Frontiers in Psychiatry
November 13, 2023
Tor-Morten Kvam, Malin V Uthaug, Kristoffer A A Andersen et al.
21 citations
In a survey of 770 Norwegian adults who had a memorable experience with a classic psychedelic substance like psilocybin or LSD, most used the substance for recreational (46.1%) or therapeutic (42.3%) reasons. Psilocybin was the most common substance for the memorable experience. Many participants reported self-perceived symptoms of mental disorders and substance use disorders, and most said their condition improved after the experience. Adverse reactions were usually mild and short-lived, but 4.2% lasted a year or more, and 2.9% had persisting flashbacks for a year or more. The findings highlight both benefits and long-term risks in a self-selecting sample.
Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening
January 1, 2018
Tor-Morten Kvam, Lowan H. Stewart, Ole A. Andreassen
15 citations
Psychedelic substances show promise in treating several mental disorders, but existing studies are small and face methodological challenges. Systematic clinical trials are needed to obtain solid evidence of effectiveness and to establish routines for monitoring possible side effects.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
October 26, 2022
Tor-Morten Kvam, Ivar W Goksøyr, Lowan H. Stewart et al.
11 citations
A proof-of-principle, open-label clinical trial will test MDMA-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder. Twelve participants with a DSM-5 diagnosis of MDD will receive a flexible dose of MDMA during two dosing sessions over four weeks, each followed by three integration sessions. The primary outcome is change in depression severity measured by the MADRS scale from baseline to eight weeks after the second session. Secondary outcomes include functional impairment and safety measures such as adverse events and suicidality. The trial aims to inform larger studies and optimize the treatment protocol.
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
July 11, 2025
Tor-Morten Kvam, Ivar W Goksøyr, Justyna Rog et al.
6 citations
In an open-label study of twelve adults with moderate to severe major depressive disorder, two sessions of MDMA-assisted therapy one month apart, combined with psychotherapy, led to a substantial average reduction of 19.3 points on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and an average decrease of 11.7 points on the Sheehan Disability Scale, indicating improved daily functioning. No serious or unexpected adverse events occurred. The results suggest the approach is safe and feasible, with strong indications of efficacy, though randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
November 27, 2025
Tor-Morten Kvam, Ivar W Goksøyr, Joanna Róg et al.
3 citations
In a small long-term follow-up of twelve people with major depressive disorder, MDMA-assisted therapy—two MDMA dosing sessions combined with nine psychotherapy sessions—led to sustained reductions in depression severity and disability seven months after baseline. Depression scores on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and disability scores on the Sheehan Disability Scale remained significantly lower than before treatment, with no significant changes from the immediate post-treatment visit. Suicidal ideation did not exceed pre-study levels. The results suggest lasting treatment effects and safety, though the authors call for larger controlled trials to confirm these preliminary findings.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
May 26, 2025
Bjørn Holmøy, Tor-Morten Kvam, Kristoffer Andreas Aamodt Andersen et al.
3 citations
A Norwegian translation of the Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) shows strong reliability and validity for assessing adverse psychedelic experiences. An online survey of 729 Norwegian recreational psychedelic users, mostly male (73%) and aged 26–35 (41%), with 90% having used LSD or psilocybin, confirmed the original 7-factor structure. The translated CEQ demonstrated excellent internal consistency (alpha = 0.94) and good overall model fit. The tool also showed factorial invariance across gender and psychiatric status, and convergent validity through relationships between reported difficulty and factors like fear, grief, insanity, and death. This provides Norwegian researchers with a culturally adapted, psychometrically valid tool for evaluating complex adverse reactions to psychedelic use.
Frontiers in pharmacology
January 1, 2025
Paula Aarseth Tunstad, Tor-Morten Kvam, Malin V Uthaug et al.
2 citations
An anonymous internet survey of Norwegian-speaking adults who had a memorable experience with a classic psychedelic substance found that 85% reported a small to large positive change in subjective wellbeing after the experience. Integration, ego dissolution, and emotional breakthrough had a clear positive predictive effect on self-reported wellbeing. Variables with smaller but significant effects included challenging experiences, nature or ceremony settings, and a therapeutic or seeking intention. The authors view these findings as hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory due to study limitations.