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)
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.
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12 of 15 participants (80%) showed biologically verified smoking abstinence at 6 months, and abstainers scored significantly higher on mystical experience measures while general drug intensity did not differ.
Synthesized
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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
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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
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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.