Frontiers in Pharmacology
March 9, 2022
Drummond E-Wen Mcculloch, Maria Zofia Grzywacz, Martin Bruun Madsen et al.
91 citations
Psilocybin, a psychedelic drug, can produce lasting positive psychological changes in healthy people. In 28 healthy volunteers who received 35 medium-high doses, the intensity of the acute mystical experience, measured by the Mystical Experience Questionnaire, predicted positive persisting effects three months later. Specifically, the subscales for positive mood and mysticality were linked to later benefits, while transcendence of time/space and ineffability were not. Qualitative reports described themes of connection with the Universe, familial love, and profound beauty. The type of acute experience appears important for predicting enduring positive outcomes.
Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain
January 1, 2024
Anja Sofie Petersen, Inger Marie Sørensen, Harald Schiønning et al.
29 citations
In a small open-label trial, ten people with chronic cluster headache received three doses of psilocybin (0.14 mg/kg) over three weeks. Attack frequency dropped by an average of 31% from the four-week baseline to the four-week follow-up, and one patient had 21 weeks of complete remission. Changes in hypothalamic–diencephalic functional connectivity correlated negatively with the reduction in attack frequency, suggesting this neural pathway may be involved in the treatment response. The treatment was well tolerated. The results indicate psilocybin may have prophylactic potential for chronic cluster headache, though larger controlled studies are needed.
medRxiv
July 10, 2022
M. Madsen, Anja Sofie Petersen, Dea Siggaard Stenbæk et al.
5 citations
preprint
In a small open-label clinical trial, three low-to-moderate doses of psilocybin reduced attack frequency by an average of 30% from baseline to follow-up in patients with chronic cluster headache. One patient experienced 21 weeks of complete remission. The treatment was well-tolerated with no serious adverse reactions. Changes in hypothalamic-diencephalic functional connectivity correlated negatively with the relative reduction in attack frequency, suggesting this neural pathway is involved in treatment response. Further studies are needed to confirm safety and prophylactic efficacy.
December 14, 2021
Drummond E-Wen Mcculloch, Maria Zofia Grzywacz, M. Madsen et al.
2 citations
preprint
Psilocybin, a psychedelic drug, can produce lasting positive psychological changes in healthy people. In 35 sessions with 28 healthy volunteers, those who reported more intense mystical experiences—measured by the Mystical Experience Questionnaire—were more likely to report positive effects three months later. The subscales 'Positive Mood' and 'Mysticality' predicted these benefits, while 'Transcendence of Time and Space' and 'Ineffability' did not. Qualitative reports described themes of connection with the universe, familial love, and profound beauty. The type of acute experience appears important for predicting lasting positive outcomes.