Psychedelics and sexual trauma: effects on communication and emotional connection

Psychedelics are theorized to enhance emotional openness and interpersonal attunement, but their effects in sexual contexts – particularly among those with a history of sexual trauma – remain underexplored. This study investigated whether individuals who had used psychedelics to cope with or overcome sexual trauma (Psy-CST) reported different experiences of sexual communication and emotional connection compared to those who had not (No-Psy-CST). The Psy-CST label reflects participants’ self-classification based on a single survey item; the study did not assess whether psychedelics were intentionally used as a means of trauma recovery. Rather, it examined self-reported experiences within sexual contexts among these groups. Participants (N = 675; Mage = 32.8) were drawn from the 2022 Global Drug Survey and had engaged in sexual activity within four to six hours of a full psychedelic experience. Chi-square tests and regression analyses were used to compare outcomes between groups. Psy-CST participants were significantly less likely to report improved sexual communication (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.310, p < .01); no significant differences were observed for emotional connection (odds ratio [OR] = 1.160, p = .536). Within the Psy-CST group, women were significantly more likely than men to report improved communication (RRR = 1.83, p = .02) and emotional connection (OR = 1.85, p < .01). Findings suggest gender significantly moderates psychedelics’ effects on intimacy outcomes. Further research is needed to inform harm reduction and trauma-informed care frameworks for psychedelic use in sexual contexts.