Psilocybin acutely dissociates cognitive and affective empathy, with empathic concern predicting persisting positive psychological effects

This secondary analysis of an RCT (n=60) in healthy volunteers, psilocybin temporarily changed different aspects of empathy in opposite directions. Participants became less accurate at identifying positive emotions in others, while showing greater emotional responses to positive emotions and greater empathic concern for others. These changes were no longer present one week later, although greater empathic concern during the experience was associated with more positive changes in mood, relationships, and attitudes toward life and self at follow-up.