I’ll be at Harvard on March 25 talking psychedelics, culture, and the science–humanities divide with Nicolas Langlitz of the New School. Organized by Amadeus Harte of Princeton at Harvard's Mahindra Humanities Center:

Worth a read. Some (enthusiasts) will be disappointed psychedelics effects "only" around those of current antidepressants,while others (skeptics) will be amazed psychedelic effects are around current gold standard antidepressant treatments. Response relative to priors jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

I study aspects of the acute subjective effects that predict better/worse persisting effects. I really want to know the roles they do and don’t play in the causal chain Article: www.newyorker.com/culture/anna...

Excited and nervous for this event tomorrow. Come in person in Berlin, or join online! www.einsteinfoundation.de/en/insights/...

Context for my quote in @newyorker.com on researching compounds w/o a psychedelic experience that may not be obvious outside of science culture…I am glad for work by Olson et al on this subject & hope it leads to more understanding. Scientists should be skeptical of their own theories!

Despite delays, NIH grants generated a 250% return on $36.6B investment in 2025: report www.fiercebiotech.com/research/des...

Also fitting that the audiobook version of the book is now out: www.amazon.com/Varieties-Sp...

It's fitting that the book symposium (collection of reviews & responses) on my book is out this week in Brain, Religion, and Behavior, as I've been lecturing on and discussing it at a meeting in Italy. Grateful for the generous words & constructive critiques from the reviewers! 🧵

Now out in BMJ - State of the Art on Psychedelic Medicine. Led by Eddie Jacobs w/ Zarmeen Zahid, Sandeep Nayak, Jared Hinkle, and myself. Looks across compounds at therapeutic signal, potential mechanisms (physio & psych), risks, and highlights limitations and challenges- www.bmj.com/content/392/...

Do the people in the room for psychedelic sessions change the psychedelic experience? In this analysis across multiple studies, the answer depends on whether the study is on a clinical or healthy population. Analysis led by @seangoldy.bsky.social & Sandeep Nayak

The term "PSYCHEDELICS" can cover a broad set of substances, which people define differently. Risks vary by substance, so worth specifying which one(s) you mean whenever you use the term. New article led by Jared Hinkle (MD/PhD), w/ Will Choi (med student and researcher) & me:

A new review in Psychiatric Times examines adverse event data for psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and ibogaine, finding meaningful differences in risk and inconsistent reporting. Clear compound-level distinctions are crucial as access expands. www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/adverse...

A great new preprint on the importance of pilot studies for the validity of studies that are performed. Such an important tooic, that is discussed too little. I especially liked the section on the need for transparent reporting. osf.io/t968e_v1 By @yashvin.bsky.social and collaborators.

My paper on concerns about replicability, theorizing, relevance, generalizability, and methodology across 2 crises is now in press at the International Review of Social Psychology. After revisions it was 17500 words, so it is split in 2 parts: osf.io/dtvs7_v2 and osf.io/g6kja_v1

Psilocybin phase 3 trial results are out showing larger reductions in depression from a full dose (25mg) than lower doses (10mg and 1mg). It will be interesting to see data on functional unblinding, safety, & timepoints. Largest sample size so far in the field psychedelicalpha.com/news/breakin...

Happening TODAY. Leading psychedelic scholar Nicolas Langlitz MD PhD will speak about issues in the history of science of psychedelics and beyond-

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New blog post, inspired by the excellent recent qualitative paper by Makel and colleagues: On the reliability and reproducibility of qualitative research. I reflect on how I will incorporate realist ontologies in my own qualitative research. daniellakens.blogspot.com/2026/02/on-r...

The Psychedelic Archives Project Guest Speaker Series continues this Wednesday with Dr. Nicolas Langlitz. 🗓 February 11th, 2026 | ⏰ 4:30 PM EST 🎟 Attendance is free — registration link below 👇 jhubluejays.zoom.us/j/92622903856

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Ongoing debate about psychological support versus psychotherapy in psychedelic trials often stems from vague definitions. Clarifying these constructs is essential for rigorous study of safety and efficacy.

Join us Wednesday for the Psychedelic Archives Project Guest Speaker Series! 🎤 Dr. Larissa Carneiro 🗓 January 28, 2026 | ⏰ 4:30 PM EST 🎟 Free to attend — sign up at the link below! 👇 jhubluejays.zoom.us/j/92622903856

Citation: Schettino, J. R., Cheung, K., Nayak, S. M., Weiss, B. M., & Yaden, D. B. Psychological support can be distinguished from psychotherapy: Clarifications for future empirical work. General hospital psychiatry, 99, 30-40. OA Link: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

With clearer definitions, we can operationalize with empirical tests (which we are now working on). We can operationalize psychological support vs psychotherapy, measure when each actually occurs, and, eventually, use factorial designs to test their distinct benefits and risks.

Curious about psychedelics beyond the hype? Our new Coursera course, Psychedelic Science and Medicine, offers clear, evidence-based insight into how they work and who may benefit. Ideal for clinicians, students, researchers, and curious learners. Enroll below 👇

Have you had separate experiences with psychedelics and cannabis? Take our short survey to help expand research on their effects: tinyurl.com/psyches-cann...

The debate over psychological support vs psychotherapy in psychedelic treatment is confused—and that confusion matters for science, safety, and regulation. We were confused too. So we worked it through together and published what clarified it for us... 🧵 www.researchgate.net/publication/...

The specific substance and indication under discussion matter here! For example, psychotherapy is extensive in MDMA for PTSD but typically absent in ketamine for depression... Classic psychedelics will fall somewhere in-between:

The debate over psychological support vs psychotherapy in psychedelic treatment is confused—and that confusion matters for science, safety, and regulation. We were confused too. So we worked it through together and published what clarified it for us... 🧵 www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Psychedelics don’t require ethical exemptions. We argue against “ethical exceptionalism” while supporting context-sensitive policies that uphold shared research and clinical standards. Distinctive effects ≠ new ethics. OA Link: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Learn more about our course here: www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/article...

Next up in the Psychedelic Archives Project guest speaker series is Dr. Catherine Freddo, presenting on Jan 7, 2025 at 4:30pm EST. Join for free at the link below! 👇 jhubluejays.zoom.us/j/92622903856

New co-authored paper! 🚨 together with Katherine Cheung, Kyle Patch, and David Yaden: Distinctive But Not Exceptional: The Risks of Psychedelic Ethical Exceptionalism https://buff.ly/425UxOV

Gaps in US Psychedelic Policy and How to Close Them | Health Policy - By @caleighpropes.bsky.social, @katherinecheung.bsky.social, Matthew Eisenberg, David Yaden | @jama.com Health Forum jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

‪It has a name now 😜 Many thanks to Ken for agreeing to put his good name to my...artwork. The image is in the public domain (CC 0), but citations to the linked documents are warmly welcomed. ✅ zenodo.org/records/1808... ✅ pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24452418/

Semiotic paradox alert!

New Paper 🚨 "Are Psychedelics Ethically Exceptional After All? Some Further Reflections" by @Katherine_Chg, @ExistWell (David B. Yaden), and Kyle Patch in @bioethics_net

Nice thread describing our new study on why kids play

The Psychedelic Practitioner Issue 2: Preparation We explore the science and practice of psychedelic preparation through interviews, research reviews, and practitioner insights. Read now: psychedelicalpha.com/news/the-psy...

Love this work by @dillonplunkett.bsky.social and @jorge-morales.bsky.social! Representational momentum beyond motion 👇

Dr. David Yaden was interviewed by The Harvard Gazette on the need for large, rigorous NIH-funded psychedelic research.

New paper led by CPCR postdoc Praachi Tiwari! The psychedelic DOI alters locomotion depending on dose & species (thru 5-HT₂A receptors) aiding understanding anxiety-like behavior in animal models of psychedelics. (w/ @viditavaidya.bsky.social and her great lab) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Well this is exciting! The Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins University (@jhu.edu) invites applications for a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member in Cognitive Psychology, in any area and at any rank! Application + more info: apply.interfolio.com/178146

A short preprint describing our adoption of more consistent and precise use of terminology related to reproducibility, robustness, replicability, repeatability, and credibility. osf.io/preprints/me...

In a new Review for @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social -- and my first first-authored paper! -- @manvir.bsky.social and I argue that experience shapes the emergence and evolution of seemingly extraordinary beliefs. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Much less discussed, but much higher quality design showing NO effect of psychedelic experience on metaphysical beliefs (though intriguing mind perception finding to follow up on) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38715376/

Announcing a new Coursera on Psychedelic Science and Medicine! From @jhpsychedelics.bsky.social, it provides info on psychedelic science, history, risks, benefits, trials, neuro, & more. Taught by Drs. @fredbarrettphd.bsky.social, Garcia-Romeu, Nayak, Sayali, Tiwari, Yaden, & special guests-

Curious about psychedelics beyond the hype? Our new Coursera course, Psychedelic Science and Medicine, offers clear, evidence-based education on how they work & who they may help.Perfect for clinicians, students, researchers, or anyone wanting reliable info in a rapidly growing field. Enroll below👇

Here's the link: www.coursera.org/learn/psyche...