How Psychedelic Experiences Affect Couples: New Study Looks Into It

Imperial College London's Center for Psychedelic Research is recruiting couples who plan to consume MDMA or other psychedelics in real-world settings for a study examining the effects on relationship intimacy, attachment and satisfaction. As DoubleBlind reported, the study will explore both the short- and long-term psychological impacts of shared psychedelic experiences between romantic partners.

Study Focus: Intimacy, Attachment, and Relationship Satisfaction

The research, led by PhD candidate Tommaso Barba will build on previous studies that suggest MDMA may enhance communication and improve relationship dynamics. Participants will complete a series of questionnaires before and after their psychedelic experiences, but no substances will be provided as part of the study.

Couples will have the chance to contribute valuable insights to growing scientific interest in how psychedelics can affect romantic relationships, including their potential to improve communication and resolve conflicts.

Why This Research Matters: Enhancing Communication And Addressing Conflict

"Another promising research direction involves addressing specific relationship issues, including communication breakdowns, unresolved conflicts and intimacy barriers,” Barba told DoubleBlind. “By leveraging the empathogenic effects of substances like psilocybin and MDMA, researchers aim to develop tailored interventions that safely and effectively address these issues within a supportive therapeutic environment."

Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told TIME that "If there's a long-held resentment or disagreement in a couple and people are too hurt or too wounded or too guarded to talk about that, but then you're able to use the drug to temporarily get guards down … that can really help clear out a lot of emotional baggage."

Beyond the positive outlook, therapists have cautioned that psychedelic-assisted therapy is not a quick fix and requires active participation from both partners in what can be a difficult process. Notably, MDMA is thought to evoke temporary feelings of love, which might bond dysfunctional couples but could also lead to unresolved issues resurfacing later on, or even accelerating break-ups.

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