New Insights into Psychedelic Use and Trauma Recovery Among Nova Festival Survivors

A recent study conducted by Reichman University and collaborating Israeli institutions has shed light on how the intersection of trauma and psychedelic substances influences mental health recovery. The research focused on survivors of the deadly terrorist attack at the Nova Festival in southern Israel, which occurred on October 7, 2023, resulting in nearly 400 fatalities and many injuries.

Three weeks post-attack, researchers administered in-person psychological assessments to 343 survivors aged 18 to 64. These evaluations examined the participants' mental health, their use of psychoactive substances during the festival, and how these substances might have impacted their psychological responses to the traumatic event.

While PTSD and anxiety are common outcomes of exposure to severe trauma such as terrorism and war, understanding the neurobiological processes behind these conditions remains limited. Most existing research relies on animal models, and there is a scarcity of evidence from human cases, especially in real-world settings involving substance use.

The study's major finding, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, revealed that survivors who used classic psychedelics—including psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, mescaline, and 2C-B—reported notably lower levels of anxiety and PTSD symptoms compared to those who used other substances or none at all. These results persisted even after accounting for variables like age, gender, and psychiatric history. For instance, the average anxiety score decreased from 1.90 to 1.38 among psychedelic users.

Dr. Zohar Rubinstein from Reichman's School of Psychology emphasized the significance of conducting research in naturalistic post-trauma environments. Clinical psychologist Einat Karp Barnir, who worked with survivors shortly after the event, observed that individuals under the influence of certain psychedelics appeared to exhibit milder symptoms. This observation led to the hypothesis that these substances might influence trauma processing.

The researchers clarify that their findings do not promote unsupervised or recreational use of psychedelics. Instead, they suggest that the neurobiological mechanisms activated by these substances could potentially inform future therapeutic approaches for trauma-related conditions. Dr. Rubinstein stated, "Our data indicate that supervised use within an integrated clinical setting may have benefits, but caution and further research are essential."

This pioneering study provides valuable insights into how certain psychoactive substances might mitigate trauma symptoms and opens new avenues for trauma therapy research. It also highlights the need for continued investigation into the safe and effective use of psychedelics in clinical contexts.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-trauma-psychedelics-anxiety-ptsd-nova.html