Journal of Psychedelic Studies
February 19, 2024
Nicholas Spiers, Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Anna O. Ermakova et al.
27 citations
An annotated bibliography of 49 texts on Indigenous psilocybin mushroom practices curates academic works from anthropology, history, archaeology, ethnolinguistics, and ethnomycology. The selected books and articles foreground overlooked research and subject matter, covering contemporary practices and historical uses across cultural traditions in Mexico and other regions. The annotations provide brief summaries, contextualization, and critical appraisals, aiming to offer a diverse overview of research and an accessible resource for further exploration. The team of psychedelic researchers behind this bibliography hopes it will contribute to more nuanced dialogue around Indigenous people and practices in the context of the so-called psychedelic renaissance.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
August 8, 2022
Alexander Irvine, David Luke
27 citations
People with Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD) differ in personality and visual processing style depending on whether they experience the symptoms as distressing (HPPD II) or neutral/positive (HPPD I). In an online survey of 117 participants from HPPD and psychedelic user groups, those with HPPD I showed higher absorption and visual apophenia scores, and their group membership was predicted by higher drug use. Those with HPPD II had significantly higher trait anxiety, and their categorization was predicted by more negative precipitating experiences, lack of prior knowledge, and pre-existing anxiety diagnoses. Anxiety and negative experiences are linked to distressing persistent visual symptoms after hallucinogen use, while higher absorption and apophenia are linked to neutral or positive experiences.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 21, 2018
Genís Ona
26 citations
Bad trips—adverse reactions to psychedelic drugs—are linked to recreational use, consumption in large outdoor spaces, and inexperience with the drug. Mixing drugs, ignorance about purity or dosage, and other problems that may contribute to bad trips can be addressed through harm-reduction strategies. However, a causal connection cannot be established from this descriptive, web-based survey of volunteers who had previously experienced a bad trip. Prospective studies with larger samples are needed to clarify the role of extra-pharmacological factors.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 25, 2020
Malin V. Uthaug, Rafael Lancelotta, Ana María Ortiz Bernal et al.
25 citations
Among 27 respondents who used the psychedelic drug 5-MeO-DMT, those who received it by intramuscular injection (IM) reported a lower rate of reactivations (21%) compared to those who vaporized it (69%). The IM group also required fewer redoses, experienced release of physical tension more consistently, and had a slower onset of acute effects (1–6 minutes) versus the vaporization group (1–50 seconds). These findings suggest that the route of administration influences the frequency of reactivations, dosing patterns, physical sensations, and the timing of the drug's effects.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 19, 2023
Tra-Ill Dowie, Julien Tempone-Wiltshire
24 citations
The book "Philosophy and Psychedelics: Frameworks for Exceptional Experience" fosters a dialogue between philosophy and psychedelic studies. It examines foundational, ontological, and epistemological questions raised by psychedelic experiences, such as the hard problem of consciousness, the metaphysical nature of the self, and the aesthetic meaning of the sublime. The work explores prevailing metaphysical frameworks, epistemic belief structures, and modes of inquiry, bringing together multiple dialectics, practices, perspectives, and methods.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 15, 2021
Mark S. Ferrara
24 citations
Cannabis can evoke 'peak-experiences'—brief moments of expanded perception and self-transcendence described by psychologist Abraham Maslow—especially when used alongside traditional religious practices like meditation, fasting, contemplative prayer, and sacramental ritual. Religious seekers worldwide have deliberately used cannabis to trigger these peak-experiences, which stir feelings of ecstasy, wonder, and awe and resolve life's dichotomies and conflicts. Such experiences constitute a form of spiritual revelation central to religious history. Cannabis has thus served as a mild entheogen across cultures and traditions for millennia due to its ability to elicit unitive consciousness at the heart of mystical insight.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
November 20, 2023
Tahlia R. Harrison
23 citations
Informed consent forms from U.S. trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy generally meet federal requirements, but they often omit information about the unique vulnerability participants experience while under the influence of psychedelics. A review of 19 publicly available consent forms from trials using psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, or ketamine alongside psychotherapy found that while risks, benefits, and safety protocols were covered, missing elements related to participant vulnerability should be included to ensure truly informed consent. The authors suggest modifying existing policy to address these gaps.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
September 16, 2022
Chelsea Radakovic, Ratko Radaković, Guy Peryer et al.
23 citations
A systematic review of 13 studies found that classic serotonergic psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD, DMT, ayahuasca) are associated with increases in mindfulness, particularly in acceptance-related domains such as non-judgement of inner experience and non-reactivity. A meta-analysis of 6 studies showed small overall effects from ayahuasca ingestion on mindfulness facets including non-judgement, non-reactivity, and acting with awareness. The authors note substantial variability across studies in participants, psychedelic administration, and mindfulness measurement, and call for more methodologically robust research to clarify the relationship.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
February 20, 2020
Daniela M. Peluso, Emily Sinclair, Beatriz Caiuby Labate et al.
23 citations
The creation of guidelines to raise awareness of sexual abuse in ayahuasca settings faces the challenge of conveying that abuse is never the victim's fault while also informing about common scenarios that can lead to abuse. The globalization of ayahuasca use has broadened the contexts in which the psychedelic brew is consumed, increasing possibilities for sexual harassment and abuse. The article reflects on the conception and development of the Ayahuasca Community Guide for the Awareness of Sexual Abuse by the Chacruna Institute, focusing on the needs for such guidelines and the challenges in collaboratively creating them as an educational task.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 27, 2019
Nathan D. Sepeda, John M. Clifton, Laura Y. Doyle et al.
23 citations
People who used inhaled synthetic 5-MeO-DMT in a structured, supportive setting reported significantly more intense mystical experiences and enduring positive effects—such as greater meaningfulness, spirituality, and well-being—and fewer challenging experiences than those who used it in a non-structured context. In the structured context group, 83% had a complete mystical experience compared to 54% in the non-structured group. The findings suggest that a safe and supportive environment enhances the positive acute and lasting outcomes of 5-MeO-DMT.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 18, 2023
Benjamin R. Lewis, Kevin Byrne, John Hendrick et al.
22 citations
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is usually given one-on-one, but group formats might offer unique benefits and help scale treatment. The HOPE trial tested psilocybin-enhanced group therapy in cancer patients with depression. Three cohorts of 4–6 participants each received three group preparatory sessions, one high-dose (25 mg) group psilocybin session, and three group integration sessions. This report presents qualitative survey data from participants and therapist observations, offering guidelines for protocol design, screening, space, therapist team structure, group process, music, and timeline. Primary clinical outcomes are still being analyzed.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 1, 2019
Matthew Clark
22 citations
The article explores the origins of the ritual drink soma/haoma, known as the 'nectar of immortality' in ancient Asian literature. It assesses shortcomings of previous botanical candidates and identifies plants that contain dimethyl tryptamine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and other psychedelic substances. The author suggests that complex formulas similar to ayahuasca were developed in Central Asia through trial and error, and knowledge of psychoactive plants spread via migrants to Persia and India. The article summarizes arguments from the author's book, without elaborating on topics like Greek mystery rites, cannabis, or criteria for non-ordinary states of consciousness.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
October 17, 2017
Jared Wildberger, Cassandra N. John, Robert M. Hallock
22 citations
College students are reluctant to agree that hallucinogenic drugs can be therapeutic for conditions like anxiety, PTSD, and addiction, but a majority believe further research into their medicinal benefits is warranted. A survey of 124 students at two U.S. colleges—a small private college in the mid-Atlantic and a medium-sized public university in the Midwest—found similar responses across campuses. Participants were asked about seven afflictions and generally did not endorse hallucinogens as therapeutic, yet supported continued investigation into their potential medical uses.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 3, 2024
O. Robinson, J. Evans, R. Mcalpine et al.
21 citations
An online survey of 159 people who experienced difficulties lasting more than one day after using psychedelic drugs in the past 2–10 years found that social disconnection (72%), anxiety and panic attacks (68%), and existential struggle (65%) were the most common problems. Anxiety and panic attacks were rated as most severe, while existential struggle and diminished self-esteem lasted the longest, with average durations exceeding 15 months. Self-education was the most frequently used coping strategy for social disconnection and existential struggle, professional therapy worked best for depression and diminished self-esteem, and peer or family support helped most with anxiety and panic attacks. The findings point to the need for diverse support systems combining professional, educational, and community resources.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 29, 2019
Meena Maillart-Garg, Michael Winkelman
21 citations
The essay argues that entheogenic mushrooms and shamanic experiences are encoded in the erotic sculptures of the Khajuraho Temples in India. Statues with limbs in anatomically impossible positions or separated from the body represent dismemberment experiences typical of shamanic and mystical initiation, a phenomenon with precedents in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The central placement of mushroom depictions in the temple structures supports the entheogenic hypothesis, though features distinguishing mushroom species are often ambiguous. The argument for the originality of Amanita muscaria is made by assessing principal names of the God Vishnu. A repeated “figure 8” pattern suggests artists deliberately constructed sculptures to appear vandalized to encode information about early stages of A. muscaria and other entheogenic fungi, connecting Hindu God Vishnu, Jain Mahaveera, and the Buddha.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 1, 2018
Thaddeus James Camlin, Donald Eulert, A. Thomas Horvath et al.
21 citations
People who took ibogaine for opioid use disorder reported a powerful experience that reduced withdrawal and craving and led to a more optimistic outlook on self and life. Participants described subjective neurological and physical effects, auditory and visual phenomena, and shifts in their perspective. The treatment attenuates opioid withdrawal and produces a subjectively intense physiological, emotional, and psychological experience.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 1, 2018
David Luke
20 citations
A letter reports a case of a person with apparent congenital aphantasia who experienced no visual imagery despite heavily smoking N,N-dimethyltryptamine, a psychedelic. This contrasts with a prior case in which an individual with aphantasia reported improved visual imagery after ayahuasca. The letter supports the idea that the prior case's aphantasia was acquired rather than congenital, and proposes further exploring this distinction in relation to psychedelics. It recommends that future psychedelic research include self-report measures like the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire and behavioral tasks such as binocular rivalry to index aphantasia.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 22, 2022
Sam Gandy
19 citations
Mystical experiences, often described as profoundly meaningful, can be reliably induced by psychedelic substances under appropriate conditions. Their occurrence during psychedelic sessions is a key mediator of sustained psychological benefits in healthy and clinical populations. Factors such as set and setting, drug dosage, trait absorption, drug type, intention, and states of surrender and acceptance influence these experiences. Additional elements like music, meditation, spiritual practices, and nature-based settings may enhance their intensity and long-term benefits. This review examines these factors and considers how to optimize them to increase the likelihood of mystical experiences, while also addressing negatively associated factors and suggesting future research avenues.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 21, 2022
Chris Letheby, Jaipreet Mattu
19 citations
Serotonergic psychedelics have prompted philosophical questions that academic philosophers are now beginning to explore. This paper reviews four emerging research areas: selfless consciousness, psychedelic epistemology, psychedelic ethics, and spiritual or religious naturalism. It highlights questions about how psychedelics affect self-consciousness and phenomenal consciousness, the epistemic nature of psychedelic experiences, ethical issues surrounding appropriate use, and whether spiritual or religious aspects of psychedelic use can fit within a naturalistic worldview.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
November 19, 2021
Pratheek Mangini, Lynnette A. Averill, Alan K. Davis
18 citations
Among 27 Special Operations Forces Veterans who reported risky drinking before a psychedelic clinical program in Mexico, retrospective reports showed very large reductions in alcohol use and post-traumatic stress symptoms from before to after treatment, with 85% reducing drinking to non-risky levels (33% abstinent, 52% non-risky drinking). Psychological flexibility increased substantially and was strongly associated with both reductions. The authors call for rigorous longitudinal studies to determine whether psychedelic-assisted therapy holds promise for this population.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 26, 2019
R. Andrew Yockey, Keith A. King, Rebecca A. Vidourek
18 citations
LSD use is increasing among US adults. An analysis of 2017 national survey data identified psychosocial factors linked to lifetime use. Being male, African American or Hispanic, using alcohol, ecstasy, marijuana, inhalants, cocaine, or cigarettes before age 21, having suicidal thoughts, and enjoying or seeking risky activities were all associated with higher likelihood of LSD use. The findings may help health professionals address this growing trend.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
July 25, 2018
Rafael G. Dos Santos, Scotty Enyart, José Carlos Bouso et al.
18 citations
A man who had long experienced aphantasia (the inability to form voluntary mental images) reported modest but sustained improvements in his visual imagery after a single dose of ayahuasca, a botanical hallucinogen rich in DMT. The improvements were attributed to possible biological and psychological processes, including stimulation of cortical 5-HT2A receptors, increased activity in the visual cortex, and resolution of psychological trauma from a difficult relationship with his father. The case suggests that 5-HT2A agonists like ayahuasca may offer a path to explore treatments for aphantasia, though further trials are needed.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 2, 2024
M. Nordin, Jón Ingi Hlynsson, Jakob Håkansson Eklund et al.
17 citations
Interviews with eight psychedelic treatment providers revealed short-term negative effects including adverse reactions to psilocybin dosing sessions, problems in the therapeutic relationship, and difficult personal experiences. Long-term negative effects included destabilization of the client, trouble adjusting to life after treatment, complications in the treatment relationship, and other undesirable outcomes. The findings underscore the need for thorough pre-treatment assessment and post-treatment support to improve safety and clinical implementation.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
August 26, 2021
Kim van Oorsouw, Malin V. Uthaug, Natasha L. Mason et al.
16 citations
A single ayahuasca ceremony reduced self-reported stress, anxiety, and somatization, and increased non-judging awareness four weeks later in 73 ceremony attendants. Satisfaction with life and awareness improved the day after the ceremony but returned to baseline after four weeks. No reduction in depression was found, contrary to earlier work. The intensity of ego dissolution during the ceremony predicted sub-acute mental health improvements. Effects were similar for first-time and experienced users. The authors call for placebo-controlled trials to confirm ayahuasca's therapeutic potential.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
July 20, 2017
Csaba Szummer, Lajos Horváth, A. Szabó et al.
16 citations
Psychedelic experiences can be understood as a form of fantasy activity, offering a favorable situation for phenomenological research. Applying Merleau-Ponty's later conceptual framework from The Visible and the Invisible, along with his mescaline analyses from The Phenomenology of Perception, psychedelic visions and emotional states are discussed within the Merleau-Pontian framework of the 'wild world.' From a phenomenological viewpoint, psychedelic visions represent an ongoing sense-making and Gestalt-formation process in which the subject's elaborative activity plays a crucial role.