Psychedelic Art and Implications for Mental Health: A Qualitative Pilot Trial (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Psychedelic art emerged in the 1960s during the psychedelic era, then characterized by visuals induced by the ingestion of psychedelic drugs, is now an art form known for its vibrant colors, distorted forms, and intricate patterns. Building upon the existing research on arts viewing as effective means to improving physiological and psychological well-being, viewing psychedelic art is postulated to evoke positive emotions and provide a meditative experience, contributing to improved mental well-being. OBJECTIVE This study investigates how digitally rendered psychedelic art influences viewers’ perceived emotional, mental, and physical states compared to imagery of natural scenery, offering insights into potential applications in mental healthcare and well-being. METHODS 102 participants age 18-35 were randomly assigned to either the experimental group viewing 300 seconds of psychedelic art imagery (n=50) or the control group viewing 300 seconds of scenic imagery (n=52), upon which every participant completed a survey that gathered qualitative data on the perceived impact of viewing their given imagery on their physical, mental, and emotional states through open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify the patterns of experiences reported by the participants. RESULTS Qualitative analysis unveiled a greater intensity and diversity of emotional, mental, and physical impacts induced by psychedelic art compared to natural scenery, including sense of relaxation and peace, anxiety and stress alleviation, joy, thrill and sense of euphoria, sensations of awe and wonder, hypnotizing effect, holistic meditative effect, provocation of creative thoughts, induced hyperawareness of bodily states, and transitions from induced overstimulation or anxious thoughts to feelings of calmness. CONCLUSIONS The preliminary findings of this study suggest that psychedelic art is a rich and complex form of visual art that has the potential to facilitate healing and promote well-being and mental health. Psychedelic art presents promising avenues for integration into mental healthcare, therapeutic practices, digital health, healthcare environment, and medical research.