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Albert Garcia‐romeu

Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine

65 papers in the library · 4,542 citations · publishing 2013-2026

Papers

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Development of Japanese Versions of the 4‐Item Mystical Experience Questionnaire and 7‐Item Challenging Experience Questionnaire

Neuropsychopharmacology Reports August 27, 2026 Futaba Umemura, Hiroko Kotajima‐Murakami, Justin C. Strickland et al.

INTRODUCTION: Interest in therapeutic applications of psychedelics has recently resurged. Mystical-type and challenging experiences that are elicited by psychedelics are commonly assessed using the 30-item Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) and the 26-item Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), respectively. The brief 4-item MEQ (MEQ-4) and 7-item CEQ (CEQ-7) may reduce respondent...

Setting, context and the regulatory atmospheres of psychedelic medicine.

The International journal on drug policy July 1, 2026 Alex K. Gearin, I Glenn Cohen, Albert Garcia‐romeu 1 citation

The revival of psychedelic medicalization is often narrated as a story of scientific legitimacy and neurotherapeutic promise, yet the unusual sensitivity of psychedelics to environmental conditions has encouraged research on music, therapy, setting, and other contextual factors. Treating setting and context as the building blocks of felt atmospheres, this article examines how regulation...

1020 Long-term Impact of Psilocybin Administration on Sleep-Continuity via Wearable Sensor Time-series: Preliminary-results in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease

SLEEPJ May 1, 2026 Matthew J. Reid, Abigail Yaffe, Ian Geithner et al.

Post-treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD) is a post-infectious syndrome characterized by fatigue, hypersomnia, sleep-disturbance, musculoskeletal pain and/or cognitive difficulties. As part of an open-label pilot study of psilocybin-assisted treatment for PTLD, we explored potential for psilocybin-assisted treatment to remedy sleep-related disturbances in this population. 12 participants consented to...

Acute Cardiovascular Effects of Psilocybin: A Pooled Analysis of 14 Studies with Safety Recommendations

medRxiv Preprint Server April 28, 2026 Sandeep M. Nayak, Nathan D. Sepeda, Matthew Nielsen Dick et al. preprint

Background Psilocybin has increasingly been studied as a therapeutic for psychiatric and neurologic conditions, yet comprehensive cardiovascular safety data are limited. Current trials often exclude individuals with blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg, criteria established conservatively without robust empirical support.

Classic psychedelic and cannabis use among U.S. cancer survivors aged ≥ 50 years: nationally representative estimates by cancer type/site.

Cancer causes & control : CCC April 22, 2026 Amrit Baral, Yue Pan, Wayway M. Hlaing et al.

To examine the prevalence of lifetime ("ever") cannabis and classic psychedelic use, and their co-use among U.S. adults aged ≥ 50 years with versus without a lifetime history of cancer, and to describe variation by cancer type/site among survivors. We analyzed pooled 2015-2019 and 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data of U.S. adults aged ≥ 50 years (Unweighted; n =...

Psilocybin or Nicotine Patch for Smoking Cessation

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...

Pilot study of psilocybin in patients with post-treatment lyme disease

Scientific Reports February 25, 2026 Albert Garcia‐romeu, Gideon P. Naudé, Alison W. Rebman et al. 2 citations

Abstract Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi , is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and Europe. Although antibiotics effectively treat most cases, an estimated 10–20% of patients develop post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD), a chronic syndrome marked by fatigue, pain, cognitive difficulties, mood disturbance, and reduced quality of life. There are no...

Trip sitting or just sitting? Session facilitators substantially influence psychedelic experiences in clinical trials but not in healthy ones

Psychiatry Research February 13, 2026 Sean P. Goldy, Nathan D. Sepeda, Samantha Hilbert et al. 1 citation

Psychedelics' characteristic acute subjective effects predict therapeutic benefits, such as decreases in depression and anxiety. Thus, optimizing treatment involves better understanding which factors shape subjective effects. Session facilitators, who support participants before, during, and after psychedelic administration sessions, form an important part of the setting of these experiences....

Roland R. Griffiths, psychopharmacology pioneer: Abuse liability, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, benzodiazepines, and psychedelics.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) 2026 Jack E Henningfield, Frederick S. Barrett, Suzette M Evans et al.

This review provides an overview of Roland R. Griffiths' history of research, and his mentoring and collaborating approach to science that contributed to his impact in behavioral and neuropsychopharmacology and psychedelic medicines development. The approach was to summarize studies in his major domains of research, including preclinical and clinical abuse liability assessment science, alcohol,...

Exploring self-reported health behavior change following naturalistic psychedelic use

Journal of Health Psychology December 31, 2025 Laura C. Carvalho, Jorge Encantado, Arlen C. Moller et al.

Health-related behaviors are essential determinants of health and well-being, yet unhealthy patterns persist globally. Psychedelics may represent an innovative tool for facilitating positive behavior change. This study investigated retrospective health-related behavior changes attributed to past psychedelic experiences. An online survey was completed by 271 adults who reported on the...

Association between lifetime co-use of classic psychedelics and cannabis and prostate cancer diagnosis among US adults 50 years and older

Scientific Reports December 8, 2025 Amrit Baral, Yue Pan, Wayway M. Hlaing et al.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among U.S. men. While cannabis and classic psychedelics gain attention for symptom management in oncology, their associations with prostate cancer remain unexplored. This study evaluates associations between lifetime classic psychedelic and cannabis use with prostate cancer diagnoses among older U.S. adults using 2015-2019...

Self-Reported Improvements in Comorbid Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, and Sleep Among Real-World Patients Receiving Medical Ketamine: Exploring the Role of Adjunct Therapies.

European journal of trauma & dissociation = Revue europeenne du trauma et de la dissociation September 1, 2025 Shahar Almog, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Kathryn Walker et al. 1 citation

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents severe symptomology and often co-occurs with depression, warranting novel treatment approaches to address both conditions simultaneously. Ketamine has emerged as a rapid antidepressant and potential treatment for PTSD, with some real-world evidence for effectiveness regardless of comorbidities. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to explore...

Deconstructing the trip treatment: are hallucinogenic effects critical to the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics?

NPP Digit Psychiatry Neurosci August 20, 2025 Albert Garcia‐romeu 2 citations

Interest in “psychedelic therapies,” using substances such as ketamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and psilocybin to treat psychiatric conditions, has grown steadily in recent years. Although pharmacologically distinct and functioning via differential mechanisms, these drugs are broadly classified as hallucinogenic, meaning they are thought to produce hallucinations. However,...

Attitudes and Perceptions of Portuguese Psychiatrists and Psychologists on the Clinical Use of Ketamine.

Acta medica portuguesa May 2, 2025 Pedro Mota, Jorge Encantado, Laura C. Carvalho et al. 1 citation

Ketamine has garnered attention for its rapid efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression, offering a novel mechanism as a non-monoaminergic agent. Despite its potential, limited research has explored mental health professionals' perspectives on its use. This study assesses the attitudes, knowledge, and concerns of Portuguese psychiatrists and psychologists...

0391 Racial/Ethnic Differences in Psychedelic Use and Sleep Satisfaction: Preliminary Findings from the Herbal Heart Study

Sleep May 1, 2025 Denise C. Vidot, Amrit Baral, Bria-Necole Diggs et al.

Abstract Introduction Research on psychedelic use and sleep satisfaction remains unclear despite increased use. This study examines the psychedelic use and sleep satisfaction among 18-to-35-year-olds enrolled in the Herbal Heart Study. Methods The exposure variables were lifetime self-reported use of any psychedelic (LSD, psilocybin, peyote, mescaline, ayahuasca/DMT) and psilocybin-alone. Sleep...

Acute subjective effects of psychedelics in naturalistic group settings prospectively predict longitudinal improvements in trauma symptoms, trait shame, and connectedness among adults with childhood maltreatment histories.

Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry April 2, 2025 C J Healy, Aaron Frazier, Stephen Kirsch et al. 6 citations

Studies of psychedelic use in naturalistic and clinical settings have suggested safety and mental health benefits for adults with histories of childhood maltreatment. Acute psychological mechanisms that predict therapeutic benefits in this population, however, have yet to be determined. Two common group settings of naturalistic psychedelic use - organized ceremonies and raves or other...

Expanded access to psychedelic treatments: comparing American and Canadian policies.

Gen Psychiatr February 19, 2025 Jérémie Richard, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Jack E Henningfield 7 citations

The United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) August 2024 determination that an additional phase III study will be required to consider the approval of midomafetamine for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could delay the potential approval of this promising treatment by several years.

Shame, Guilt and Psychedelic Experience: Results from a Prospective, Longitudinal Survey of Real-World Psilocybin Use

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 7, 2025 Amy Lehrner, Heather Jackson, David S. Mathai et al. 11 citations

The classic psychedelic psilocybin has attracted special interest across clinical and non-clinical settings as a potential tool for mental health. Despite increasing attention to challenging psychedelic experiences, few studies have explored the relevance of shame-related processes with psychedelic use. This prospective, longitudinal study involved sequential, automated, web-based surveys that...

Examining differences in the effects and contexts of naturalistic psilocybin use for White participants vs. Participants of Color: A longitudinal online survey study.

Journal of Affective Disorders February 1, 2025 Grant Jones, Matthew X. Lowe, Sandeep M. Nayak et al. 12 citations

Psilocybin (a psychoactive compound found in "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms") has been gaining increased attention in research and popular culture as a number of clinical and observational studies have demonstrated that it may have potential for improving mental wellbeing. Relatedly, there has been a substantial uptick in naturalistic (e.g., real-world, non-clinical) psilocybin use in the United...

Impact of psychedelics on craving in addiction: A systematic review.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) February 1, 2025 Sophie-Athéna Chapron, Guilhem Bonazzi, Laura Di Lodovico et al. 5 citations

In the context of the need to increase treatment options for substance use disorders, recent research has evaluated the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. However, there is an incomplete understanding of psychedelics' effects on craving, a core symptom of addictive disorders and a predictor of substance use and relapse. To determine if the use of psychedelics is associated with changes in...

A Field-Wide Review and Analysis of Study Materials Used in Psilocybin Trials: Assessment of Two Decades of Research

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...

Knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about psilocybin and MDMA as novel therapies among U.S. healthcare professionals.

Scientific Reports November 14, 2024 Erin Wang, David S. Mathai, Natalie Gukasyan et al. 18 citations

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with substances like psilocybin and MDMA has shown promise for conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psilocybin and MDMA may become approved medicines in the coming decade. This study assessed knowledge and attitudes regarding PAT among 879 U.S. healthcare professionals via anonymous online survey. Multivariable linear regression...

Rosalind Franklin Society Proudly Announces the 2023 Award Recipient for Psychedelic Medicine

Psychedelic Medicine September 1, 2024 Albert Garcia‐romeu

Rationale: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated dissociatives and serotonergic hallucinogens are being increasingly used in therapeutic interventions that involve nonordinary states of consciousness and may represent a unique mental health paradigm wherein pharmacologically induced experiences are conducive to psychological well-being. Objective: The aim of this study was to further...

Ethnoracial inclusion in clinical trials of psychedelics: a systematic review.

EClinicalMedicine August 1, 2024 Marcus Hughes, Albert Garcia‐romeu 42 citations

Prior data indicate limited ethnoracial diversity in studies testing psychedelic-assisted treatments. Regulatory approval for psychedelic treatments may be imminent given growing evidence for safety and efficacy in a variety of psychiatric conditions. Data on racial and ethnic inclusion rates in clinical psychedelic studies since 2018 have not been systematically reported to date. With the...

Seeing the forest for the trees: An ecological systems theory approach to addressing emergent issues in psychedelic-assisted therapy research

Journal of Psychedelic Studies June 5, 2024 Meghan DellaCrosse, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Alan K. Davis 4 citations

Despite growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) research, there remains a lack of consensus about key issues relevant to difficulties in predicting acute drug effects, and the role of therapeutic support in clinical trials. In the absence of a clear theoretical model to conceptualize multifaceted components in PAT research, dialogue across contexts (e.g., popular media, peer...