This study explored the relationship between psychedelic use and the occurrence of psychotic or manic symptoms in adolescents. It involved 16,255 adolescent twins from the Swedish Twin Registry, who were assessed at ages 15, 18, and 24. The focus was on self-reported psychotic or manic symptoms and the lifetime use of psychedelics, alongside other drugs such as cannabis and stimulants.
The findings revealed that psychedelic use was associated with lower rates of psychotic symptoms after adjusting for other drug use. However, in adolescents with a higher genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder, psychedelic use was linked to more manic symptoms.
These results suggest that while psychedelic use may reduce psychotic symptoms, the relationship with manic symptoms might be influenced by genetic predisposition. The study highlights the need for caution in interpreting these findings due to its limitations.
Access the article here.