Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Psychedelics show promise in treating mental disorders, but it is also known that a small proportion of users develop lasting psychological problems following their use. This talk presents data from an international online survey, showing that for some of these individuals, the symptoms can reach the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as measured by the DSM-5. Symptoms often persist for several years and are strongly correlated with the intensity of challenging acute experiences. The findings suggest that, while potentially rare, psychedelic use can lead to severe psychological complications that may benefit from trauma-specific therapeutic interventions.
Bio:
Ricarda Evens is a psychologist, psychotherapist, as well as a post-doctoral researcher at Humboldt-Universität in Berlin, Germany. Her scientific focus is on exploring the potential benefits and risks of psychedelic-assisted therapy approaches in the treatment of mental disorders. She is involved in clinical trials investigating psychedelic substances and offers a specialized consultation service for individuals experiencing mental health problems following the use of psychedelics.
Psychedelics show promise in treating mental disorders, but it is also known that a small proportion of users develop lasting psychological problems following their use. This talk presents data from an international online survey, showing that for some of these individuals, the symptoms can reach the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as measured by the DSM-5. Symptoms often persist for several years and are strongly correlated with the intensity of challenging acute experiences. The findings suggest that, while potentially rare, psychedelic use can lead to severe psychological complications that may benefit from trauma-specific therapeutic interventions.
Bio:
Ricarda Evens is a psychologist, psychotherapist, as well as a post-doctoral researcher at Humboldt-Universität in Berlin, Germany. Her scientific focus is on exploring the potential benefits and risks of psychedelic-assisted therapy approaches in the treatment of mental disorders. She is involved in clinical trials investigating psychedelic substances and offers a specialized consultation service for individuals experiencing mental health problems following the use of psychedelics.
