Psychedelics are associated with changes in spiritual beliefs and orientations in US veterans

Abstract The acute effects of psychedelic medicines include shifts in perception and awareness that can often include mystical or spiritual elements. Research suggests that these experiences can also extend into more persisting changes in spirituality, yet this area is underexplored. This study examined the effects of psychedelic experiences on spiritual beliefs using a survey of N = 151 people who had received funding to attend a psychedelic-based treatment. Participants were primarily United States (US) veterans who retrospectively completed an online survey assessing the impact of their most memorable psychedelic experience on thoughts, emotions, and behavior. When comparing beliefs reported after one’s most memorable psychedelic experience with those reported before, the proportion of participants who endorsed an active belief in God or a higher power was significantly higher, and the proportion who denied a belief in God or a higher power was significantly lower. We did not observe significant changes in affiliation with spiritual or religious groups after the psychedelic experience, but qualitative analysis suggested that the nature of the participants’ relationship with spirituality exhibited some shifts. These findings suggest that psychedelic experiences can act as a catalyst for increased spiritual connection and reorientation, particularly among individuals who previously identified as doubting or nonbelieving.