Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon’s predictors and its emotional valence
BackgroundThe psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT has shown clinical potential due to its short duration and ability to induce mystical experiences. However, a phenomenon known as “reactivations” (similar to “flashbacks”) is a poorly understood and frequently reported phenomenon which appears associated with 5-Me...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1049643/full |
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| author | Ana María Ortiz Bernal Charles L. Raison Rafael L. Lancelotta Alan K. Davis Alan K. Davis |
| author_facet | Ana María Ortiz Bernal Charles L. Raison Rafael L. Lancelotta Alan K. Davis Alan K. Davis |
| author_sort | Ana María Ortiz Bernal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT has shown clinical potential due to its short duration and ability to induce mystical experiences. However, a phenomenon known as “reactivations” (similar to “flashbacks”) is a poorly understood and frequently reported phenomenon which appears associated with 5-MeO-DMT use and warranted further investigation.AimsThis study examined whether differences in age, gender, education, lifetime use, use location, and preparation strategies predict reactivations (primary outcome). Additionally, we explored how reactivations were perceived by survey respondents and whether demographic data predicted emotional valence (secondary outcome) of reported reactivations.Materials and methodsThis study used secondary quantitative data from a survey assessing epidemiological and behavioral associations of 5-MeO-DMT use in non-clinical settings (N = 513). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regressions were utilized to explore aims.ResultsBeing female, older at the time of first 5-MeO-DMT dose, having higher educational attainment, and dosing in a structured group setting were associated with increased odds of reporting a reactivation event. Higher mystical experience scores, greater personal wellbeing and having had a non-dual awareness experience that was not substance-induced were associated with higher likelihood of reporting a neutral or positive emotional valence of a reactivation event.ConclusionThese findings suggest that reactivation phenomena, in this particular sample may most often represent a neutral or positive byproduct of the acute 5-MeO-DMT experience. More information is needed to best identify individuals most likely to experience a reactivation as a negative event to prevent such potential challenging outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:43:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c1c1313f1c31492184c7401091f7e8db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:43:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-c1c1313f1c31492184c7401091f7e8db2022-12-22T02:44:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-11-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.10496431049643Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon’s predictors and its emotional valenceAna María Ortiz Bernal0Charles L. Raison1Rafael L. Lancelotta2Alan K. Davis3Alan K. Davis4Department of Human Development and Family Studies, School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United StatesDepartment of Human Development and Family Studies, School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United StatesCenter for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United StatesCenter for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United StatesCenter for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United StatesBackgroundThe psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT has shown clinical potential due to its short duration and ability to induce mystical experiences. However, a phenomenon known as “reactivations” (similar to “flashbacks”) is a poorly understood and frequently reported phenomenon which appears associated with 5-MeO-DMT use and warranted further investigation.AimsThis study examined whether differences in age, gender, education, lifetime use, use location, and preparation strategies predict reactivations (primary outcome). Additionally, we explored how reactivations were perceived by survey respondents and whether demographic data predicted emotional valence (secondary outcome) of reported reactivations.Materials and methodsThis study used secondary quantitative data from a survey assessing epidemiological and behavioral associations of 5-MeO-DMT use in non-clinical settings (N = 513). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regressions were utilized to explore aims.ResultsBeing female, older at the time of first 5-MeO-DMT dose, having higher educational attainment, and dosing in a structured group setting were associated with increased odds of reporting a reactivation event. Higher mystical experience scores, greater personal wellbeing and having had a non-dual awareness experience that was not substance-induced were associated with higher likelihood of reporting a neutral or positive emotional valence of a reactivation event.ConclusionThese findings suggest that reactivation phenomena, in this particular sample may most often represent a neutral or positive byproduct of the acute 5-MeO-DMT experience. More information is needed to best identify individuals most likely to experience a reactivation as a negative event to prevent such potential challenging outcomes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1049643/full5-methoxy-NN-dimethyltryptamine5-MeO-DMTreactivationflashbackwellbeing |
| spellingShingle | Ana María Ortiz Bernal Charles L. Raison Rafael L. Lancelotta Alan K. Davis Alan K. Davis Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon’s predictors and its emotional valence Frontiers in Psychiatry 5-methoxy-N N-dimethyltryptamine 5-MeO-DMT reactivation flashback wellbeing |
| title | Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon’s predictors and its emotional valence |
| title_full | Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon’s predictors and its emotional valence |
| title_fullStr | Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon’s predictors and its emotional valence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon’s predictors and its emotional valence |
| title_short | Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon’s predictors and its emotional valence |
| title_sort | reactivations after 5 methoxy n n dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings an initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon s predictors and its emotional valence |
| topic | 5-methoxy-N N-dimethyltryptamine 5-MeO-DMT reactivation flashback wellbeing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1049643/full |
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