Unlimited Sciences' real-world psilocybin study

Our real-world psilocybin mushroom study enrolled over 8,000 participants from across the world. This study is now closed. Please check back for updates and findings on our data. 

 

Thank you to all of our participants!



Background

In 2018, Unlimited Sciences was founded as a psychedelic research nonprofit that combines the power of data and lived experiences to serve the community, educate the public, and inform common-sense practices and policies. Our founders recognized the need for research on how psilocybin is used in a naturalistic setting (outside of clinical research) and how the experience that psilocybin invokes can be offered safely at scale. Our team acknowledged that in order to advance the cause, we would need to do this research ourselves. 

 

After Unlimited Sciences conceptualized this study, we approached the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine to partner on a ground-breaking large-scale longitudinal psilocybin study. Since then, together with leading scientists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, we developed and conducted the largest IRB-approved study of longitudinal psilocybin use.

 

From conceptualization of the design through to dissemination of results, Unlimited Sciences has supported this research at every step.

 

What we’re studying and what we hope to learn

This research is being conducted by scientists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in collaboration with a 501(c)(3) U.S. non-profit fiscal sponsor, Unlimited Sciences. This study has been approved by the Johns Hopkins University Institutional Review Board (IRB), protocol # IRB00217137, Principal Investigator: Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D.

The goal of this survey is to learn more about the positive and/or negative outcomes of using psilocybin in naturalistic settings (meaning outside a research laboratory), and any potential factors that could affect those outcomes.  By collecting data from individuals who are already planning to use psilocybin, we aim to investigate variables such as demographics, lifestyle, mindset, and personality traits, as well as characteristics of the experience itself such as dosage, ingestion method, intention, and setting, that could influence psilocybin’s long-term effects.

 

The researchers conducting this study do not advocate or promote psilocybin or other drug use. The aim of this research is to sample people whose intent to take psilocybin is already established

This study is designed for individuals who are planning to take psilocybin in a single-dose session and is not designed for a recurring microdosing regimen. You are invited to participate if you are planning to use psilocybin outside a research laboratory in the next 6 months, regardless of the intended purpose.

This study will involve filling out a set of up to 5 surveys, and you can opt out or reschedule at anytime. Email reminders will be provided for each survey at the email address you provide on the following schedule. After completing this initial informed consent process and agreeing to enroll in the study, you will be asked to complete the first survey up to 2 weeks before a planned psilocybin experience. You will be asked to complete the next survey on the day you take psilocybin, sometime before actually taking any substance. The next survey will be completed between 1 and 3 days after psilocybin use. Finally, follow-up surveys will be completed between 2 and 4 weeks, and between 2 and 3 months after the psilocybin session.

Who we are

Unlimited Sciences is a psychedelic research nonprofit that combines the power of data and lived experiences to serve the community, educate the public, and inform common sense practices and policies.

Why we are working with Johns Hopkins University

The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine is believed to be the first research center of its kind in the U.S. and the largest of its kind in the world. Unlimited Sciences has forged an invaluable collaboration with the center at Johns Hopkins because of their groundbreaking scientific studies and expertise in the area of psilocybin research. As a result, this study is being conducted by scientists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, with Unlimited Sciences.

Why we need you

The importance of participation and how it could impact psychedelic science

We believe that this study is scientifically important. We invite you to participate because we need to collect responses from many different people and your input could materially evolve our collective scientific understanding of psilocybin’s effects on the human mind.

What you’ll receive in return

Aside from contributing to the future of psychedelic research, we have some great incentives.

Multiple coupon code rewards are available for participating in this study. The first coupon code will be sent automatically when you complete Survey 3. All additional coupon codes will be delivered upon completion of the study. These coupon codes will be redeemable directly at a range of sponsor companies for a variety of items including resources, gear, and event tickets, valued at up to $50.

What we’re collecting, privacy and security

Overview of what we’ll ask

Participation in this study involves filling out a sequence of online surveys (as outlined above) that will take between 10 and 30 minutes each. You will be required to complete each survey in one sitting.

Personal info you’ll provide

In the initial survey, you will be asked questions about your demographics (e.g., age, sex), as well as your lifestyle and wellbeing. Psychological questionnaires are also included to assess personality traits, and overall health. Immediately prior to and after the session you will be asked about your level of rest and recent nutrition, the specifics of the session setting and dosage, and the psychological and physiological aspects of your experience. Finally, we will be collecting similar data to the initial survey (e.g., lifestyle, wellbeing, health) in the weeks after your session to understand any changes that may take place over time.

Who it will be shared with

Your participation in this study is voluntary. Reviewing this information and completing this initial screening form will serve as your consent to be in the overall study. Even after you complete this screening form, you may stop participating at any time. If you stop early, only your responses up to that point will be used in analysis. At any time during the study you will be able to contact the study team to request that your data be removed from the study and end your participation by clicking a study opt-out link included in each of our communications.

What security measures we have in place

Your personally-identifying information will only be collected for the purposes of sending you each of the surveys in this study. Your personal information (e.g., email address) will be destroyed soon after the final follow-up has been completed, or within 6 months of the date of intended psilocybin use. During and after this period, your anonymous responses will be seen and analyzed by Johns Hopkins staff or representatives. The study data will be hosted on a secure website (www.Qualtrics.com). Qualtrics is a reputable and secure platform for conducting survey research online that is approved for use by Johns Hopkins. To further protect the confidentiality of participants, the results of this study will be presented in aggregate. We may quote from your textual responses. However, if you provide specific identifying information, we will edit your responses to protect your confidentiality.

We believe that this study is scientifically important. We invite you to participate because we need to collect responses from many different people and your input could materially evolve our collective scientific understanding of psilocybin’s effects on the human mind.

Please note that this study does not in any way provide access to, condone or encourage the use of psilocybin or psychedelic drugs, in general. Unlimited Sciences assumes no responsibility or liability, in whole or in part, for any psilocybin-related or general effects on survey respondents.

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