2025 Theses Doctoral

Modeling the Diverse Trajectories of Psychedelic-Occasioned Mystical Experiences

Lipson, Joshua

Over the course of three studies, this dissertation quantitatively examines the relationship between mystical experience and mental health, first in general, and then in the context of naturalistic psychedelic use.

The first study of the dissertation proposes a model for understanding the within-population variability of this relationship, and identifies a “relational triad” of three factors which help to explain it: belongingness/social connectedness, mindfulness, and spirituality.

The dissertation’s second and third studies draw upon longitudinal data collected from individuals planning to take a psychedelic substance in a naturalistic context, and apply the “relational triad” model to help predict the quality of individuals’ psychedelic experience (Study 2), as well as individuals’ mental health trajectories in the aftermath of a psychedelic experience (Study 3). Baseline mood, as well as the three “relational triad” factors identified in Study 1, were found to be implicated in individuals’ psychedelic experiences and their post-experience mental health trajectories.

Finally, clinically-oriented recommendations are offered based on this set of empirically-derived findings, and a screening/predictive measure is proposed.