The use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes is associated with symptoms of shame and complex trauma in adults with a history of child abuse

https://doi.org/10.1177/24705470211029881

Commentary

The purpose of this study was to assess whether the use of psychedelics moderates the relationship between child maltreatment and self-concept, social cognition, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

In an online survey, 166 participants were analyzed by measuring exposure and severity of maltreatment, history of intentional therapeutic psychedelic use, post-traumatic stress symptoms, internal shame, and facial emotion recognition.

Results showed that child maltreatment was significantly correlated with post-traumatic stress symptoms and internalized shame.

Of all abuse subtypes, emotional abuse and neglect correlated most strongly with complex trauma symptoms, internalized shame, and participants with a history of intentional therapeutic psychedelic use had significantly lower complex trauma symptoms and internalized shame.

The difference between complex trauma symptoms and internalized shame was greatest for participants with a history of five or more episodes of intentional therapeutic psychedelic use, significantly moderating the relationship between emotional abuse and neglect and complex trauma symptoms.

No association was identified between abuse or psychedelics use and facial emotion recognition.