Archives of General Psychiatry
September 7, 2010
Gurpreet S Chopra, Marycie Hagerty, Charles S. Grob et al.
1,220 citations
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, twelve adults with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety received a moderate dose (0.2 mg/kg) of psilocybin. Safe physiological and psychological responses were documented, with no clinically significant adverse events. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory trait anxiety subscale showed a significant reduction in anxiety at 1 and 3 months after treatment. The Beck Depression Inventory indicated improved mood that reached significance at 6 months; the Profile of Mood States showed mood improvement that approached but did not reach significance. The results support the need for more research into psilocybin for cancer-related anxiety.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 1, 1986
George Greer, Requa Tolbert
420 citations
In a clinical setting, individuals who took MDMA reported predominantly positive subjective effects, including enhanced communication, emotional openness, and introspection, with minimal adverse reactions. The drug appeared to facilitate therapeutic processes by reducing fear and defensiveness. Some participants experienced transient anxiety or discomfort, but overall the experience was described as valuable and conducive to personal insight. The authors suggest that MDMA may have potential as an adjunct to psychotherapy when used under controlled conditions.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 1, 2002
Franz X. Vollenweider, Matthias E. Liechti, Alex Gamma et al.
92 citations
Since the mid 1990s, MDMA has been increasingly used recreationally as 'Ecstasy' by young people in Europe and the United States, yet systematic data on its psychological and neurobiological effects have been scarce. The authors conducted several studies in healthy human volunteers using placebo-controlled within-subject designs, standardized psychometric ratings, and neuropsychological tests to characterize the acute, short-term, and prolonged effects of MDMA. They also used specific receptor antagonists and Positron Emission Tomography to explore the neurotransmitter systems and functional neuroanatomy involved. This summary covers MDMA's acute effects on psychological and cognitive measures, information processing, and regional brain activity in healthy volunteers.