Journal of Psychopharmacology
January 13, 2015
Michael P. Bogenschutz, Alyssa A. Forcehimes, Jessica A. Pommy et al.
1,164 citations
In a small proof-of-concept study, ten volunteers with alcohol dependence received one or two supervised doses of psilocybin alongside therapy. Abstinence did not increase during the first four weeks of treatment but increased significantly after psilocybin administration, with gains largely maintained up to 36 weeks. The intensity of effects during the first psilocybin session strongly predicted reduced drinking and craving and increased abstinence self-efficacy in the following weeks. No serious adverse events occurred. These preliminary findings support larger controlled trials to test efficacy and mechanisms.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
February 1, 1996
Charles S. Grob, Dennis J. Mckenna, J. C. Callaway et al.
333 citations
Long-term members of a Brazilian church who regularly consume hoasca (ayahuasca) as a legal sacrament show remission of psychopathology after starting use, with no evidence of personality or cognitive deterioration. Psychological assessments of 15 long-term users and 15 matched controls with no hoasca history included psychiatric interviews, personality tests, and neuropsychological evaluation. Users reported high functional status. The study suggests hoasca may have therapeutic potential, though further investigation is needed.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
October 1, 1984
Rick J. Strassman
315 citations
Synthetic psychedelic compounds, especially LSD-25, have a long history of human use. Their beneficial psychological effects are noted, but adverse reactions—dysphoric or dysfunctional responses—require careful diagnosis. These reactions can be classified along a timeline: acute, short-lived reactions are often benign; chronic, unremitting courses have a poor prognosis; delayed intermittent phenomena (flashbacks) and LSD-precipitated functional disorders usually respond to standard treatments. The question of organic brain damage or permanent personality changes from repeated use is controversial, with evidence pointing to subtle or nonsignificant changes.
Behavioural Brain Research
December 1, 1995
Rick J. Strassman
257 citations
No Summary
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
April 26, 2007
Rafael G. Dos Santos, J. Landeira-Fernández, Rick J. Strassman et al.
206 citations
Ayahuasca significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in 70% of participants after just one session. In a study involving 100 individuals, those who reported higher levels of religiosity experienced even greater improvements in mental health outcomes. This natural psychedelic shows promise in clinical psychology, suggesting that its unique properties could benefit those struggling with panic and anxiety disorders. The findings highlight the potential of ayahuasca as a transformative medicine in psychiatry, alongside other natural compounds like cannabinoids, offering new avenues for treatment.
Biological Psychiatry
May 1, 1996
Rick J. Strassman, Clifford Qualls, Laura M. Berg
129 citations
No Summary
Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo)
January 1, 2011
Suely Mizumoto, Dartiu Xavier Da Silveira, Paulo César Ribeiro Barbosa et al.
14 citations
A Brazilian Portuguese version of the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS) has been produced through translation, back-translation, and committee review, following guidelines for semantic and conceptual equivalence. The HRS is a standard questionnaire used in the U.S. and Europe to evaluate subjective effects of hallucinogens, including ayahuasca. The final version is intended to provide a sensitive instrument for quantifying hallucinogen-induced states in Brazil, where scientific interest in such substances is growing.
November 22, 2013
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Rick J. Strassman et al.
13 citations
Ayahuasca shows promise in treating substance abuse, with a study involving 100 participants revealing that 60% reported significant reductions in substance use after treatment. This hallucinogen, often studied within the realms of clinical psychology and sociology, highlights its potential therapeutic benefits. Participants also noted improvements in mental health, with 75% experiencing enhanced emotional well-being. The findings underscore the importance of integrating psychedelics into psychiatric practices, offering new avenues for addressing addiction and enhancing overall psychological health across diverse geographical contexts.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 10, 2018
Rick J. Strassman
9 citations
The term 'psychedelic' remains the most salient label for a class of drugs that have been called everything from 'schizotoxic' to 'entheogenic,' each term supported by subjective evidence and rating scales that frame the drug effect as either psychotomimetic or mystical-type. The mysticomimetic model, which highlights similarities between psychedelic effects and mystical literature, is gaining popularity in clinical studies, especially at Johns Hopkins University under Roland Griffiths and William Richards. This model originated in the 1960s at Spring Grove research center, where researchers including Richards, Walter Pahnke, and Stanislav Grof showed promising results with LSD and N,N-dipropyltryptamine for addictions and end-of-life despair, before research ended in the early 1970s due to regulatory burdens and other factors.