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.
Hum Psychopharmacol
March 1, 2014
Rick Doblin, George Greer, Julie Holland et al.
48 citations
This article responds to and critically re-evaluates a prior review of 25 years of empirical research on MDMA (ecstasy). It argues for a more balanced understanding of the drug's effects, emphasizing that controlled therapeutic contexts can yield positive psychological outcomes and beneficial subjective experiences, contrary to earlier conclusions that focused predominantly on harms. The response highlights the need to separate recreational use from clinical applications and calls for nuanced interpretation of prior data to inform mental health research.
Nature medicine
June 3, 2025
Chloé Pronovost-Morgan, Kyle T. Greenway, Leor Roseman et al.
26 citations
A Delphi consensus study with 89 experts from 17 countries identified 30 extra-pharmacological variables that are important or very important for reporting the setting in psychedelic clinical trials. These variables, forming the ReSPCT guidelines, cover physical environment, dosing session procedure, therapeutic framework and protocol, and subjective experiences. The findings reveal significant ambiguities in current conceptualizations of set and setting. The guidelines provide a new standard for designing and documenting contextual factors in psychedelic research.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
December 1, 1998
Charles S. Grob, George Greer, Mariavittoria Mangini
15 citations
At the turn of the century, hallucinogens were re-emerging as subjects of serious scientific and therapeutic inquiry after decades of prohibition and stigma. This introduction to a special journal issue surveys the historical context, clinical potential, and regulatory challenges surrounding hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin. It highlights renewed interest in their use for treating conditions like addiction, depression, and post-traumatic stress, while noting the need for rigorous research to navigate ethical and legal hurdles. The editors call for a balanced approach that respects both the substances' risks and their possible benefits in psychotherapy.