From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent Manner

Abstract

(1) Background: There appears to be a growing disconnection between humans and their natural environments which has been linked to poor mental health and ecological destruction. Previous research suggests that individual levels of nature relatedness can be increased through the use of classical psychedelic compounds, although a causal link between psychedelic use and nature relatedness has not yet been established. (2) Methods: Using correlations and generalized linear mixed regression modelling, we investigated the association between psychedelic use and nature relatedness in a prospective online study. Individuals planning to use a psychedelic received questionnaires 1 week before (N = 654), plus one day, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 2 years after a psychedelic experience. (3) Results: The frequency of lifetime psychedelic use was positively correlated with nature relatedness at baseline. Nature relatedness was significantly increased 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 2 years after the psychedelic experience. This increase was positively correlated with concomitant increases in psychological well-being and was dependent on the extent of ego-dissolution and the perceived influence of natural surroundings during the acute psychedelic state. (4) Conclusions: The here presented evidence for a context- and state-dependent causal effect of psychedelic use on nature relatedness bears relevance for psychedelic treatment models in mental health and, in the face of the current ecological crisis, planetary health.

Keywords: acute effects; ego-dissolution; mental health; nature exposure; nature relatedness; psychedelics; set and setting; well-being.

Figure 1

Distribution of nature relatedness depending on frequency of lifetime psychedelic use. A positive correlation was found between nature relatedness at baseline (NR-6_BL) and lifetime psychedelic use. Red dots and lines represent mean ± SD.

Figure 2

Changes in nature relatedness post-psychedelic. Nature relatedness (NR-6) scores at baseline, i.e., one week before the psychedelic experience, and at two and four weeks after the experience. Error bars represent mean ± 95% CI. * p < 0.05.

Figure 3

Correlations between changes in well-being and nature relatedness. Increases in nature relatedness (NR-6) were positively associated with increases in well-being (WEMWBS) both two weeks (2W), (A) and four weeks (4W), (B) after a psychedelic experience.

Figure 4

Nature relatedness (NR-6) changes from before to after a psychedelic experience are predicted by acute state and setting. Increase in nature relatedness two weeks (2W) post-psychedelic vs. (A) perceived influence of natural surroundings during the experience and (B) extent of ego-dissolution during the experience.

Figure 5

Long-term changes in nature relatedness. Nature relatedness (NR-6) scores are displayed at baseline, i.e., one week before the psychedelic experience, at two weeks, four weeks, and two years after the experience. P values indicate significant differences between the endpoints and baseline derived from Tukey contrasts. Error bars represent mean ± 95% CI.