Neurology
June 26, 2006
R. Andrew Sewell, John H. Halpern, Harrison G. Pope
259 citations
In interviews with 53 cluster headache patients who used psilocybin or LSD, most reported benefits: 22 of 26 psilocybin users said it aborted attacks, 25 of 48 psilocybin users and 7 of 8 LSD users reported ending a cluster period, and 18 of 19 psilocybin users and 4 of 5 LSD users said it extended remission periods. The authors suggest further research on these substances for cluster headache is warranted.
Biological Psychiatry
October 15, 2005
John H. Halpern, Andrea R Sherwood, James I. Hudson et al.
186 citations
Regular use of peyote, a hallucinogen-containing cactus, in a religious setting among Navajo Native Americans does not appear to cause long-term psychological or cognitive deficits. In a study comparing three groups—61 Native American Church members who regularly ingested peyote, 36 individuals with past alcohol dependence who had been sober for at least two months, and 79 individuals with minimal substance use—the peyote group showed no significant differences on a mental health inventory or ten neuropsychological tests compared to the minimal-use group. In contrast, the former alcoholic group showed significant deficits on all mental health scales and two neuropsychological measures. Total lifetime peyote use was not linked to worse performance. These findings may not apply to illicit hallucinogen users.
American Journal of Psychiatry
July 1, 2000
Robert Klitzman, Harrison G. Pope, James I. Hudson
132 citations
Among 169 gay and bisexual men at New York City dance clubs, about one-third reported using MDMA at least monthly. MDMA use was strongly and significantly linked to recent unprotected anal intercourse, and this link held even after accounting for age, ethnicity, and other drug use including alcohol. The authors suggest MDMA abuse and its association with high-risk sexual behaviors represent important but unexplored public health problems for some gay and bisexual men.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
May 17, 2018
Brian S. Barnett, Willie O. Siu, Harrison G. Pope
114 citations
A survey of American psychiatrists found that most perceive hallucinogens as potentially hazardous and appropriately illegal for recreational use, yet a large minority expressed optimism about their therapeutic potential for psychiatric disorders. Male and trainee psychiatrists, compared with female and attending psychiatrists, reported less concern about risks and greater optimism. Younger psychiatrists also appeared more optimistic, possibly due to greater exposure to recent positive publications and less awareness of negative past reports.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
March 1, 2024
Brian S. Barnett, Miranda Arakelian, David Beebe et al.
28 citations
A repeat survey of American psychiatrists in 2022-23 found a striking increase in optimism about the therapeutic use of hallucinogens compared to 2016. Among 131 respondents (13.1% response rate), 80.9% moderately or strongly believed hallucinogens show promise for psychiatric conditions, and 60.8% for substance use disorders. Large majorities supported research into therapeutic potential (93.9% for psychiatric conditions, 88.6% for substance use disorders) and federal funding of clinical trials. Concern about risks decreased, and 50.4% reported moderate or strong intentions to incorporate hallucinogen-assisted therapy into their practice if regulatory approval is granted.
JAMA Psychiatry
March 18, 2026
James I. Hudson, Harrison G. Pope
1 citation
A guided psychedelic experience with psilocybin may treat refractory depression by inducing a mystical experience, rather than through a simple biological drug effect. The text suggests that the therapeutic benefit could stem from the profound, transformative nature of the experience, as conceptualized by William James.