McAlpine, Rosalind G;
(2025)
Measuring and Enhancing Psychedelic Preparedness.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
Preview |
Text
McAlpine_10212132_thesis.pdf Download (10MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Although preparation is widely recognised as essential for safe and meaningful psychedelic experiences, it remains surprisingly under-researched. This thesis seeks to bridge this gap by developing and validating novel tools to measure and enhance psychedelic preparedness. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of preparedness, reviews theoretical perspectives and clinical approaches, summarises existing protocols, and presents feedback from an early pilot study of a brief digital intervention for psychedelic preparation. Chapter 2 details the development of the 20-item Psychedelic Preparedness Scale (PPS), constructed using a novel Delphi-Focus (‘DelFo’) methodology that integrates input from both experts and key stakeholders. The PPS was validated across two large online samples (N = 1232) and a psilocybin retreat sample (N = 46), revealing a robust four-factor structure and demonstrating strong reliability, construct validity, and predictive utility for change in well-being. Chapter 3 describes the development and co-design of the Digital Intervention for Psychedelic Preparation (DIPP), a 21-day self-led programme structured around the PPS framework and developed in accordance with UK Medical Research Council (MRC) guidelines for complex interventions. Informed by interviews (N = 19) and co-design workshops (N = 28), DIPP includes daily meditation practices, reflective exercises, and mood tracking. To refine the meditation component, Chapter 4 presents findings from a survey of experienced practitioners (N = 123), revealing a clear preference for compassion-based practices over concentration-focused techniques. Respondents recommended a three-week course of 30-minute daily sessions, delivered asynchronously and online - an approach consistent with the implementation design outlined in Chapter 3. Chapter 5 outlines the protocol for an upcoming randomised controlled trial (N = 40) assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of DIPP. Chapter 6 explores psychedelic preparedness in the context of 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), using self-report data, pre-session linguistic markers, and EEG recordings during dosing (N = 29). Chapter 7 provides a general discussion, outlining theoretical contributions and implications, methodological limitations, and directions for future research. Collectively, these studies establish a novel, empirically grounded framework for understanding and enhancing psychedelic preparedness, with practical relevance across clinical and non-clinical settings.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Measuring and Enhancing Psychedelic Preparedness |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2025. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10212132 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
