Utilizing Psychedelics to Enhance Well-Being: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Psychopharmacology and Positive Psychology

Background:

• Psychedelic research traditionally focuses on therapeutic applications for mental illness.
• The PERMA Theory of Well-Being provides a framework for assessing flourishing in healthy populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on the effects of psychedelic substances on the well-being of healthy individuals.
• To apply the PERMA Theory of Well-Being (Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment) to evaluate these effects.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 19 studies (1994-2024) from five academic databases.
• Inclusion criteria: controlled or naturalistic experimental design with outcome measurement ≥7 days post-consumption.
• Studies involved 5-MeO-DMT, ayahuasca, LSD, and psilocybin across 949 participants.

Main Results:

• Psychedelic consumption was consistently linked to enduring improvements across all five elements of the PERMA model.
• No serious adverse effects were reported in the six studies that discussed adverse events.
• Positive outcomes included enhanced positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment.

Conclusions:

• Psychedelics demonstrate potential for enhancing well-being and fostering human flourishing in healthy individuals.
• Findings suggest a paradigm shift from a disease-focused approach to recognizing psychedelics' broader benefits.
• Further research with larger, longitudinal randomized controlled trials is recommended to validate these findings and assess well-being comprehensively.