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Peer-reviewed article

Traumatic Psychedelic Experiences.

Calder AEiD, Diehl VJ, Hasler G

Current topics in behavioral neurosciencesJan 1, 2026Switzerland8 citationsDOI: 10.1007/7854_2025_579

Abstract

Psychedelic experiences involving extreme feelings of horror, helplessness, and perceived threats can be traumatizing. Traumatic psychedelic experiences are a rare, extreme, and largely preventable form of challenging experience which can arise due to frightening psychedelic drug effects, unsafe settings, and emergence of pre-existing trauma. Some people recover quickly, but others develop prolonged anxiety, sleep disturbances, derealization, or other potentially trauma-related symptoms. This chapter discusses the causes, phenomenology, and potential outcomes of traumatic psychedelic experiences, as well as how to prevent them and minimize their negative impact.

Topics & conditions

Detected automatically by Psychedelic Commons from the title and abstract, not labels from the source. They may be incomplete.

PsychedelicsPTSDAnxiety

Keywords

Adverse effectsPost-traumatic Stress DisorderPost-traumatic GrowthAcute Stress DisorderTrauma-related SymptomsTraumatic Psychedelic ExperiencesPost-trip Difficulties

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