Psychedelics
July 1, 2026
Nicholas Vucak, Raimondo Bruno, Julio Quealy et al.
Background Integration — the ongoing process of revisiting, making sense of, and incorporating the content of a psychedelic experience into daily life — is a core component of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), but is variably operationalised and poorly reported in clinical research. Objective To map how integration is described, delivered, and reported in clinical studies of classic...
Drug and Alcohol Review
May 1, 2025
Joel Keygan, Breanna Willoughby, Raimondo Bruno et al.
1 citation
Despite high-dose 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) drug alerts being distributed, no research has been conducted as to changes in use in response. This study aimed to determine if: (i) high-dose MDMA drug alerts, and (ii) varied descriptions of dose, effects and actions to reduce harm were associated with intentions to reduce the initial MDMA dose in a hypothetical scenario. Australians...
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
May 3, 2023
Sascha Thal, Michelle Wieberneit, Jason M. Sharbanee et al.
6 citations
While the potential of serotonergic psychedelics and related substances as adjuncts in substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAPT) has been investigated for the treatment of several disorders, evidence for the appropriate therapeutic conduct in administration sessions is sparse. In this article, we discuss the current evidence for best therapeutic practice during administration sessions with...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
October 20, 2022
Sascha Thal, Michelle Wieberneit, Jason M. Sharbanee et al.
23 citations
BACKGROUND: Clinical trials are currently investigating the potential of substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAPT) as treatment for several psychiatric conditions. The potential therapeutic effects of SAPT may be influenced by contextual factors including preparation prior to and integration after the substance-assisted therapy sessions. AIMS: This systematized review outlines recommendations for...
The International journal on drug policy
November 1, 2021
Amy Peacock, Daisy Gibbs, Olivia Price et al.
12 citations
Colorimetric reagent kits can provide information about the compounds present in drug samples. This study aimed to identify patterns and correlates of colorimetric reagent kit use, as well as behavioural outcomes of testing, amongst people who use illegal stimulants in a context that lacks permanent government-sanctioned drug checking services. Australians residing in capital cities who...
The International journal on drug policy
February 1, 2017
Allison J Matthews, Rachel Sutherland, Amy Peacock et al.
23 citations
Over the past decade, monitoring systems have identified the rapid emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS). While the use of many NPS is minimal and transitory, little is known about which products have potential for capturing the attention of significant proportions of the drug consuming market. The aim of this study was to explore self-reported experiences of three commonly used NPS...
Drug Testing and Analysis
2014
Lucy Burns, Amanda Roxburgh, Allison J Matthews et al.
78 citations
New Psychoactive Substances are now a feature of Australia's recreational drug market. Little is known, however, about the prevalence of use, the characteristics of people who use them and the relationship between the NPS and ecstasy markets. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of NPS use amongst a group of regular ecstasy users in Australia. Participants were recruited if they...
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
July 1, 2012
Raimondo Bruno, Allison J Matthews, Matthew Dunn et al.
58 citations
The past decade has seen the development of an array of emerging psychoactive substances (EPS), however, there is minimal information on the extent of their use outside Europe. This study aimed to determine the extent of use of EPS from stimulant (such as mephedrone) and psychedelic classes (such as 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine [5-MeO-DMT]) among an Australian sample of regular ecstasy users...
Neuropsychobiology
2009
Clare Dickson, Raimondo Bruno, John Brown
A growing body of evidence suggests that regular 'ecstasy' (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) use causes lasting changes to central serotonergic functioning in humans, including in the occipital lobe. Serotonin may play a role in visual orientation processing, mediated in the occipital lobe, via lateral inhibition. The tilt aftereffect is an illusion apparent following adaptation to stimuli...
Neuropsychobiology
2009
Raimondo Bruno, Allison J Matthews, Libby Topp et al.
Although use of 'ecstasy' (drugs sold as containing 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is prevalent, it is typically infrequent, and treatment presentations involving ecstasy as a principal problem drug are relatively rare. Human case reports and animal literature suggest dependence potential, although there may be some unique aspects to this syndrome for ecstasy in comparison to other...