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Psilocybin-Occasioned Mystical Experiences in the Treatment of Tobacco Addiction

Albert Garcia‐romeu, Roland R. Griffiths, Matthew W. Johnson

Current Drug Abuse Reviews January 9, 2015 DOI: 10.2174/1874473708666150107121331 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Open-label pilot study Peer reviewed
Sample size 15
Population Smokers
Interventions Psilocybin Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for smoking cessation
Dose 2 or 3 doses of psilocybin
Duration 6-month follow-up
Topics Addiction Mysticism Psilocybin Mystical experience
Keywords Smoking cessation Abstinence Clinical psychology Context archaeology Craving Openness to experience Hallucinogen Psychotherapist
Citations 480
Key points Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experience, rather than overall drug intensity, was linked to biologically verified smoking abstinence at 6-month follow-up.

Abstract

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 (CBT) for smoking cessation. Twelve of 15 participants (80%) demonstrated biologically verified smoking abstinence at 6-month follow-up. Participants who were abstinent at 6 months (n=12) were compared to participants still smoking at 6 months (n=3) on measures of subjective effects of psilocybin. Abstainers scored significantly higher on a measure of psilocybin-occasioned mystical experience. No significant differences in general intensity of drug effects were found between groups, suggesting that mystical-type subjective effects, rather than overall intensity of drug effects, were responsible for smoking cessation. Nine of 15 participants (60%) met criteria for "complete" mystical experience. Smoking cessation outcomes were significantly correlated with measures of mystical experience on session days, as well as retrospective ratings of personal meaning and spiritual significance of psilocybin sessions. These results suggest a mediating role of mystical experience in psychedelic-facilitated addiction treatment.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for 4 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

  • State of the evidence: Psilocybin for addiction Supports

    Twelve of 15 participants (80%) had biologically verified abstinence at 6 months, and abstainers scored higher on psilocybin-occasioned mystical experience than non-abstainers, with no difference in general drug intensity.

    Synthesized

  • State of the evidence: Addiction Supports

    12 of 15 participants (80%) demonstrated biologically verified smoking abstinence at 6-month follow-up, and abstainers scored significantly higher on psilocybin-occasioned mystical experience, suggesting a mediating role of mystical experience.

    Synthesized

  • State of the evidence: Mystical experience Supports

    Abstainers at 6 months scored significantly higher on psilocybin-occasioned mystical experience than non-abstainers, with no difference in general drug intensity, suggesting mystical-type effects mediated smoking cessation.

    Synthesized

  • State of the evidence: Mysticism Supports

    Twelve of 15 participants (80%) had biologically verified smoking abstinence at 6 months; abstainers scored significantly higher on psilocybin-occasioned mystical experience than non-abstainers, with no significant difference in general drug intensity, suggesting mystical-type effects rather than overall intensity were responsible.

    Synthesized

Comparable studies

Other non-randomized and open-label trials on psilocybin for addiction, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Psychiatrically healthy nicotine-dependent smokers 2014 Open-label pilot study n = 15
The Psychedelic Debriefing in Alcohol Dependence Treatment: Illustrating Key Change Phenomena through Qualitative Content Analysis of Clinical Sessions Participants in a psilocybin-assisted treatment study for alcohol dependence 2018 Open-label pilot (proof-of-concept) study with qualitative content analysis n = 17
It’s time to take psilocybin seriously as a possible treatment for substance use disorders 2016 Pilot study
Single-dose psilocybin therapy for alcohol use disorder: Pharmacokinetics, feasibility, safety and efficacy in an open-label study Treatment-seeking adults with severe alcohol use disorder 2025 Open-label, single-group study n = 10
Psilocybin for Opioid Use Disorder in Two Adults Stabilized on Buprenorphine: A Technical Report on Study Modifications and Preliminary Findings People with opioid use disorder 2023 Clinical trial

Citations in the library

Cited by 424

and 419 more in the library

Cites 31

and 26 more in the library

Related reading

Explore topics

Addiction Mysticism Psilocybin Mystical experience Psychedelic-assisted therapy

By condition and practice

Psilocybin for addiction