Journal of Psychopharmacology
May 18, 2015
Sunjeev K. Kamboj, Emma J. Kilford, Stephanie Minchin et al.
43 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) and compassionate imagery both increase self-compassion and reduce self-criticism in recreational users. In a non-blind experiment, participants who consumed ecstasy showed similar pro-social effects to those produced by a contemplative compassion exercise, particularly in those with higher attachment-related avoidance. The findings suggest MDMA may enhance psychotherapy by fostering compassionate attitudes toward oneself. However, because the study was not blinded and drug purity was unknown, controlled trials with pharmaceutical-grade MDMA are needed to confirm these effects.
Mindfulness
November 4, 2017
Sunjeev K. Kamboj, Ylva Walldén, Caroline J. Falconer et al.
27 citations
In a naturalistic setting, recreational users who consumed chemically verified MDMA performed a self-focused compassionate imagery exercise on two separate occasions: once after taking MDMA and once without. The exercise and MDMA each independently increased emotional empathy toward critical facial expressions and self-compassion, and their effects on self-compassion appeared to add together. The findings suggest that combining MDMA with compassionate imagery may enhance self-directed affiliative feelings, though controlled studies are needed to confirm the combined utility for therapeutic contexts.
April 28, 2023
Rosalind McAlpine, George Blackburne, Sunjeev K. Kamboj
22 citations
preprint
A new 20-item Psychedelic Preparedness Scale (PPS) measures how well participants are prepared for psychedelic experiences, addressing a gap in available assessment tools. Developed using an iterative Delphi-focus group method and validated in two large online samples (N = 516 and N = 716) plus a psilocybin retreat group (N = 46), the scale identifies four factors: Knowledge-Expectations, Intention-Preparation, Psychophysical-Readiness, and Support-Planning. It shows excellent reliability (ω = 0.954) and evidence of convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity. Higher pre-experience preparedness scores predicted better mental health and wellbeing outcomes after the experience, indicating the scale's predictive utility for assessing participants' psychological 'set' and potential benefit or reduced harm.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
October 7, 2024
George Blackburne, Rosalind McAlpine, Marco S. Fabus et al.
8 citations
preprint
A high dose of the psychedelic drug 5-MeO-DMT radically reorganizes low-frequency brain activity in 29 healthy individuals. Inhaling 12 mg of vaporized synthetic 5-MeO-DMT caused neural activity flows to become incoherent, heterogeneous, viscous, fleeting, and nonrecurring, ceasing typical traveling waves across the cortex. This reorganization led to slower, more stable, low-dimensional broadband activity with increased energy barriers to rapid global shifts. The findings provide the first detailed empirical account of how 5-MeO-DMT alters human brain dynamics, revealing novel cortical slow wave behaviors.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
October 26, 2024
Saampras Ganesan, Nicholas T. van Dam, Sunjeev K. Kamboj et al.
3 citations
preprint
Personalized high-precision neurofeedback (NF) can help novice meditators better disengage from mental activity during meditation, improving emotional well-being and mindful awareness. In a single-blind, controlled study, 40 novices received two days of meditation training with feedback from either their own or a matched participant's posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) activity, measured using 7 Tesla fMRI. The experimental group showed stronger functional decoupling of PCC from dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, indicating improved control over disengagement. This led to greater improvements in emotional well-being and mindful awareness during a week of real-world self-guided meditation, supporting the utility of NF-guided meditation training.
PLoS ONE
June 18, 2026
Elisa Liberati, Hv Curran, Peter Fonagy et al.
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy shows promise for treating PTSD, but the psychological mechanisms behind its effects are not well understood. This qualitative study will have approximately 25 experienced psychodynamic psychotherapists receive two doses of MDMA (80-120 mg, oral) in an open-label design. Participants will complete interviews before, during, and after MDMA sessions, plus daily journals. Researchers will use phenomenological and thematic analysis, along with grounded theory, to develop a model of MDMA's psychological mechanisms of action. The study treats therapists as expert observers of their own psychological processes, aiming to generate insights that can inform future treatment models and offer a framework for qualitative mechanistic research on psychedelics.
Scientific reports
November 21, 2024
Maximillian J. Wood, Rosalind G. McAlpine, Sunjeev K. Kamboj
People who have difficult experiences while using psychedelics can benefit from specific coping strategies. A mixed-methods study of psilocybin retreat participants and a larger online survey identified three main ways people navigate challenging psychedelic experiences: accepting and reinterpreting the experience, regulating through sensory and physical interaction, and seeking social support. Acceptance and reappraisal, along with social support and disclosure, were linked to greater emotional breakthrough. Fear-related challenges were associated with less emotional breakthrough and fewer adaptive coping strategies. These findings clarify how challenging experiences can lead to positive outcomes and suggest ways to improve therapeutic protocols and safety.
November 22, 2023
Rosalind McAlpine, Katarina Krajnović, Maisha M. Khan et al.
preprint
A self-directed, 21-day digital course (Digital Intervention for Psychedelic Preparation, DIPP) was developed to help people prepare for psychedelic experiences. The course is based on a four-factor model of psychedelic preparedness: Knowledge-Expectation, Psychophysical-Readiness, Safety-Planning, and Intention-Preparation. It includes daily meditation, weekly exercises, and mood tracking. Development followed the UK Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions and used a person-centred, co-design approach. Interviews with 19 past retreat attendees and co-design workshops with 28 current retreat attendees shaped the intervention. DIPP offers a scalable, digital solution to enhance preparedness, aiming to limit adverse reactions and improve therapeutic benefits.
arXiv Preprint Archive
March 28, 2025
Marcus J. Glennon, Catherine I. V. 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.