BMJ Open
February 10, 2025
Kathryn Fletcher, Nadine Ezard, Krista J. Siefried et al.
1 citation
A pilot study will test the safety and feasibility of combining subanaesthetic ketamine with cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with methamphetamine use disorder. Twenty participants seeking to reduce or stop methamphetamine use will receive three subcutaneous ketamine doses (0.75 to 0.9 mg/kg) at weekly intervals and four therapy sessions over four weeks. The study will measure recruitment time, eligibility rates, treatment completion, retention, and acceptability over eight weeks, and explore changes in methamphetamine use, cravings, withdrawal, quality of life, and treatment satisfaction over 24 weeks. No pharmacological treatments currently exist for this condition, and psychotherapy alone is only moderately effective.
Addiction
November 2, 2023
Celia J. A. Morgan
1 citation
A near doubling in non-LSD hallucinogen use among 19-30 year olds from 2018 to 2021, driven largely by psilocybin and possibly ketamine, occurred primarily in white, educated, higher socio-economic status males who used hallucinogens infrequently (two to three times per year). The authors of the original study interpret this rise as a health concern, but this conclusion is not supported by the data; infrequent hallucinogen use is associated with greater well-being and lower psychopathology in both cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys, and the demographic group showing increased use is relatively protected from drug-related harms. The commentary argues for abandoning negative narratives about these drugs in favor of conclusions aligned with evidence of modest mental health benefits.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
January 1, 2023
Simon Ruffell, Nige Netzband, WaiFung Tsang et al.
1 citation
correction
This is a correction notice for a previously published article. It provides no new findings, arguments, or data.
JME Practical Bioethics
July 1, 2026
Edward Jacobs, Edward Palmer, Celia J. A. Morgan
Some investigational drugs, such as ketamine, psychedelics, and cannabis, exist simultaneously in regulated clinical trials and unregulated street or online markets, where they are accessible without clinician oversight. The authors propose the term "parallel-access compounds" for this category and argue that research ethics should formally recognize these substances. Non-psychoactive examples also exist, like retatrutide, an investigational weight-loss drug that has been illicitly manufactured and sold despite being intended only for trial participants.
Research Square
March 31, 2025
Eirini K. Argyri, F C Fraser, Stefan Schilling et al.
Awe experienced during psychedelic trips is linked to lasting changes in how people perceive boundaries between themselves and the world, and to shifts in their ways of knowing. In a mixed-methods study of 90 participants, awe—especially its connectedness and vastness aspects—was significantly correlated with increased overlap between self and others. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses identified three clusters of epistemic change: dissolving societal and natural boundaries, expanding awareness and openness to complexity, and increasing prosociality, compassion, and acceptance of difference. The findings suggest that psychedelic-induced awe may help foster a more holistic worldview, with potential benefits for prosocial and ecological awareness.
J Stud Alcohol Drugs
March 22, 2024
David Nutt, Celia J. A. Morgan, Sukhpreet Klaire
Over the past 70 years, psychedelic research for treating mental illness, particularly addictions, has evolved from early work with LSD in the 1950s and 1960s to recent neuroscience-driven studies. Recent developments include the use of MDMA in psychotherapy and ketamine as a treatment for mental illnesses. New research explores brain mechanisms underlying these therapeutic effects. The field faces challenges in advancing research and clinical application.
arXiv Preprint Archive
March 28, 2025
Marcus J. Glennon, Catherine Bird, Prateek Yadav et al.
Setting up a psychedelic study is a long and complex process that presents unique challenges not yet standardized. This review brings together major UK research teams to formalize these considerations, identify ongoing debates, and provide a practical guide for researchers and policymakers. It addresses challenges to existing assumptions about psychiatric prescribing, the placebo effect, and definitions of selfhood. The paper can be read end-to-end or used as a manual with sections for specific needs.
Behavioural Brain Research
August 17, 2020
Meryem Grabski, Anna Borissova, Beth Marsh et al.
Ketamine's acute psychoactive effects may not be consistently linked to its antidepressant efficacy. A systematic review of 21 studies involving 891 patients with psychiatric diagnoses (mostly treatment-resistant depression) found that 26% of 41 assessed associations between acute effects and treatment outcomes were significant. Dissociation, most commonly measured by the CADSS, was not reliably associated with antidepressant outcomes. The evidence is too limited to draw definite conclusions, and the field would benefit from more rigorous methodology and broader assessment tools.
Psychopharmacology
March 1, 2009
Mark Blagrove, Celia J. A. Morgan, H Valerie Curran et al.
Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, increases the unpleasantness of dreams for three nights after a sub-anaesthetic dose. In a placebo-controlled study with 30 healthy volunteers, those given ketamine reported significantly more unpleasant dreams, with a threefold increase in the odds of having an unpleasant dream. The number of dreams recalled did not differ between groups. People who already had frequent nightmares at home were more likely to have unpleasant dreams after ketamine. This effect may reflect a lingering psychotogenic influence or disrupted sleep physiology not captured by standard symptom questionnaires.