Chronic Stress
2021
Alan K. Davis, Yitong Xin, Nathan D. Sepeda et al.
66 citations
Background Previous research showed acute psychedelic effects were associated with decreases in racial trauma (RT) symptoms among black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Among samples comprised primarily of white participants, positive outcomes of psychedelic experiences have been mediated by increases in psychological flexibility. Therefore, we examined whether changes in psychological...
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science
December 29, 2020
Justin C Strickland, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Matthew W. Johnson
89 citations
Mounting evidence supports the serotonin 2A receptor agonist psilocybin as a psychiatric pharmacotherapy. Little research has experimentally examined how session "set and setting" impacts subjective and therapeutic effects. We analyzed the effects of the musical genre played during sessions of a psilocybin study for tobacco smoking cessation. Participants (N = 10) received psilocybin (20-30...
Frontiers in Psychiatry
January 22, 2020
Earth Erowid, Fire Erowid, Albert Garcia‐romeu et al.
155 citations
While these cross-sectional and self-report methods cannot determine whether psychedelics caused changes in drug use, results suggest the potential that psychedelics cause reductions in problematic substance use, and support additional clinical research on psychedelic-assisted treatment for SUD.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
May 14, 2019
Albert Garcia‐romeu, Alan K. Davis, Fire Erowid et al.
286 citations
Background: Meta-analysis of randomized studies using lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed large, significant effects for LSD efficacy compared to control conditions. Clinical studies suggest potential anti-addiction effects of LSD and mechanistically-related classic psychedelics for alcohol and other substance use disorders. Aims: To supplement clinical...
International Review of Psychiatry
July 4, 2018
Albert Garcia‐romeu, William A. Richards
186 citations
Humans have used serotonergic hallucinogens (i.e. psychedelics) for spiritual, ceremonial, and recreational purposes for thousands of years, but their administration as part of a structured therapeutic intervention is still a relatively novel practice within Western medical and psychological frameworks. In the mid-20th century, considerable advances were made in developing therapeutic...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
June 25, 2018
Tehseen Noorani, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Thomas Cody Swift et al.
285 citations
Background: Recent pilot trials suggest feasibility and potential efficacy of psychedelic-facilitated addiction treatment interventions. Fifteen participants completed a psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation pilot study between 2009 and 2015. Aims: The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to identify perceived mechanisms of change leading to smoking cessation in the pilot study; (2) to...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
January 18, 2017
Matthew W. Johnson, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Patrick S. Johnson et al.
129 citations
Data suggest psychedelics such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may hold therapeutic potential in the treatment of addictions, including tobacco dependence. This retrospective cross-sectional anonymous online survey characterized 358 individuals (52 females) who reported having quit or reduced smoking after ingesting a psychedelic in a non-laboratory setting ⩾1 year ago. On...
Exp Clin Psychopharmacol
August 1, 2016
Albert Garcia‐romeu, Brennan Kersgaard, Peter H. Addy
198 citations
Hallucinogens fall into several different classes, as broadly defined by pharmacological mechanism of action, and chemical structure. These include psychedelics, entactogens, dissociatives, and other atypical hallucinogens. Although these classes do not share a common primary mechanism of action, they do exhibit important similarities in their ability to occasion temporary but profound...
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
July 21, 2016
Matthew W. Johnson, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Roland R. Griffiths
702 citations
BACKGROUND: A recent open-label pilot study (N = 15) found that two to three moderate to high doses (20 and 30 mg/70 kg) of the serotonin 2A receptor agonist, psilocybin, in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for smoking cessation, resulted in substantially higher 6-month smoking abstinence rates than are typically observed with other medications or CBT alone. OBJECTIVES: To...
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
November 1, 2015
Albert Garcia‐romeu, Tehseen Noorani, Roland R. Griffiths et al.
6 citations
Aims: We assessed long-term (>12 months) outcomes of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation, and qualitatively analyzed participants’ accounts to inform potential psychological mechanisms of treatment efficacy. Methods: Fifteen individuals who completed a pilot study of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation were invited for a long-term follow-up. Eleven (73%) returned and were interviewed...
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
April 1, 2015
Peter H. Addy, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Matthew Metzger et al.
38 citations
This study examined the overall psychological effects of inebriation facilitated by the naturally-occurring plant hallucinogen Salvia divinorum using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty healthy individuals self-administered Salvia divinorum via combustion and inhalation in a quiet, comfortable research setting. Experimental sessions, post-session interviews, and 8-week...
Current Drug Abuse Reviews
January 9, 2015
Albert Garcia‐romeu, Roland R. Griffiths, Matthew W. Johnson
480 citations
Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences have been linked to persisting effects in healthy volunteers including positive changes in behavior, attitudes, and values, and increases in the personality domain of openness. In an open-label pilot-study of psilocybin-facilitated smoking addiction treatment, 15 smokers received 2 or 3 doses of psilocybin in the context of cognitive behavioral therapy...
Qualitative Research
September 29, 2014
Albert Garcia‐romeu, Samuel Himelstein, Jacob Kaminker
64 citations
Current theories in psychology conceptualize self-transcendence as a personality trait, a developmental construct, and a particular class of anomalous experience. Despite extensive research on self-transcendence, the process, outcomes, and nature of self-transcendent experience (STE) remain elusive. This study focused on the self-reported narratives of STE in 15 healthy adults. Accounts were...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
September 11, 2014
Mary P Cosimano, Matthew W. Johnson, Albert Garcia‐romeu et al.
910 citations
Despite suggestive early findings on the therapeutic use of hallucinogens in the treatment of substance use disorders, rigorous follow-up has not been conducted. To determine the safety and feasibility of psilocybin as an adjunct to tobacco smoking cessation treatment we conducted an open-label pilot study administering moderate (20 mg/70 kg) and high (30 mg/70 kg) doses of psilocybin within a...
Substance Use & Misuse
March 11, 2014
Sam Himelstein, Stephen Saul, Albert Garcia‐romeu et al.
28 citations
Mindfulness-based treatment for adolescents is a clinical and research field still in its infancy. Literature is needed to address specific subcultural populations to expand this growing field. Further, minimal literature addresses the process of teaching mindfulness to adolescents. The current study investigated how to effectively teach mindfulness to 10 incarcerated adolescent substance users...
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
February 11, 2013
Elizabeth S. Barnert, Samuel Himelstein, Sarah Herbert et al.
50 citations
BACKGROUND: We examined the experiences of incarcerated adolescent males (N = 29) who participated in a one-day meditation retreat and 10-week meditation programme. METHOD: Self-report surveys assessing mindfulness, self-regulation, impulsivity and stress; behavioural assessments; and focus group data were examined. RESULTS: We observed significantly higher scores in self-regulation (p = .012)...