Abstract
Research data worldwide suggest that the prevalence rate of mental health disorders is increasing continuously and treatment itself may not be sufficient to successfully improve global public health. To achieve that a focus on prevention strategies may significantly help.
At the same time, the growing evidence from psychedelic medicine is showing that psychedelics administered in the controlled setting, are effective in treating a range of mental health disorders as well as promoting positive mental health aspects in healthy volunteers. Psychedelics showed to increase well-being, flexibility, openness, creativity, and mindfulness as well as facilitating spiritual experience and increasing neuroplasticity.
These traits and phenomena are at the same time identified as important correlates of mental health and their strengthening frequently a focus for health interventions, either therapeutic or preventive. Key aspects mentioned are very interrelated and often overlapping.
We hypothesize that there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the mechanism of functioning of psychedelics could also be effectively used in mental health disorder prevention, by strenghtening the certain traits and enhancing the psychological processes which are associated with the mental health across the different diagnosis as well as in healthy people. As the most promising we consider the constructs of psychological flexibility and resilience.
These seem to be directly associated with the radical increase in neuroplasticity, often perceived as spiritual experiences, during the acute phases of psychedelic states. If confirmed, this would be of huge importance for mental health care.
If that is the case, psychedelics could offer even more socio-health-economical benefits than we have thought so far. Specific techniques for achieving the prophylactic effect will need to be explored by rigorous research.
Proposed hypothesis is based on the evidence from current research and supported by the novel preliminary data from the studies exploring the change of psychological flexibility factors and resilience after use of psychedelics (psilocybin and secretion from Bufo alvarius).