Early Psychedelic Use Linked to Lower Risk of Psychotic Symptoms
Post by Baldomero B. Ramirez Cantu
The takeaway
Adolescents who have tried psychedelics may show a reduced likelihood of developing psychotic symptoms, but familial factors like a history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia could influence the connection between psychedelics and manic symptoms.
What's the science?
Psychedelics represent a class of substances known for their relatively safe profiles and non-habit-forming nature, capable of inducing profoundly altered states of consciousness. Despite these characteristics, there's a notable gap in understanding the relationship between psychedelic use, particularly among teenagers, and psychiatric symptoms. This week, Simonsson et al. addressed this gap by publishing a study in JAMA Psychiatry, aiming to unravel the intricate interactions between adolescent naturalistic psychedelic use and the emergence of psychotic or manic symptoms.
How did they do it?
The study leveraged data from the Swedish Twin Registry, consisting of a longitudinal analysis of Swedish twins and their parental figures from age 9 onwards, with follow-up assessments at ages 15, 18, and 24. At age 15, a robust sample exceeding 16,000 twins provided detailed insights into their psychedelic usage patterns and reported manifestations of psychosis and manic symptoms. In tandem, polygenic scores were employed to probe potential genetic predispositions to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Statistical analyses, including sophisticated linear regression models, were then employed to scrutinize the relationship between psychedelic use and mental health outcomes. Notably, adjustments were made for confounding variables such as concurrent drug usage and genetic susceptibilities. Using these analyses, the study aimed to elucidate the nuanced associations between psychedelic usage and mental health outcomes.
What did they find?
A drug-adjusted statistical analysis revealed fewer psychotic and manic symptoms among psychedelic users. This shift in association persisted across various additional adjustments to statistical models. Furthermore, exploring familial confounding unveiled compelling insights. Monozygotic twins who reported psychedelic use exhibited a noteworthy divergence from their non-user cotwins. Specifically, they showcased a lower prevalence of psychotic symptoms, a finding consistent across both unadjusted and drug-adjusted analyses. This suggests a potential protective effect of psychedelic use against the development of psychotic symptoms within genetically identical pairs. This points to the necessity for further investigation to understand the underlying mechanisms at play.
Additionally, gene-environment interactions shed light on nuanced associations between psychedelic use and mental health dynamics. While no significant group differences emerged for genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in relation to psychotic symptoms, interactions were observed for manic symptoms. Significant associations surfaced between psychedelic use and genetic vulnerability to both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, underscoring the multifaceted nature of these relationships.
What's the impact?
This research has significant implications for public health policy and interventions concerning adolescent psychedelic use. By uncovering the intricate relationship between naturalistic psychedelic use and psychiatric symptoms, particularly in light of familial factors, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and mental health professionals. These findings can inform evidence-based strategies for harm reduction, substance use prevention, and targeted psychiatric interventions.