Speaker Bio
I am a young woman of Iranian and French heritage, born and brought up in Denmark. I am currently studying psychology at The University of Copenhagen, where I am working on my master thesis on the potential effects of psilocybin on nature relatedness. Next to my studies, I work at The Neurobiology Research Center, Rigshospitalet and Copenhagen University Clinic of Psychedelic Research with different projects involving the research of psilocybin. My true passion is uncovering ways in which we can cultivate a more ecological subjectivity or connectedness to nature in light of our current ecological crisis through the use of psilocybin and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. My abstract submission reflects a small part of this work.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
Effect of psilocybin on nature relatedness
Theoretical Background and Rationale: Nature relatedness is a trait-like construct associated with psychological well-being and environmental behavior and concern [1]. While studies have shown an increase in nature relatedness after intake of classic psychedelics such as psilocybin [2,3], studies in the field have mainly been naturalistic [4], and it remains unclear whether this effect can be found in a controlled clinical setting with healthy individuals.
Research Question and Hypothesis: We evaluated whether long-term changes in nature relatedness could be observed in healthy individuals following psilocybin administration within a controlled clinical setting.
H1: Nature relatedness will significantly increase after psilocybin administration.
Methods and Analysis: 39 healthy volunteers (F=14, M=25) received a medium-high dose of psilocybin (12-30 mg) in a neurobiological research study using neuroimaging methods. Nature relatedness was measured with the shortened 6-item version of the nature relatedness scale (NR-6) at baseline and 3-months follow-up after psilocybin [5]. A linear mixed-effects model evaluating the effect of time (pre- vs. post-psilocybin administration) with age and sex as covariates was utilized.
Main Finding: No significant difference was found between NR-6 at baseline and NR-6 at follow-up (estimated difference=0.063, 95% CI[-.091, .22], p=.41).
Conclusion: This study found no significant effect of psilocybin on nature relatedness. While this result does not rule out the potential effect of psilocybin on nature relatedness, it suggests that the effect is not independent of context. To further explore this, research is needed comparing short-term and long-term effects of psilocybin on nature relatedness in experimental, therapeutic, and natural settings.