University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama
73 papers in the library · 2,856 citations · publishing 2014-2026
JAMA Network Open September 29, 2026 Otto Simonsson, Melissa Bradley, Joshua Curtis Black et al.
This cross-sectional study describes health outcomes attributed to recent use of psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ibogaine, and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in a nationally representative survey of US adults.
Psychedelic Medicine June 22, 2026 Otto Simonsson, Peter S. Hendricks, Walter Osika et al.
Background: Previous research indicates that psychedelics may produce outcomes that are dependent on the immediate context. Recent scholarship hypothesizes that such outcomes may also depend on the broader sociocultural context, but empirical data are lacking. Methods: Using a longitudinal observational research design with a large sample of US adults ( N = 21,990) followed during a 2-month...
Research Square May 19, 2026 Sunjuri Sun, Claudia Hanson, Peter S. Hendricks et al. preprint
As the cultural, scientific, and legal landscape surrounding psychedelics continues to shift toward greater access and acceptability, it is likely that increasing numbers of women of reproductive age may be exposed to these substances. Despite this, the evidence on antenatal exposure has not been systematically reviewed. To synthesize the human literature on child and maternal outcomes...
JAMA Network Open May 7, 2026 Peter S. Hendricks, Sara N Lappan, Richard C. Shelton et al. 4 citations
Importance: Cocaine use disorder is a serious public health problem and no medications have been proven effective for its treatment. Objective: To evaluate psilocybin in the treatment of cocaine use disorder. It was hypothesized that psilocybin, compared with placebo, would yield a higher percentage of cocaine abstinent days, a greater likelihood of complete abstinence from cocaine, and a...
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction March 17, 2026 Haley Maria Dourron, Melissa Bradley, Heith Copes et al.
Abstract Despite a long-standing interest in the potential similarities between psychedelic and psychotic experiences, no recent research has systematically explored the subjective overlap between these states in individuals who have experienced both. To provide rich accounts of potential overlaps and distinctions, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 individuals diagnosed with...
JAMA Network Open March 10, 2026 Mw Johnson, Gideon P. Naudé, Peter S. Hendricks et al. 6 citations
Importance: Annual tobacco-related death estimates are 480 000 in the US and 8 million worldwide, surpassing mortality for other abused substances. Most smoking cessation interventions result in modest long-term success. Objective: To compare prolonged smoking abstinence rates in smokers receiving psilocybin plus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with those receiving the nicotine patch plus...
Scientific Reports January 28, 2026 Nicholas A. Carlisle, Otto Simonsson, Sarah Maccarthy et al.
Psychedelic use has been linked to major life changes that may impact health outcomes, yet few studies have systematically examined the prevalence, types, and demographic characteristics that may be associated with such changes. This paper draws subsamples of respondents who endorsed lifetime psychedelic use from two samples of US adults - one nationally representative by age, race/ethnicity,...
Psychedelic Medicine December 19, 2025 Amanda Husein, Madalynn Traylor, M. Frances Vest et al.
Background: Psilocybin has been granted breakthrough therapy status in the United States, speeding its advancement from research to clinical care. Due to the controversial nature of psilocybin, psychiatrists may not be fully prepared to incorporate it into clinical practice. The current study aimed to evaluate the opinions toward psilocybin among practicing psychiatrists in Louisiana. Louisiana...
International Journal of Drug Policy December 13, 2025 Michelle Olofsson, Walter Osika, Simon B. Goldberg et al. 2 citations
BACKGROUND: Naturalistic psychedelic use can result in a range of difficulties that impair social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning. Yet, the prevalence, phenomenology, and etiology of these outcomes remain poorly understood. Recent qualitative research has shown that individuals with long-term difficulties after psychedelic use sometimes attribute their challenges to...
Frontiers in Psychiatry December 9, 2025 Haley Maria Dourron, Heith Copes, Daniel H. Grossman et al. 3 citations
Background: People with a history of psychotic disorders are excluded from contemporary trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Although survey studies have explored the impact of naturalistic psychedelic use on people with a history of psychotic disorders, a qualitative study has yet to examine the subjective effects of psychedelic use in this population during both the acute effects and...
BMJ Open August 1, 2025 Nicky J. Mehtani, B. Anderson, Irina Alexander et al.
INTRODUCTION: Methamphetamine use disorder (MeUD) is a debilitating condition with no FDA-approved pharmacotherapies that has been associated with poor neurological, psychiatric and cardiovascular outcomes, particularly among low-income populations. The use of methamphetamine also increases risks for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by reducing behavioural inhibitions while enhancing...
Journal of Affective Disorders July 9, 2025 Otto Simonsson, Peter S. Hendricks, Caroline M. Swords et al. 8 citations
While growing evidence suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy may have antidepressant effects in certain populations, little is known about the effects of psychedelic use on depressive symptoms in non-clinical, naturalistic settings. This observational cohort study included a large sample of US residents (18-50 years old) and longitudinally evaluated the relationships between naturalistic...
Psychopharmacology July 1, 2025 Otto Simonsson, Simon B. Goldberg, Richard Chambers et al. 33 citations
Research on psychedelics has recently shown promising results in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, but relatively little remains known about the psychiatric risks associated with naturalistic use of psychedelics. The objective of the current study was to investigate associations between naturalistic psychedelic use and psychiatric risks. Using a sample representative of the US...
Drug and Alcohol Dependence July 1, 2025 Dilara Bahceci, Krista J. Siefried, Maureen Steele et al.
Methamphetamine use disorder, associated with significant morbidity and mortality, has limited effective treatments. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy shows promise, but data on its safety and efficacy in this population are limited. This exploratory study describes the demographic, substance use, and mental health characteristics of people who used methamphetamine and psychedelics and the...
Psychedelic Medicine June 1, 2025 Haley Maria Dourron, Melissa Bradley, Otto Simonsson et al. 7 citations
Prior research examining the associations between psychedelic use and general psychotic symptoms has yielded mixed findings. However, no studies have investigated the relationships between psychedelic use and specific psychotic symptoms, and whether these relationships might differ among those with liability to psychosis, namely those with a history of psychotic or bipolar disorders. Using...
Nature Mental Health May 1, 2025 Daniel H. Grossman, Kevin R. Madden, Nicky J. Mehtani et al. 10 citations
Socioeconomic status (SES) substantially influences mental health outcomes and treatment access, yet its reporting in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials remains underexplored. Here we systematically reviewed 98 articles (49 primary trials and 49 secondary analyses) published between 2006 and 2024 examining classic psychedelics and MDMA for mental health conditions. Only 12% of primary trials...
Psychological Medicine March 31, 2025 Otto Simonsson, Simon B. Goldberg, Walter Osika et al. 16 citations
BACKGROUND: Findings from contemporary clinical trials suggest that psychedelics are generally safe and may be effective in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. However, less is known about the risks associated with psychedelic use outside of medically supervised contexts, particularly in populations that are typically excluded from participation in clinical trials. METHODS:...
Journal of Psychiatric Research March 17, 2025 Otto Simonsson, Sankalp Chaturvedi, Peter S. Hendricks et al. 2 citations
Previous research has investigated associations between psychedelic experiences and meditation practice, but knowledge gaps remain. Using a longitudinal research design with a sample of US residents between 18 and 50 years old (N = 13,012), we investigated associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables. The follow-up survey was completed by 7484 respondents, of whom...
Sociology Compass February 26, 2025 Heith Copes, Haley Copeland, Lynne M. Vieraitis et al.
ABSTRACT The concept of cultural appropriation has drawn increasing attention from academic disciplines and nonacademic circles. Yet, there is no consensus on what constitutes cultural appropriation nor whether it is harmful. The contested nature of the concept suggests that it is important to understand how people respond to such accusations. Indeed, understanding how people resist accusations...
Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice February 11, 2025 Jules Evans, Marc Aixalà, Brian T Anderson et al. 18 citations
Objective: This article outlines recommendations from 30 psychedelic researchers on how to create a better psychedelic safety net. Methods: A survey of 30 psychedelic researchers asked them to identify key critical research gaps around psychedelic harm and safety. Results: The critical research gaps identified by the authors included defining the main types of psychedelic harm, the predictors...
Psychedelic Medicine January 20, 2025 Marianna Graziosi, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Mary P Cosimano et al. 9 citations
Introduction: Serotonergic psychedelics, serotonin 2A receptor agonists such as psilocybin that can result in substantially altered states of consciousness, are used in recreational and research settings. The safety of psychedelic experiences in research settings is supported by controlled physical environments, presence of clinical and medical staff to address emergent issues, screening for...
Psychopharmacology 2025 Brian S. Barnett, M Frances Vest, Marcus S Delatte et al. 20 citations
There is increasing interest in establishing psychedelic research programs at academic medical centers. However, psychedelics are intensely psychoactive, carry considerable sociopolitical baggage, and most are Schedule I drugs, creating significant potential impediments to implementation. There is little formal guidance for investigators on navigating the complex on-the-ground obstacles...
The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association 2025 Melissa Bradley, Daniel H. Grossman, Otto Simonsson et al. 1 citation
Recent legislative initiatives in the United States have focused on the medical and legal status of psychedelics, prompting interest in understanding public perceptions of their risks. This study investigates rural-urban differences in the perception of LSD and cannabis risks using national survey data. Data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) between 2015 and 2021 were...
International Review of Psychiatry December 1, 2024 Sean P. Goldy, Peter S. Hendricks, Dacher Keltner et al. 8 citations
In this review, we discuss psychedelics' acute subjective and persisting therapeutic effects, outline the science of positive emotions, and highlight the value in considering distinct positive emotions in psychedelic science. Psychedelics produce a wide variety of acute subjective effects (i.e. the 'trip'), including positive emotions and affective states such as awe and joy. However, despite a...
November 22, 2024 Haley Maria Dourron, Melissa Bradley, Peter S. Hendricks 1 citation preprint
Myran et al. report that emergency room (ER) visits involving hallucinogens are associated with a 21.32 greater risk of being diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD).1 Although implications for the development of psychedelics as medicines are discussed, we highlight some important distinctions.