In psychedelic therapy, the importance of set and setting is a fundamental but under-researched assumption. The aim of this study is to correlate variables of set (psychedelic use motivation) and setting (psychedelic use location and type of companion) with psychopathology, wellbeing and personality variables. A sample of 1022 participants of the Spanish-speaking population was collected through an online survey. A novel instrument, the Psychedelic Use Scale (PUS), was developed to measure substance use variables of LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, DMT, 5-Meo-DMT, ketamine, Salvia divinorum, ibogaine and MDMA. Various personality, well-being and psychopathology instruments were implemented to measure outcome variables. Growth motivations, natural settings and presence of significant others predicted less psychopathology, greater wellbeing and meaningfulness of psychedelic experiences, whereas problematic motivations predicted greater psychopathology, lower wellbeing and did not predict meaningfulness of psychedelic experiences. Based on these results, we suggest experimental hypotheses for future clinical trials and longitudinal studies with potential clinical implications.

Psychedelics are experiencing a strong renaissance and will soon be incorporated into clinical practice. However, there is uncertainty about how much harm they can cause at what doses. This review aimed to collect information on the health-hazardous doses of psychedelic substances, to be aware of the risks to which patients may be subjected. We focused on ergolamines, simple tryptamines, and phenylethylamines. We reviewed articles published in major medical and scientific databases. Studies reporting toxic or lethal doses in humans and animals were included. We followed PRISMA criteria for revisions. We identified 3032 manuscripts for inclusion. Of these, 33 were ultimately useful and gave relevant information about effects associated with high psychedelics doses. Despite having different molecular structures and different mechanisms of action, psychedelics are effective at very low doses, are not addictive, and are harmful at extremely high doses. For LSD and psilocybin, no dose has been established above which the lives of users are endangered. In contrast, MDMA appears to be the most dangerous substance, although reports are biased by recreational missuses. It seems that it is not only the dose that makes the poison. In the case of psychedelics, the set and setting make the poison.

Background: This longitudinal study addressed whether mindfulness practice prevents psychological and behavioral symptoms, especially mood disorders, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective: To assess the incidence of depression in the course of AD and to determine which non-pharmacological treatment (NPT) is most effective in preventing psychopathological symptoms. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, non-inferiority and equivalence randomized clinical trial, repeated-measures design, with a control group and three experimental treatments: mindfulness, cognitive stimulation, and relaxation. Each experimental group performed three weekly sessions for two years. The pharmacological treatment of all participants was donepezil (10 mg). Participants were patients with probable AD without diagnosed depression from the public neurology services of the Canary Health Service, Spain. Psychological evaluation was performed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-Q). The statistical analysis included only patients who attended at least 75% of the sessions. A nonparametric, repeated-measures analysis was performed with Kruskal-Wallis H test and between-group differences with Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.008). Effect size was calculated with partial eta-squared. Results: The results showed significant differences with large effect sizes (η2p>0.14) between mindfulness and the rest of the experimental groups as well as the control in the GDS, HDRS, and NPI-Q scales. Conclusion: Compared to the other experimental groups, only mindfulness prevented the onset of depression and other psychopathologies in early-stage AD. Based on its effectiveness in maintaining cognitive functions and preventing psychopathology, we recommend mindfulness as the first-choice NPT for mild to moderate AD.

This study investigated the effects of low-dose 1cp-LSD, a prodrug of LSD, on canine anxiety, while exploring the influence of owner psychopathology on treatment outcomes. Seven dogs exhibiting anxiety-related behaviors were recruited and received 2.5, 5, or 10 µg of 1cp-LSD orally every three days for 30 days. One additional dog, which did not meet clinical criteria for anxiety but whose owner perceived it as anxious, received a placebo (saccharin) as an observational case. Anxiety levels were assessed using validated scales at baseline, post-treatment, and one month after treatment cessation. Owners’ neuroticism and psychopathological dimensions were evaluated using the IPIP and SA-45 scales. Linear regression analyses examined associations between anxiety reduction, administered dose, and owner psychological traits. A significant reduction in separation anxiety scores was observed post-treatment (mean: 11.3 ± 3.0, p = 0.023). Higher 1cp-LSD doses correlated with greater anxiety reduction (B = −1.15, 95% CI = [−2.29, −0.003], p = 0.050). Additionally, higher owner psychoticism scores were associated with smaller improvements in canine anxiety (p = 0.035). Anxiety levels remained low one month after treatment, with significant associations between canine anxiety and the owners’ hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, and paranoid ideation. These findings support the potential role of low-dose serotonergic psychedelics in managing canine anxiety and suggest an association between caregiver psychological traits and treatment outcomes. The sustained reduction in anxiety behaviors also suggests a meaningful and lasting improvement in animal welfare. However, significant results should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size. Further blinded, controlled studies are needed to validate these preliminary observations and assess broader applications in veterinary behavioral medicine.

Background: Veterinary students experience high levels of mental health issues. Objectives: To analyze substance use, internet consumption, and mental health factors among students and academic staff of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, identifying factors associated with well-being and dissatisfaction. Methods: A total of 226 respondents participated, including 177 students (78.3%) and 49 staff members (21.7%). Data were collected between 30 October 2024 and 14 January 2025 using an adapted EDADES-based survey assessing substance use (alcohol, tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDSs), anxiolytics, and illicit drugs), internet habits, and psychological well-being among participants. Binary logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with dissatisfaction. Results: Students exhibited higher binge drinking rates, greater ENDS consumption, and more problematic internet use than staff. Significant gender differences were observed, with females reporting greater emotional distress and a higher need for psychological support. Water pipe use (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.45–5.38), anxiolytic consumption (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.08–4.92), and excessive internet use (OR = 4.83, 95% CI = 1.66–14.1) were associated with lower overall satisfaction. Age was inversely associated with dissatisfaction (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.94–0.98), and females were significantly more likely to report dissatisfaction (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.45–5.38). Conclusions: Veterinary students exhibited higher psychological distress than teaching staff. Implementing targeted interventions to address substance use and internet habits is needed in order to enhance psychological well-being.

This paper highlights the ethical and epistemic challenges posed by psychedelic therapy and vindicates the importance of epistemology in the clinical and psychotherapeutic setting. Despite their relative physiological and psychological safety, these substances can induce changes in the beliefs of those who use them, such as paranormal beliefs. To explain the changes in beliefs, we introduced the concept of epistemic criteria (i.e., the principles individuals use to validate and justify their beliefs) and hypothesized that psychedelics may alter beliefs by modifying epistemic criteria. Further research should be conducted to determine this potential and under-researched risk of psychedelic therapy.