Otto Simonsson
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View article: Naturalistic psychedelic use and changes in depressive symptoms
Naturalistic psychedelic use and changes in depressive symptoms Open
While growing evidence suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy may have antidepressant effects in certain populations, little is known about the effects of psychedelic use on depressive symptoms in non-clinical, naturalistic settings. T…
View article: Addressing blinding in classic psychedelic studies with innovative active placebos
Addressing blinding in classic psychedelic studies with innovative active placebos Open
Classic psychedelics have shown promise in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders. However, weak blinding integrity has been argued to limit the interpretability of therapeutic effects observed in psychedelic clinical trials, …
View article: Associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables: A longitudinal study
Associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables: A longitudinal study Open
Previous research has investigated associations between psychedelic experiences and meditation practice, but knowledge gaps remain. Using a longitudinal research design with a sample of US residents between 18 and 50 years old (N = 13,012)…
View article: Psychedelics Align Brain Activity with Context
Psychedelics Align Brain Activity with Context Open
Psychedelics can profoundly alter consciousness by reorganising brain connectivity; however, their effects are contextsensitive. To understand how this reorganisation depends on the context, we collected and comprehensively analysed the la…
View article: Can psychedelic use benefit meditation practice? Examining individual, psychedelic, and meditation-related factors
Can psychedelic use benefit meditation practice? Examining individual, psychedelic, and meditation-related factors Open
Introduction Meditation practice and psychedelic use have attracted increasing attention in the public sphere and scientific research. Both methods induce non-ordinary states of consciousness that may have significant therapeutic benefits.…
View article: On Minimizing Risk and Harm in the Use of Psychedelics
On Minimizing Risk and Harm in the Use of Psychedelics Open
The authors outline important gaps in our knowledge around the safety and risk profile of psychedelic medicines and identify practical steps forward for researchers and clinical practitioners to make this promising field safer.
View article: Longitudinal associations of naturalistic psychedelic use with psychotic and manic symptoms
Longitudinal associations of naturalistic psychedelic use with psychotic and manic symptoms Open
Background Findings from contemporary clinical trials suggest that psychedelics are generally safe and may be effective in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. However, less is known about the risks associated with psychedelic u…
View article: Psychedelic and MDMA-Related Adverse Effects—A Call for Action
Psychedelic and MDMA-Related Adverse Effects—A Call for Action Open
This Viewpoint discusses the need to better understand potential risks associated with psychedelic and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use to ensure safe and ethical practice and identifies 4 key research goals.
View article: Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity
Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity Open
Scholars warn that partisan divisions in the mass public threaten the health of American democracy. We conducted a megastudy (n = 32,059 participants) testing 25 treatments designed by academics and practitioners to reduce Americans' parti…
View article: Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity
Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity Open
Scholars warn that partisan divisions in the mass public threaten the health of American democracy. We conducted a megastudy ( n = 32,059 participants) testing 25 treatments designed by academics and practitioners to reduce Americans’ part…
View article: Mobile phone interventions to improve health outcomes among patients with chronic diseases: an umbrella review and evidence synthesis from 34 meta-analyses
Mobile phone interventions to improve health outcomes among patients with chronic diseases: an umbrella review and evidence synthesis from 34 meta-analyses Open
This umbrella review of 34 meta-analyses, representing 235 randomised controlled trials done across 52 countries and 48 957 participants and ten chronic conditions, aimed to evaluate evidence on the efficacy of mobile phone interventions f…
View article: Can Psychedelic Use Benefit Meditation Practice? Examining Individual, Psychedelic, and Meditation-Related Factors
Can Psychedelic Use Benefit Meditation Practice? Examining Individual, Psychedelic, and Meditation-Related Factors Open
Introduction Meditation practice and psychedelic use have attracted increasing attention in the public sphere and scientific research. Both methods induce non-ordinary states of consciousness that may have significant therapeutic benefits.…
View article: Mindfulness meditation use in Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic
Mindfulness meditation use in Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic Open
Objectives The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence and associations of mindfulness meditation use and also its perceived mental health effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using repeated cross-sectional data fr…
View article: Is informal practice associated with outcomes in loving-kindness and compassion training? Evidence from pre-post and daily diary assessments
Is informal practice associated with outcomes in loving-kindness and compassion training? Evidence from pre-post and daily diary assessments Open
View article: Adolescent Psychedelic Use and Psychotic or Manic Symptoms
Adolescent Psychedelic Use and Psychotic or Manic Symptoms Open
Importance While psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown promise in the treatment of certain psychiatric disorders, little is known about the potential risk of psychotic or manic symptoms following naturalistic psychedelic use, especially a…
View article: Development of a digital intervention for psychedelic preparation (DIPP)
Development of a digital intervention for psychedelic preparation (DIPP) Open
Psychedelic substances induce profound alterations in consciousness. Careful preparation is therefore essential to limit adverse reactions, enhance therapeutic benefits, and maintain user safety. This paper describes the development of a s…
View article: Longitudinal associations between psychedelic use and psychotic symptoms in the United States and the United Kingdom
Longitudinal associations between psychedelic use and psychotic symptoms in the United States and the United Kingdom Open
View article: Development of a Digital Intervention for Psychedelic Preparation (DIPP): a theory- and person-centred approach
Development of a Digital Intervention for Psychedelic Preparation (DIPP): a theory- and person-centred approach Open
Psychedelic substances induce profound alterations in consciousness. Careful preparation is therefore essential to limit adverse reactions, enhance therapeutic benefits, and maintain user safety. This paper describes the development of a s…
View article: Psychedelic use and psychiatric risks
Psychedelic use and psychiatric risks Open
View article: Longitudinal associations between psychedelic use and meditation practices in the United States and the United Kingdom
Longitudinal associations between psychedelic use and meditation practices in the United States and the United Kingdom Open
Background Previous research has proposed that there may be potential synergies between psychedelic and meditation interventions, but there are still knowledge gaps that merit further investigation. Methods Using a longitudinal observation…
View article: Societal well-being is reflected in outcomes of antidepressant clinical trials.
Societal well-being is reflected in outcomes of antidepressant clinical trials. Open
Objective Placebo effect has been found to be a significant contributor to the outcomes of antidepressant treatment, leading to questions about its overall efficacy. Previous research has shown that global societal trends and events such a…
View article: Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Potential Synergies
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Potential Synergies Open
Objectives The mindfulness-informed intervention that has so far received the most attention as an adjunct to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), but little remains known about potential synergies…
View article: Assessing the risk of symptom worsening in psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis
Assessing the risk of symptom worsening in psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis Open
We conducted a meta-analysis using individual participant data from three, two-dose psilocybin trials for depression (N = 102) with the aim of assessing the risk of symptom worsening. Clinically significant symptom worsening occurred for a…
View article: Altered states of leadership: mindfulness meditation, psychedelic use, and leadership development
Altered states of leadership: mindfulness meditation, psychedelic use, and leadership development Open
Background Previous research suggests that mindfulness meditation and psychedelic substances show promise as mental health interventions, but relatively little remains known about their potential impact on leadership outcomes. Aims This st…
View article: Mindfulness in Politics: A Qualitative Study on Mindfulness Training in the UK Parliament
Mindfulness in Politics: A Qualitative Study on Mindfulness Training in the UK Parliament Open
Objectives While mindfulness in the workplace has received substantial scientific attention in the past decades, it is not yet well-understood if, under what circumstances, and in what ways mindfulness training may be helpful for individua…
View article: Classic Psychedelic Use and Current Meditation Practice
Classic Psychedelic Use and Current Meditation Practice Open
View article: Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity
Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity Open
Scholars warn that partisan divisions in the mass public threaten the health of American democracy. We conducted a megastudy (n = 32,059 participants) testing 25 treatments designed by academics and practitioners to reduce Americans’ parti…
View article: How Often Should I Meditate? A Randomized Trial Examining the Role of Meditation Frequency When Total Amount of Meditation is Held Constant
How Often Should I Meditate? A Randomized Trial Examining the Role of Meditation Frequency When Total Amount of Meditation is Held Constant Open
Meditation apps are the most commonly used mental health apps. However, the optimal dosing of app-delivered meditation practice has not been established. We examined whether the distribution of meditation practices across a day impacted ou…
View article: Is Informal Practice Associated with Outcomes in Loving-Kindness and Compassion Training? Evidence from Pre-Post and Daily Diary Assessments
Is Informal Practice Associated with Outcomes in Loving-Kindness and Compassion Training? Evidence from Pre-Post and Daily Diary Assessments Open
We investigated whether informal meditation practice (i.e., engagement of meditative techniques outside a period of formal meditation) was associated with outcomes in smartphone-based loving-kindness and compassion training. Clinically dis…
View article: Insights into the accuracy of social scientists’ forecasts of societal change
Insights into the accuracy of social scientists’ forecasts of societal change Open