RESEARCH
Real-World Psilocybin Study
Psilocybin mushrooms are at the forefront of the psychedelic renaissance. Our research offers unprecedented insight into how psilocybin is used for healing, growth and exploration.
The largest naturalistic psilocybin study ever conducted.
8000+
Participants
5 Published Papers
(more in draft)
Study Overview
In 2018, our founders recognized the need for research on how psilocybin is used in a naturalistic setting, outside of clinical research.
Study concept in-hand, we approached the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine to partner on the largest real-world, longitudinal psilocybin study. Conducted in 2020, it’s still the largest in the world, with over 8000 participants. Our first publication (of many) from the study has more views than 99% of all published articles on Frontiers in Psychiatry.
This study bridges a major gap between clinical trials and the real-world use of psychedelics. It not only confirms psilocybin’s potential as a mental health tool, it also illuminates the importance of integration, support and context in shaping outcomes. With more than 40% of participants meeting criteria for depression at baseline, this research gives voice to a diverse and often underserved population exploring psychedelics outside the lab.
Highlights from the Study
Our work has uncovered thousands of insights about naturalistic psilocybin use. Highlights from our initial findings include:
- 90%+ rated their experience as positive in retrospect
- 80%+ attributed improvements in wellbeing and life satisfaction
- 50%+ improved interpersonal relationships
- MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS
- Significant reductions in depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse
- First-ever evidence of reduced burnout after psychedelic use
- Challenging experiences were not predictive of long-term negative outcomes
- COGNITIVE AND EMOTIONAL SHIFTS
- Increased cognitive reappraisal: an emotional regulation strategy, linked to resilience
- Improved cognitive flexibility: the ability to adapt and reframe in challenging situations
- Increased extraversion, decreased neuroticism, Improved spiritual wellbeing
- LOW ADVERSE EVENT RATES
- <4% reported medically significant acute reactions, <5% reported persisting negative effects, and a small but important minority reported serious challenges, including mania or psychosis. This highlights the need for informed, intentional use and continued harm reduction.
Published Papers from the Psilocybin Study
See how our work is making headlines and shaping the conversation around psychedelic research.
Substance Use and Cognitive Flexibility Before and After Psilocybin
Researchers identified four distinct groups, based on changes in mental health and substance use behaviors before and after using psilocybin. At baseline, the most commonly reported weekly substance use behaviors were cannabis (53%), alcohol (37%) and tobacco (23%) use. Two weeks before their psilocybin use, personality traits were measured via the Big Five Inventory on a scale from 1 to 5. After self-rating 44 questions, participants scored, on average.
Read our blog about the research for an overview.
Shame, Guilt and Psychedelic Experience
Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, has been making waves in the scientific community and the world of personal development. While its therapeutic benefits are increasingly being recognized, one area of interest is how psilocybin affects uncomfortable emotions like shame and guilt during a psychedelic experience. The study uncovered dynamics of the emotional responses during the experience, emotional processing, post-experience well-being, and long-term effects.
Read our blog about the research for an overview.
Psilocybin and Metaphysical Beliefs
After non-clinical psilocybin consumption, we observed increases in mind perception across a variety of living and non-living targets (like plants and rocks). However, we found little to no change in metaphysical beliefs or Atheist-Believer status.
Read our blog about the research for an overview.
Naturalistic Psilocybin Usage and Race
This study of naturalistic psilocybin usage found significant differences in persisting psilocybin effects in the domains of spiritual wellbeing, cognitive flexibility, and expressive suppression for White participants vs. Participants of Color.
Read our blog about the research for an overview.
Naturalistic Psilocybin Use Associated with Improvements in Mental Health
Colorado-based psychedelic research nonprofit Unlimited Sciences recently published findings from an observational psilocybin (commonly known as ‘magic mushrooms’) study on the health effects of psilocybin use. The study, which represents the world’s largest longitudinal dataset on naturalistic psilocybin use to date, is published in Frontiers in Psychiatry and indicates broad therapeutic potential of a single dose of psilocybin to produce lasting improvements in mental health and wellbeing.
Read our press release about the research for an overview.