Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 1, 1985
Richard Yensen
20 citations
LSD and similar drugs produce psychological effects too powerful and unique to be studied as ordinary psychotropic compounds. Researchers' theoretical expectations strongly influence the subjective effects and treatment outcomes. Double-blind controlled studies are inappropriate for LSD because neither active nor inactive placebos can create an effective blind. Studying human consciousness requires recognizing that measurement methods can alter the processes under investigation, analogous to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in physics. Current research tools may be so crude that results primarily reflect the effects of measurement itself. Despite these challenges, the need to advance understanding of the human mind demands continued responsible study of these substances, potentially learning from societies that have integrated them into their social order.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 29, 2023
Harrison J Lee, Vivian Wl Tsang, Brandon S Chai et al.
19 citations
Psilocybin shows promise for treating depression, but how it works in the brain is not well understood. This systematic review of 14 studies found evidence that psilocybin may act through changes in serotonin or glutamate receptor activity, increased synaptogenesis, and altered brain activity in regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. It also appears to change cerebral blood flow to the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. However, the evidence on functional connectivity and specific receptor activity remains sparse, and the lack of consensus across studies suggests psilocybin's antidepressant effects likely involve multiple pathways, highlighting the need for more research.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2023
Zachary Herrmann, Mitch Earleywine, Joseph A. de Leo et al.
19 citations
Subjective responses to psychedelic drugs, such as mystical experiences and oceanic boundlessness, often correlate with therapeutic improvements in conditions like treatment-resistant depression, end-of-life anxiety, and substance use disorders. Measuring these responses is challenging; several scales show good reliability and factor structure, but samples are often small and self-selected. This review examines the psychometric properties of widely used scales and their links to treatment outcomes. Challenging experiences, psychological insight, and emotional breakthroughs also show promise, though replication is needed. A collaborative approach to data collection on subjective reactions in therapeutic settings could help predict improvement across conditions.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 6, 2019
Jacob S. Aday, Emily K. Bloesch, Christopher C. Davoli
19 citations
The surge in psychedelic research during the 1950s and 1960s is often attributed primarily to the discovery of LSD's psychoactive effects in 1943. This article argues that such a 'Great Person' or 'Great Chemical' historiographical lens overlooks other crucial factors. Mescaline was already being studied for psychotherapy and as a psychosis model before LSD. Psilocybin and other psychedelics were also discovered by Western researchers around the same time. Furthermore, dominant zeitgeists in psychology—pharmacological, psychoanalytic, and humanistic—were congruent with psychedelic research. While LSD's discovery may have been a catalyst, a broader psychedelic zeitgeist deserves recognition for setting the stage.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 20, 2014
Rafael Guimarães Dos Santos
19 citations
Ayahuasca, a botanical hallucinogen traditionally used by indigenous groups in the northwest Amazon, has seen its use spread globally. While acute and long-term evidence suggests good tolerability and safety in laboratory or religious settings, little is known about its immunological impact on humans. Given its increasing use and therapeutic potential, more information on potential risks is needed. This article provides a brief overview of available data on ayahuasca's immunological effects in humans.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 1, 2012
James A. Wilcox
19 citations
Former users of alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT) reported that the drug has strong hallucinogenic effects. The most common unwanted side effects included anxiety, nausea, and moderately severe dysphoria. Several users also experienced significant depression, suggesting that AMT use could be dangerous for individuals prone to depression.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 1, 2005
Marlene Dobkin De Rios
19 citations
A Shipibo urban shaman in Pucallpa, Peru, distinguishes between authentic folkloric shamanism and the current vogue of drug tourism, where urban men and women offer foreigners paid tours for drug-induced mystical experiences in Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador. He views these touristic practices as attempts to resolve personal problems, reflecting a spiritual and psychological crisis in European and North American societies. He laments the misuse of toxic plants added to ayahuasca potions, which harm unsuspecting tourists who receive no real value from inexperienced, dishonest shamans lacking proper preparation and capability.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 1, 1985
Sidney Cohen
19 citations
LSD can produce a variety of psychotic experiences, some resembling delirium or schizophrenia, while others are unique. The neurochemistry and phenomenology of psychotic responses to LSD are better understood than transcendent experiences, partly because endogenous psychoses are more familiar than endogenous cosmic experiences. The LSD state, particularly the unsane condition, remains unexplained. An animal model for it is unlikely, and not all humans may be able to achieve it with hallucinogens. This area still requires exploration and research.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 7, 2024
Sandeep M. Nayak, Sydney H White, Samantha Hilbert et al.
18 citations
A prospective longitudinal study of 657 people planning a psilocybin experience outside a laboratory found that after the experience, participants reported increased perception of minds in various living and non-living entities such as plants and rocks, replicating earlier findings. However, the study found little to no change in participants' metaphysical beliefs, such as dualism, or in their self-reported Atheist-Believer status. These results contrast with cross-sectional studies suggesting psilocybin experiences alter Atheist-Believer status and non-naturalistic beliefs, but they support the relevance of mind perception and mentalization processes.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2021
Matteo Politi, Fabio Friso, Gary Saucedo et al.
18 citations
A therapeutic community for substance use disorders combines traditional Amazonian medicine with modern psychotherapy. One plant medicine used is purgahuasca, a decoction of Banisteriopsis caapi vine traditionally used by Awajún people as an initiation rite. Clinical data from patients show that after ingestion, 359 (92.1%) reported mareación (dizziness), 299 (76.7%) experienced physical sensations, and 208 (53.3%) had visions. These effects relate to β-carboline alkaloids in B. caapi, which may contribute to patients' therapeutic process by helping them become aware of personal reasons behind addictive behaviors.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
December 1, 2010
Kevin Feeney
18 citations
An analysis of over 600 anecdotal accounts of Amanita muscaria inebriation shows that the mushroom's effects depend on how it is prepared. Preparations that mirror the pressing and filtering described for Soma in the Rig Veda considerably reduce toxic effects. This finding addresses a key criticism of R. Gordon Wasson's 1968 theory identifying Soma as Amanita muscaria, namely that such preparation should be unnecessary if the raw mushroom produces equivalent results. The results strengthen Wasson's theory but are unlikely to end the debate over Soma's identity.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 1987
John R. Neill
18 citations
Between 1953 and 1966, American psychiatry explored LSD not only for therapeutic uses but also for its potential to induce experiences resembling mystical or religious states. Psychiatrists debated whether the drug's effects held meaning beyond clinical symptom relief, with some arguing that LSD could facilitate profound personal insights or spiritual growth. This period saw a shift from viewing LSD strictly as a psychiatric tool to considering its broader philosophical and existential implications. The article traces how these discussions unfolded within professional circles, reflecting tensions between medical, spiritual, and cultural interpretations of psychedelic experiences before LSD was banned and research largely halted.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 16, 2021
Coryn E. Mayer, Virginia Lebaron, Kimberly Acquaviva
17 citations
Palliative care providers see multiple barriers—cultural, institutional, relational, and individual—to addressing existential distress in their patients. They describe the power and duality of being present with suffering, view suffering as inherently subjective, and express uncertainty about the risks and benefits of psilocybin therapy. These findings come from interviews with five interdisciplinary hospital-based palliative care team members. The authors call for more research to guide safe, inclusive integration of psilocybin into palliative care for existential distress.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2025
Jacob S. Aday, Emily K. Bloesch, Alan K. Davis et al.
16 citations
People who attended an ayahuasca retreat reported lasting increases in gratitude, feeling connected to nature, and appreciating nature. Surveys of 54 participants taken one week before, one week after, and one month after the retreat showed significant improvements at both follow-ups compared to baseline. The intensity of mystical-type experiences and awe during ayahuasca sessions weakly to moderately correlated with these increases, while the number of ceremonies attended did not. Older participants reported less intense mystical and awe experiences. The findings suggest that the quality of psychedelic experiences, particularly mystical and awe states, may foster prosocial changes in gratitude and nature connection.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 29, 2019
Stacey Farmer, Melissa N. Slavin, Mallory Loflin et al.
16 citations
Cannabis remains the most frequently used illicit drug in the United States, and as legal status has changed, more people use edibles. Among 172 individuals who reported an uncomfortable experience with edible cannabis, 62.9% found the experience at least somewhat meaningful, and 95.2% reported no medical problems. The most common non-medical problem was going to bed early or lying down (75.8%). Most participants (69.2%) said dose was the key contributor to the negative experience. Those who rated the experience as more aversive were less likely to use edibles again, and longer duration of the aversive experience correlated with higher aversiveness. Despite discomfort, the vast majority used edibles again and reported no significant problems.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2019
Erika Dyck
16 citations
Before palliative care existed as a medical specialty, dying was often neglected by modern medicine. In the 1950s, researchers exploring LSD and mescaline began to see dying care as a potential application for psychedelics, particularly for easing anxiety associated with death. These early discussions were cut short when psychedelics were criminalized. The article examines those historical conversations and considers how they might inform current, more developed discussions about using psychedelics in palliative care.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
August 30, 2018
Miroslav Horák, Lea Hasíková, Nahanga Verter
16 citations
Ayahuasca users in the Czech Republic describe its therapeutic potential as broad, particularly for treating drug addiction, based on memory recall. The intensity of the drug's effects does not directly correspond to its therapeutic benefit. These findings come from semi-structured interviews with 46 participants (23 women, 23 men) who had attended at least one ayahuasca ritual or facilitated sessions, analyzed using grounded theory.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
April 1, 2013
Christina Cummins, Jennifer Lyke
16 citations
Nearly half of psilocybin users reported that their most wonderful life experience occurred while under the influence of the drug. Maslow defined peak experiences as moments of awe, well-being, or transcendence, and psilocybin is known to produce subjectively meaningful states. In a survey of 101 participants divided into three groups—those who had a peak experience on psilocybin, those who used psilocybin but had peak experiences elsewhere, and non-users—the three groups differed significantly on all measures of altered consciousness during their peak experience. The findings suggest psilocybin can facilitate or shape peak experiences, though more research is needed on naturalistic factors.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 1, 2010
Pearl P Nyi, Emily P Lai, Diana Y Lee et al.
16 citations
A survey of 219 Salvia divinorum users recruited through social networking websites found that users who first tried salvia at age 21 or younger were more likely to use it for fun or to relieve boredom, while those who first tried it at age 22 or older were more likely to seek spiritual effects. Older first-time users also had higher odds of concurrent marijuana or tobacco use. Over half of respondents had reduced or stopped using salvia in the past year, often because they disliked the high or lost interest, suggesting that salvia use may be driven more by curiosity than by sustained abuse.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2025
Elias C Acevedo, Scott Uhler, Kaitlyn P White et al.
15 citations
Psychological insight, not supernatural beliefs, predicts lasting benefits from psychedelic experiences. Analyzing 240 unsolicited self-reports from Erowid.org, path analysis showed that psychological insight uniquely predicted beneficial outcomes, while metaphysical beliefs did not. The positive links between ego dissolution, therapeutic intent, and beneficial outcomes were fully mediated by psychological insight. This supports the predictive self-binding theory over the metaphysical belief theory of psychedelic benefits.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 21, 2023
Fiona Low, Mitch Earleywine
15 citations
Grief can become problematic or impairing, and while treatments for prolonged grief disorder exist, they have room for improvement. In a survey of 363 recreational psychedelic users who had experienced a bereavement, retrospective reports showed improvements in grief symptoms after the psychedelic experience, with a large effect size. Emotional breakthroughs during the experience were linked to greater symptom improvement, whereas challenging experiences were associated with less improvement. These findings suggest that psychedelic-assisted therapy could be a promising alternative for treating grief symptoms.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
December 22, 2018
Sueli Moreira Mello, Paula Christiane Soubhia, Gabriela de Oliveira Silveira et al.
15 citations
Ayahuasca, a beverage made from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, which produces visionary effects. Despite concerns about liver injury from oral consumption, this study measured biochemical markers of liver damage in 22 volunteers who had consumed ayahuasca at least twice monthly for over a year. No significant changes were found in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, or gamma glutamyl transferase. Chronic ayahuasca use in a religious setting apparently does not impair hepatic function.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2015
Alan K. Davis, Harold Rosenberg
15 citations
People who persistently use ecstasy without being addicted may have a passionate attachment to the activity. In a community sample of ecstasy users, both obsessive and harmonious passion scores were linked to lower self-efficacy to refuse the drug and greater use of ecstasy to cope with worries. Obsessive passion was partially associated with more frequent use, more lifetime uses, and more pills consumed per occasion, whereas harmonious passion was not tied to those consumption measures. The modified Passion Scale could supplement assessments of the psychology behind ecstasy use.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2015
Joseph El-Khoury, Nayiri Sahakian
15 citations
Consumption of the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum may be linked to the development of psychotic disorders, according to a review of literature and two original case reports. While hallucinogens typically cause transient psychedelic effects, sometimes these persist and cause distress requiring intervention. The authors hypothesize an association between Salvia divinorum and psychosis, particularly among youth, and recommend that clinicians routinely ask about Salvia use in patients with substance use or psychotic disorders. They call for more research and increased public and medical awareness of this and other emerging drugs.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
December 1, 1998
Charles S. Grob, George Greer, Mariavittoria Mangini
15 citations
At the turn of the century, hallucinogens were re-emerging as subjects of serious scientific and therapeutic inquiry after decades of prohibition and stigma. This introduction to a special journal issue surveys the historical context, clinical potential, and regulatory challenges surrounding hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin. It highlights renewed interest in their use for treating conditions like addiction, depression, and post-traumatic stress, while noting the need for rigorous research to navigate ethical and legal hurdles. The editors call for a balanced approach that respects both the substances' risks and their possible benefits in psychotherapy.