Pharmacology & Therapeutics
May 1, 2019
Matthew W Johnson, Peter S. Hendricks, Frederick S. Barrett et al.
520 citations
The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrative review and offer novel insights regarding human research with classic psychedelics (classic hallucinogens), which are serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonists such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, and psilocybin. Classic psychedelics have been administered as sacraments since ancient times. They were of prominent interest...
Psychopharmacology
October 1, 2018
Frederick S. Barrett, Theresa M. Carbonaro, Ethan Hurwitz et al.
109 citations
Classic psychedelics (serotonin 2A receptor agonists) and dissociative hallucinogens (NMDA receptor antagonists), though differing in pharmacology, may share neuropsychological effects. These drugs, however, have undergone limited direct comparison. This report presents data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled within-subjects study comparing the neuropsychological effects of multiple doses...
International Review of Psychiatry
July 4, 2018
Frederick S. Barrett, Katrin H. Preller, Mendel Kaelen
85 citations
From the beginning of therapeutic research with psychedelics, music listening has been consistently used as a method to guide or support therapeutic experiences during the acute effects of psychedelic drugs. Recent findings point to the potential of music to support meaning-making, emotionality, and mental imagery after the administration of psychedelics, and suggest that music plays an...
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
April 2, 2018
Muhammad Waqas, Frederick S. Barrett, Nicolas J. Schlienz et al.
37 citations
Introduction: Cannabis has been historically classified as a hallucinogen. However, subjective cannabis effects do not typically include hallucinogen-like effects. Empirical reports of hallucinogen-like effects produced by cannabis in controlled settings, particularly among healthy research volunteers, are rare and have mostly occurred after administration of purified Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol...
Curr Top Behav Neurosci
2018
Frederick S. Barrett, Roland R. Griffiths
268 citations
This chapter begins with a brief review of descriptions and definitions of mystical-type experiences and the historical connection between classic hallucinogens and mystical experiences. The chapter then explores the empirical literature on experiences with classic hallucinogens in which claims about mystical or religious experiences have been made. A psychometrically validated questionnaire is...
Personality and Individual Differences
October 15, 2017
Frederick S. Barrett, Matthew W Johnson, Roland R. Griffiths
98 citations
Classic hallucinogens (e.g. psilocybin and LSD) have substantial effects on perception, cognition, and emotion that can often be psychologically challenging, however we know very little regarding the source of significant individual variability that has been observed in the frequency and intensity of challenging experiences (i.e. "bad trips") with psychedelics. Previous clinical and...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
October 11, 2017
Roland R. Griffiths, Matthew W. Johnson, William A. Richards et al.
528 citations
Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences with participant-attributed increases in well-being. However, little research has examined enduring changes in traits. This study administered psilocybin to participants who undertook a program of meditation/spiritual practices. Healthy participants were randomized to three groups (25 each): (1) very low-dose (1 mg/70 kg on sessions 1 and 2)...
Cerebral Cortex
September 12, 2017
Frederick S. Barrett, Katrin H. Preller, Marcus Herdener et al.
52 citations
Abstract Classic psychedelic drugs (serotonin 2A, or 5HT2A, receptor agonists) have notable effects on music listening. In the current report, blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal was collected during music listening in 25 healthy adults after administration of placebo, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and LSD pretreated with the 5HT2A antagonist ketanserin, to investigate the role of...
Frontiers in Psychology
July 25, 2017
Hollis Robbins, David Smooke, Frederick S. Barrett et al.
62 citations
Psilocybin is a classic (serotonergic) hallucinogen ("psychedelic" drug) that may occasion mystical experiences (characterized by a profound feeling of oneness or unity) during acute effects. Such experiences may have therapeutic value. Research and clinical applications of psychedelics usually include music listening during acute drug effects, based on the expectation that music will provide...
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
June 25, 2017
Mendel Kaelen, Romy Lorenz, Frederick S. Barrett et al.
20 citations
preprint
Abstract Music is a highly dynamic stimulus, and consists of distinct acoustic features, such as pitch, rhythm and timbre. Neuroimaging studies highlight a hierarchy of brain networks involved in music perception. Psychedelic drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) temporary disintegrate the normal hierarchy of brain functioning, and produce profound subjective effects, including...
Hum Psychopharmacol
2017
Frederick S. Barrett, Roland R. Griffiths
12 citations
The factor structure of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ): Reply to Bouso et al., 2016.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
November 18, 2016
Frederick S. Barrett, Matthew P. Bradstreet, Jeannie‐marie Leoutsakos et al.
364 citations
Acute adverse psychological reactions to classic hallucinogens (“bad trips” or “challenging experiences”), while usually benign with proper screening, preparation, and support in controlled settings, remain a safety concern in uncontrolled settings (such as illicit use contexts). Anecdotal and case reports suggest potential adverse acute symptoms including affective (panic, depressed mood),...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
August 31, 2016
Theresa M. Carbonaro, Matthew P. Bradstreet, Frederick S. Barrett et al.
541 citations
Acute and enduring adverse effects of psilocybin have been reported anecdotally, but have not been well characterized. For this study, 1993 individuals (mean age 30 yrs; 78% male) completed an online survey about their single most psychologically difficult or challenging experience (worst “bad trip”) after consuming psilocybin mushrooms. Thirty-nine percent rated it among the top five most...
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol
April 12, 2016
Mendel Kaelen, Leor Roseman, Joshua Kahan et al.
143 citations
Psychedelic drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) were used extensively in psychiatry in the past and their therapeutic potential is beginning to be re-examined today. Psychedelic psychotherapy typically involves a patient lying with their eyes-closed during peak drug effects, while listening to music and being supervised by trained psychotherapists. In this context, music is...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
October 6, 2015
Frederick S. Barrett, Matthew W Johnson, Roland R. Griffiths
634 citations
The 30-item revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) was previously developed within an online survey of mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin-containing mushrooms. The rated experiences occurred on average eight years before completion of the questionnaire. The current paper validates the MEQ30 using data from experimental studies with controlled doses of psilocybin. Data...