In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers have provided insight into the potential benefits of psychedelics like magic mushrooms and LSD in enhancing sexual function. Participants reported improvements in various aspects of their sexual well-being lasting several weeks post-experience, suggesting these drugs could offer more than just a mind-altering trip.
Psychedelics gained prominence in the mid-20th century for their potential in treating mood disorders and addiction. However, their association with the counterculture movements of the 1960s and subsequent regulatory crackdowns halted scientific research for decades. In recent years, the resurgence of interest in psychedelics has been bolstered by clinical trials suggesting their efficacy in mental health interventions, particularly for conditions like major depressive disorder (MDD).
Sexual dysfunction is a prevalent issue, especially among individuals with MDD, a leading cause of disability worldwide. Traditional antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), often exacerbate sexual dysfunction, leading to decreased treatment adherence and potential relapse of depressive episodes.
Given this backdrop, researchers at Imperial College London sought to fill a significant gap in the existing literature by quantitatively assessing the impact of psychedelics on sexual functioning and satisfaction.
To this end, the researchers recruited people who had either planned to consume psychedelics in a personal setting or were about to participate in an organized psychedelic ceremony. These settings spanned across a variety of classic psychedelics, including psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), ayahuasca, DMT, San Pedro cactus, and LSD.
The participants completed questionnaires one week before their psychedelic experience (baseline), then four weeks and six months post-experience. A total of 261 adults were included in the analysis, mostly from the United States.
Participants reported significant improvements in their sexual experiences, including sexual pleasure, satisfaction with their own appearance, satisfaction and communication with their partner. These improvements were sustained over the weeks and months following the psychedelic experience, suggesting lasting benefits.
Notably, the perception of sex as a spiritual or sacred experience saw one of the most substantial upticks, echoing the anecdotal narratives about psychedelics fostering a deeper, more meaningful connection to one’s sexuality.
However, the reliance on self-reported data, the potential for bias in participant selection, and the observational nature of the findings were considerable limitations. The study’s observational nature precludes the establishment of causality and those who choose to opt into the study likely had a pre-existing positive view of psychedelics.
To overcome some of these limitations, the researchers also analyzed data from 59 people taking part in double-blind randomized controlled trial. The trial compared the outcomes of psilocybin therapy against those of escitalopram, a commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
The psilocybin therapy consisted of two dosing sessions where participants received an active dose of psilocybin under the close supervision of experienced therapists, coupled with a course of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to enhance the therapeutic process. This was compared to the control group, which received escitalopram daily for six weeks and placebo doses on the supposed psilocybin dosing days.
By randomly assigning participants to either the psilocybin therapy group or the escitalopram group, and ensuring neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received which treatment until after the study concluded, the researchers minimized biases that could influence the outcomes.
Unlike the control group treated with escitalopram, which reported a general decrease in sexual satisfaction and increased instances of sexual dysfunction, the psilocybin group exhibited significant improvements. Participants in the psilocybin arm reported notable increases in sexual interest, arousal, activity, and overall satisfaction, with an absence of increased sexual anxiety, a common side effect associated with conventional antidepressants.
Tommaso Barba, first author of the study and PhD student based at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, said: “We believe this is the first scientific study to explore the effects of psychedelics on sexual functioning.”
“Our findings suggest potential implications for conditions that negatively affect sexual health, including clinical depression and anxiety. This is particularly significant given that sexual dysfunction, often induced by antidepressants, frequently results in people stopping these medications and subsequently relapsing.”
“On the surface, this type of research may seem ‘quirky’, but the psychological aspects of sexual function – including how we think about our own bodies, our attraction to our partners, and our ability to connect to people intimately – are all important to psychological wellbeing in sexually active adults.
“Sexuality is a fundamental human drive. For example, we know that sexual dysfunction is linked to lower well-being in healthy adults, can impact relationship satisfaction, and is even linked to subjective happiness and ‘meaning in life’.”
Bruna Giribaldi, senior author on the paper and formerly based at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial, added: “So far, all the research on depression has only focused on whether treatments cause sexual dysfunction.”
“We wanted to make sure we went deeper than that and explored more aspects of sexuality that could be impacted by these treatments. We were interested in finding out whether psychedelics could influence people’s experiences of sexuality in a positive way, as it appeared from existing anecdotal evidence.”
“Sexual side effects are often underreported in clinical trials, as people tend to not directly report them unless explicitly asked. Aware of this, we were determined to thoroughly investigate this area.”
The researchers emphasized that although the results showing psilocybin’s effectiveness in treating depression are promising, it’s crucial to remember that these outcomes were achieved in highly controlled clinical settings. The psilocybin used in trials was precisely dosed and created in labs, accompanied by thorough psychological support from mental health professionals throughout the treatment process.
They also noted that there have been reports of sexually abusive behavior during psychedelic ceremonies and therapy, highlighting the need for heightened caution when powerful mind-altering substances are involved. “Relatedly, the use of psychedelic or empathogenic compounds in romantic contexts might also create complex relationship dynamics such as promoting feelings of attachment to an ordinarily undesired or abusive partner, sexual activities done under drug influence that are later regretted, or wrongly perceiving another individual as romantically or sexually interested or engaged—an issue that extends to other psychoactive drugs such as alcohol.”
Looking forward, the study’s authors advocate for more inclusive research exploring the effects of psychedelics on sexual functioning across diverse populations. They also highlight the need for studies that incorporate partners’ perspectives. Investigating the impact of psychedelic use on sexual relationships from a dyadic perspective (considering both partners) could offer insights into how these substances affect intimacy, communication, and satisfaction within relationships.
David Erritzoe, the clinical director of the Centre for Psychedelic Research, concluded: “This study shines yet more light on the far-reaching effects of psychedelics on an array of psychological functioning.”
“While the findings are indeed interesting, we are still far from a clear clinical application, because psychedelics are yet to be integrated into the medical system. In future, we may be able to see a clinical application, but more research is needed.”
The study, “Psychedelics and sexual functioning: a mixed-methods study,” was authored by Tommaso Barba, Hannes Kettner, Caterina Radu, Joseph M. Peill, Leor Roseman, David J. Nutt, David Erritzoe, Robin Carhart-Harris, and Bruna Giribaldi.
