Looks like a case of treatment-nonspecific effects non specificin’

Absolutely! It seems like an active placebo that does that could help elucidate mechanisms of action with psychedelics (i.e., whether the subjective effects are necessary/sufficient for therapeutic benefits)

It might turn out that it’s not possible to blind psychedelic studies, but certainly there are stronger, good faith efforts (including ancillary strategies to active placebos) to be explored before we can conclude that.

Here, we outline the ideal characteristics of active placebos for psychedelic studies and review substances that may putatively fit these criteria for micro, low, and high dose studies.

Tripping into Treatment: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Psychedelics and chronic pain: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

In the second study, we analyzed a subsample from the 2023 Global Psychedelic Survey who reported having chronic pain. We found that perceptions of health benefits were generally positive in this sample, with many reducing use of non-psychedelic substances after psychedelic use.

Similarly, those who initiated psychedelic use as an adult were likely to use for health purposes, whereas those initiating use as adolescents were more likely to use for fun/curiosity.

In the first study, we found motivations for using psychedelics differed between individual's first and subsequent uses, with first use most often being for recreation or exploration, and later uses more for therapeutic or personal growth reasons (i.e., tripping into treatment).

The ole “burnt turkey” method

Very interesting. He was sitting front row at the Bay Area Psychedelics Symposium a couple years back.