whose experience occurred >1 year before, 7.6% sought treatment for enduring psychological symptoms. Three cases appeared associated with onset of enduring psychotic symptoms and three cases with attempted suicide. Multiple regression analysis showed degree of difficulty was positively associated, and duration was negatively associated, with enduring increases in well-being. Difficulty of experience was positively associated with dose. Despite difficulties, 84% endorsed benefiting from the experience. The incidence of risky behavior or enduring psychological distress is extremely low when psilocybin is given in laboratory studies to screened, prepared, and supported participants.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Theresa M
authors: TM
authors: Carbonaro
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Matthew P
authors: MP
authors: Bradstreet
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Frederick S
authors: FS
authors: Barrett
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Katherine A
authors: KA
authors: MacLean
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.|Council on Spiritual Practices, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Jesse
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Matthew W
authors: MW
authors: Johnson
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA rgriff@jhmi.edu.|Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Roland R
authors: RR
authors: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000363:Agaricales; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011562:Psilocybin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D011562:Psilocybin
keywords: Psilocybin; adverse effects; bad trip; hallucinogen; human; psychedelic; survey