Dear study participant,
Thank you for considering participation in our online survey! In the following, we would like to provide you with some information about the study and the data that will be collected.
Please note that the questionnaire is best completed on a larger screen with a keyboard (computer, laptop). If you are using a smartphone, please rotate the view to landscape mode.
What is the study about?
Psychedelics such as LSD, Psilocybin/Magic Mushrooms, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, Ayahuasca, Mescaline, or similar substances can have various effects on consciousness. Numerous clinical studies have observed positive effects of these substances on mental health conditions such as depressive and anxiety disorders. Such promising results have sparked increased interest in using psychedelics clinically. Despite the positive effects observed in clinical studies, there are also reports of challenging experiences with the use of psychedelics. This survey focuses particularly on any challenging or traumatic experiences with psychedelics, the aftermath of which continued to burden you even after the acute effects of the substance had subsided. We want to learn more about your experience with psychedelics, how you felt in the weeks and months after, and what was or was not helpful in managing any lingering challenges. Please note that the study does not focus on experiences related to self-treatment of pre-existing trauma with psychedelics.
How long does participation take, and what do I gain from it?
The survey will take about ~35 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, and you can cancel filling out the questionnaire at any time by closing your browser window. There is no direct benefit to you from participating. Your participation, through sharing your experiences, provides a significant contribution to research on psychedelic substances' effects.
Is participation anonymous?
Your participation in this survey is completely anonymous and we do not store any IP addresses. At the beginning of the questionnaire, we will ask for some personal data, such as age and gender. However, with this information, it is not possible to trace who filled out the questionnaire. This study is approved by the Ethics Committee of the Institute of Psychology at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany) (2024-07R1).
Who can participate in the study?
You can participate in the study, if you meet the following criteria:
- You are at least 18 years old
- You have taken a psychedelic substance at least once in your life (e.g., classic psychedelics like psilocybin/Magic Mushrooms, LSD, Ayahuasca, Mescaline, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, or atypical psychedelics like MDMA/Ecstasy, Ketamine, or Cannabis)
- You have experienced at least one particularly challenging or traumatic experience with psychedelic substances, the aftermath of which continued to burden you even after the acute effects of the substance hab subsided. This could include:
- A very difficult acute experience (e.g., "bad trip")
- The occurrence of a challenging or traumatic memory during the substance's effects
- The occurrence of a threatening event during the substance's effects (e.g., assault, abuse, rape, accident)
- You are able to read and write in English or German
Are there risks associated with study participation?
Filling out the questionnaire involves recalling the challenging psychedelic experiences, which might temporarily intensify unpleasant emotions.
Who can I contact if I need help with persistent problems after psychedelic substance use?
Unfortunately, within the study, we cannot offer treatment for persistent problems after psychedelic substance use. However, on our study homepage (www.psychedelicsandtrauma.net) you can find information and links to support services that you can reach out to.
Information on Data Usage and Data Protection
Responsible Entity
Dr. Ricarda Evens
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany)
Faculty of Life Sciences
Institute of Psychology
Chair of Psychotherapy
Unter den Linden 6
10099 Berlin
Phone: +49(0)30 2093 4936
Email: ricarda.evens@hu-berlin.de
Legal Basis
We operate based on the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association's statement on ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects) and the Guideline for Good Clinical Practice. We adhere to the recommendations of the German Research Foundation (DFG) for ensuring good scientific practice.
Storage and Access
The data is stored in a completely anonymized manner, without any reference to your personal identity. Only study personnel have direct access to this data.
Publication
The publication of research results in publications or at conferences occurs exclusively in anonymized form, ensuring that you, as an individual, cannot be identified. Extracts of your free-text responses may be used as direct quotes in publications; however, these quotes will be selected to prevent any identification of your person.
Storage Duration and Secondary Use
The data exists solely in anonymized form, with no specified deletion date. Following the recommendations of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Psychological Society (DGPs) for quality assurance in research, research data should, if possible, be shared with other researchers. This does not apply to the information provided in free-text fields. Please note that anonymized data, by nature, cannot be deleted since there is no link between the data and an individual.
Whom can I contact for further questions?
For any questions regarding the study, feel free to contact the principal investigator, Dr. Ricarda Evens, at any time (Email: ricarda.evens@hu-berlin.de).
