Curley, Bridgette (2024) The Anatomy Of A Trip: A Mixed Methods Content Analysis On The Psilocybin Experiences Of People With PTSD. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
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Abstract
In recent years, psychedelic research has undergone a quiet renaissance, with a number of studies investigating the potential benefits of psychedelic- assisted treatment for various mental health conditions. Among the most helpful of these substances is psilocybin or ‘magic mushrooms’. Considering the promising results psylocibin therapy has produced for anxiety, depression, OCD and substance use disorder, it stands to reason that valuable information would be gained by studying how psylocibin interacts with the neurobiological differences in people with PTSD. In addition, traditional treatments for PTSD often achieve underwhelming results, calling innovative approaches to be considered. The current study aimed to identify and understand common themes experienced during psilocybin usage expressed online by individuals with PTSD/CPTSD. This study used a mixed methods content analysis research design, utilising 825 posts detailing the psilocybin experiences of people with PTSD from the online forum website ‘Reddit’. The data were analysed and coded in Nvivo. The results showed that the majority of participants reported general reductions in PTSD symptoms after psilocybin use. Specific symptom reductions included decreased depression, anxiety, nervous system arousal, and flashbacks among others. Additionally, the presence of challenging or unpleasant experiences during a trip were generally considered as ‘part of the healing process’ and considered to be ultimately productive by most posts. Effects varied with dose and experiences became more intense and unpredictable as dosage increased, resulting in distressing experience for some. Motivation for psilocybin skewed heavily toward treatment for PTSD. These findings indicate that psilocybin may yet play a role in the treatment of PTSD and highlights an urgent need for the exploration and investment in innovative approaches to PTSD treatment.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Ireland , Michael |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Jan 2026 04:57 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Jan 2026 04:57 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | PTSD, psilocybin, magic mushrooms, trip, confrontation, processing |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53085 |
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