Journal of Psychedelic Studies
September 25, 2023
Neşe Devenot
9 citations
The hype around psychedelic medications is infused with utopian and esoteric aspirations absent from earlier SSRI hype, and global tech elites are instrumentalizing both psychedelics and artificial intelligence as tools in a world-building project that justifies increasing material inequality. Through rhetorical analysis of public communications from industry leaders, the author shows that counterfactual efforts to improve mental health by increasing inequality are widespread in the psychedelics industry, propelled by an elitist worldview rooted in the TESCREAL bundle of ideologies—transhumanism, Extropianism, singularitarianism, cosmism, Rationalism, Effective Altruism, and longtermism. This ideology drives extractive systems that contradict the field's world-healing aspirations.
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.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
February 1, 2024
Jeremy Weleff, Akhil Anand, Elizabeth N. Dewey et al.
8 citations
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) use in the United States increased by 47% from 2015 to 2019, rising from 0.59% to 0.87% of the population. Among people with past-year hallucinogen use disorder, the proportion of LSD users did not significantly increase. Factors associated with LSD use included easier access to LSD, lower perceived risk of trying it, low income, fewer children in the home, recent contact with drug sellers, and, among adults 18 and older, a past-year suicide attempt. No associations were found with unemployment, arrest history, or psychological distress. Over the study period, LSD users became more likely to be ages 26–34 and married, and lifetime methamphetamine users also increased their LSD use. LSD remains uncommon and does not appear to be a major public health burden.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 7, 2022
Geoffrey M. Bove, David J. Mokler
8 citations
A single dose of psilocybin given to female rats increased levels of multiple immune factors in the blood, including IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, IP-10, G-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-13, and leptin, after 24 hours, with further increases after seven days. Most other measured immune modulators showed similar but statistically non-significant increases. The findings indicate that psilocybin induces a generalized activation of the immune system that can persist for at least a week, which may relate to its therapeutic mechanism. Further research is needed to connect these immune effects to clinical outcomes in humans.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 9, 2022
Annie M. Mccartney, H. T. Mcgovern, Alexander de Foe
8 citations
Psychedelic substances like psilocybin and ketamine show promise as antidepressants due to rapid and lasting effects on mood and cognition. Most research focuses on psychiatric settings, but this review argues for a broader biopsychosocial perspective that includes social and psychological factors. Evaluating six major clinical trials, the authors conclude that combining psychedelic treatment with psychotherapy produces more enduring and profound antidepressant effects than either drug alone. This finding encourages people who might self-medicate with psychedelics to seek professional psychological support, reducing risks from unregulated use.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 1, 2021
Martie S. Underwood, Stephen J. Bright, B. Les Lancaster
8 citations
Ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid from the West African plant Tabernanthe iboga, shows preliminary evidence of effectiveness for treating substance use disorders, particularly opioid use disorder. This narrative review examines pharmacological, cultural, and psychological aspects of ibogaine that may contribute to its reputed effectiveness, focusing on the ibogaine state of consciousness. While exact pharmacological mechanisms remain speculative, the literature highlights ibogaine's role as an NMDA antagonist. Cultural aspects raise questions about participants' worldviews in traditional and Western contexts.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
September 1, 2019
Avery Sapoznikow, Zachary Walsh, Kenneth W. Tupper et al.
8 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew used for centuries in the Amazon and now internationally, produces different subjective experiences depending on the context of use. Analyzing online reports, ceremonial settings that incorporate traditional Amazonian elements emphasize emotional and motivational features, while psychonautic use without such rituals highlights cognitive processes. The findings suggest that beneficial effects of ayahuasca may stem from affective processing and integration, implying that cross-cultural ceremonial use may offer advantages over psychonautic use, underscoring the importance of context in psychedelic experiences.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 27, 2024
Lisa L. Gezon
7 citations
A year-long ethnographic study of a psychedelic integration group in the Southeastern United States found that the group was critical for members to effectively process their psychedelic experiences. The article introduces the concept of 'social efficacy' to describe how social relationships, the immediate environment, and broader historical and political contexts shape the benefits of psychedelics. Participants viewed the group as a supportive community of like-minded people that facilitated enduring cognitive and affective transformation. Community-based non-therapeutic integration groups can improve mental health and quality of life, highlighting the need for safe, legal spaces and medical models that include social and relational elements.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 5, 2024
Dusty R. Miller, Jordan Taylor Jacobs, Alan Rockefeller et al.
7 citations
Psilocybe zapotecorum, a blue-bruising mushroom used ceremonially by indigenous groups in southeastern Mexico, was characterized through morphology, cultivation, chemical profiling, and full genome sequencing. The genome revealed the architecture of the psilocybin gene cluster, serving as a reference for Psilocybe clade I. Chemical analysis showed a psilocybin concentration of 17.9 ± 1.7 mg/g (range 10.6–25.7 mg/g, n = 7) and lesser amounts of related tryptamines, yielding a combined tryptamine concentration of 22.5 ± 3.2 mg/g. These findings indicate P. zapotecorum is a potent and chemically variable species. Cultivation and genetic analysis help demystify these mushrooms, expanding understanding beyond the molecule as clinical psilocybin studies advance.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 5, 2024
Aaron D. Cherniak, Mario Mikulincer, Joel Gruneau Brulin et al.
7 citations
People who recall insecure early attachment with parents report more intense psychedelic experiences—mystical, challenging, emotional breakthrough, ego dissolution, and sensed presence—during their most memorable psychedelic session. However, current adult attachment styles (anxiety and avoidance) are unrelated to the intensity of those experiences. The subjective features of naturalistic psychedelic use do not typically weaken the connection between a perceived insecure attachment history and current attachment insecurity. The study surveyed 185 Jewish adults online who had used psychedelics.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
August 19, 2023
Liam Engel, Monica J. Barratt, Jason Ferris et al.
7 citations
Among 284 people who used mescaline in the past year, 20% had consumed wild-harvested Peyote. Those who preferred Peyote most often cited indigenous cultural traditions (57.8%), availability (40.0%), and environmental sustainability (33.3%) as motivations. San Pedro was the most common mescaline source (56.1%), and those who preferred it cited availability (54.7%), potency (45.3%), and indigenous cultural traditions (44.2%). Price and potency were significantly more important for San Pedro preferrers. Fewer than 7% of San Pedro users had consumed it from native habitats. The findings suggest that promoting cultivated San Pedro could reduce unsustainable wild Peyote consumption.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 16, 2023
Benjamin A. Korman
7 citations
Unemployed job seekers who have ever used classic psychedelics report greater psychological distress in the past 30 days than unemployed job seekers who have never used them, after accounting for demographics, health, and other substance use. Among employed individuals, no difference in distress was linked to lifetime psychedelic use. The finding suggests that classic psychedelic use may worsen stressful life phases, adding nuance to earlier studies that tied lifetime psychedelic use to positive mental health outcomes in healthy populations.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 16, 2023
Benjamin A. Korman
7 citations
Among 193,320 employed adults in the United States, having ever used classic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline) is not associated with missing more workdays due to lack of motivation. After accounting for demographics, physical health, and other substance use, no significant link was found between lifetime classic psychedelic use and motivationally-based workplace absenteeism. The findings challenge automatic job applicant rejection policies based solely on prior psychedelic use, suggesting such discrimination lacks empirical support.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 16, 2023
M. Brendle, Anya Ragnhildstveit, M. Slayton et al.
7 citations
A review of 56 registered clinical trials on ketamine and esketamine for treatment-resistant depression found that research activity increased since 2008, with peaks in 2015 and 2021. Most trials were Phase 2 or 3, examining these drugs as individual or combination treatments. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was the most common outcome measure. While large-scale, late-phase trials of esketamine are growing, many trials fail to assess patient characteristics like age, sex, and race that may affect treatment response. Understanding these design gaps can help scientists and funding bodies prioritize high-quality research.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 1, 2017
Rafael G. Dos Santos, Flávia de Lima Osório, José Alexandre S. Crippa et al.
7 citations
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage containing dimethyltryptamine and β-carbolines, is traditionally used by Indigenous groups in the Northwest Amazon for ritual and healing. While animal and human studies suggest it has antidepressant and anxiolytic effects and a good safety profile, anxiety-like reactions can occur, though rarely. This case report describes a symptom-free young woman with generalized anxiety disorder who experienced intense anxiety, panic, and hopelessness during and for three days after an ayahuasca ritual. Symptoms began within hours, gradually reduced over days, but were severe enough to require psychiatric help and restarting medication. This is the first reported subacute or prolonged anxiety-like reaction to ayahuasca, indicating it should be used cautiously in people with a history of anxiety disorders.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 16, 2025
Anna-Leigh Hodge, Anna Forsyth, Tehseen Noorani et al.
6 citations
A Māori-led project called Tū Wairua aims to integrate traditional Māori healing practices (rongoā Māori) with psychedelic-assisted therapy to address problematic methamphetamine use in Māori communities. Based at Rangiwaho Marae in Te Tairāwhiti (Gisborne), the project will use Kaupapa Māori methodology and biomedical psychedelic science to develop a decolonized, culturally appropriate approach to psilocybin treatment. It seeks to challenge colonial dynamics in current Western psychedelic therapy models, build a skilled Māori workforce, and challenge legislation restricting Indigenous psychedelic medicines, creating sustainable pathways for collective healing.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 15, 2025
Nir Tadmor, Demian Halperin, Guy Simon
6 citations
Mental health professionals who have personally taken psychedelics may gain enduring positive changes that benefit their clinical work. Interviews with eight such clinicians revealed a multi-faceted model of transformation covering interpersonal and emotional growth, changed relationships with death and nature, and deepened concepts of love, meaning, and spirituality. These personal shifts also enhanced their therapeutic skills. The findings suggest that clinicians involved in psychedelic integration should themselves have undergone altered states of consciousness, not only for empathy but because of intrinsic positive effects on their human and professional capacities.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
January 1, 2025
6 citations
Mainstreaming psychedelics carries tensions, controversies, and risks that require careful assessment. Overemphasis on biomedicalization sidelines social sciences, humanities, and traditional knowledge. Policy challenges, commodification dangers, and ecological burdens from expanded use are examined. The psychotherapeutic approach to care has been neglected. Inclusion, ethics, and reciprocity are needed to avoid recreating the psychedelic movement as another expression of mainstream capitalism. With the FDA's delay in approving MDMA for PTSD and regulatory hurdles in places like Colorado and Oregon, an informed conversation about the future is urgent, avoiding romanticization and addressing contemporary challenges and ethical risks.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
July 31, 2024
Joseph T. la Torre, Jade Gallo, Mehdi Mahammadli et al.
6 citations
Most people with a history of psychotic experiences or diagnoses who used psychedelics reported personal growth, mystical-type experiences, improved insight, and feelings of love and appreciation. In an online retrospective survey of 100 such individuals, 88% said their psychedelic experience led to some degree of personal growth. However, 11% described overall negative experiences including symptom exacerbation, dysphoria, and terror, and a slightly larger portion reported mixed experiences. The findings suggest that while many individuals with psychotic histories may benefit from psychedelic experiences, a notable minority experience adverse effects, challenging assumptions that this group should be universally excluded from psychedelic research.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 21, 2024
Bryan Mccarthy, Hunt Priest
6 citations
Three historical and contemporary examples illustrate what the authors call 'psychedelic Christianity': hippies who converted during the Jesus movement while still using psychedelics, mid-20th-century Catholic intellectuals who experimented with the compounds for spiritual and therapeutic reasons, and contemporary clergy who participated in Johns Hopkins and NYU studies with psychedelics. The authors highlight the healing these Christians experienced through their psychedelic practice, addressing a gap in academic literature that has largely focused on historical or ethical questions rather than how such a practice might look.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 6, 2024
Mark Cornfield, S. Mcbride, Joseph T. la Torre et al.
6 citations
Ketamine-assisted therapy, when given to both partners during Imago Relationship Therapy, produces a wide range of effects including empathogenic, mystical, anxiolytic, and antidepressant experiences. Participants reported heightened awareness, vulnerability, and communication, along with lower defenses and novel somatic sensations. The drug's short duration, rapid onset, and cumulative effects were noted, alongside transient mild side-effects. Statistical tests indicated improved relationship satisfaction after treatment. The findings suggest ketamine may have therapeutic benefits in couples therapy under clinical supervision, but more research is needed.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 5, 2024
Mitch Earleywine, Alyssa B. Oliva, Joseph A. de Leo et al.
6 citations
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which views the mind as composed of multiple subpersonalities or 'parts' shaped by trauma, has gained popularity, particularly in psychedelic-assisted treatments. However, outcome data for applying IFS to post-traumatic stress disorder are limited, and its theoretical assumptions are difficult to test. The model's appeal highlights a problem with how empirically supported treatments are perceived. Ethical recommendations for presenting IFS include providing detailed psychoeducation about evidence-based treatments, being candid about the experimental nature of alternatives, monitoring progress, and watching for harm. Drawing on IFS's appealing features to improve perceptions of validated treatments may attract more clients and reduce dropout while awaiting empirical evidence.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
August 21, 2023
Benjamin M. Ross, James T. Neill
6 citations
Young adults in the Australian Capital Territory generally hold positive attitudes toward psilocybin-assisted therapy. Individuals who are more open to experience and have used recreational drugs are more likely to view psilocybin-assisted therapy favorably. Psychedelic drug use and agreeableness are linked to positive views on psilocybin's safety, legality, and research, while psilocybin use itself is associated with greater perceived knowledge and acceptability of the substance. The survey of 118 young adults suggests that personal experience with drugs and personality traits shape these attitudes.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 27, 2023
Kevin O. St. Arnaud, Donald Sharpe
6 citations
Among 684 international online participants, classic psychedelics were the most common substances used for spiritual or entheogenic purposes. Entheogenic classic psychedelic users scored higher on measures of spiritual seeking, self-transcendence, psychological well-being, and psychospiritual development compared to both non-entheogenic users and non-users. The findings suggest entheogenic spirituality can be understood as a practice of spiritual seeking or implicit mysticism—a quest for self-transcendence and personal growth.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 28, 2023
Colin H. Simonds
6 citations
Global contemplative practices have established effective systems for implementing, directing, and integrating non-ordinary experiences that are central to psychedelic use, yet these traditions are largely absent from current psychedelic therapy discourse. This paper analyzes psychedelic-assisted therapy through the Tibetan Buddhist contemplative tradition, first comparing the non-ordinary experiences of Tibetan Buddhist meditation and psychedelic states via phenomenological literature. It then applies the Tibetan framework of view, meditation, action (lta sgom spyod gsum) to suggest how this tradition directs meditative experience toward desired ends and how this framework could inform psychedelic therapy. Using this lens, the paper compares two therapy protocols and recommends more intensive preparatory sessions, repeated dosing, and a more directed psychedelic experience to increase efficacy.