Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 4, 2022
Ismael Apud, Juan Scuro, Ignacio Carrera et al.
14 citations
Participants in ayahuasca rituals at a substance-use-disorder treatment center in Uruguay scored higher than a control group on Impulsive Sensation Seeking, Boredom Susceptibility, and Social Warmth scales of the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire. Qualitative analysis of their experiences revealed five categories: emotional experiences (including love and empathy), corporal experiences, spiritual/transcendental experiences, personal experiences, and visions. The findings suggest that the combination of social interactions and ayahuasca's pharmacological action may facilitate social emotions during rituals and contribute to long-term increases in empathic and social aspects of personality.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 15, 2019
A. Danforth
14 citations
Autistic adults who used MDMA (ecstasy) in nonclinical settings reported lasting improvements in trauma, social anxiety, and interpersonal relationships, with no long-term adverse outcomes. Qualitative interviews with 24 participants across 13 countries revealed themes of intra- and interpersonal change, suggesting MDMA-assisted therapy may be an effective catalyst for healing. The findings support the need for future clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for autistic adults facing social adaptability challenges.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 1, 1985
David E. Smith, Richard B. Seymour
14 citations
Adverse reactions to LSD, including terrifying experiences akin to nightmares, are examined through clinical case histories and psychoanalytic interpretation. The paper argues that such reactions often stem from unresolved psychological conflicts and the user's set and setting, rather than being purely pharmacological. It describes how the drug can amplify latent anxieties, leading to panic, paranoia, and prolonged psychotic episodes in vulnerable individuals. The authors suggest that these adverse reactions reveal the deep psychological significance of the LSD experience, linking it to dream states and the unconscious mind.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 18, 2023
Emmy Manson, Erin Ryding, Wes Taylor et al.
13 citations
A pilot program offered group-based therapy with three ketamine sessions at a psychedelic dose to eight Indigenous participants and two Elders, in partnership between Roots to Thrive and the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Thematic analysis of interviews and feedback revealed that participants experienced significant benefits, including the importance of Indigenous team members, traditional healing approaches, and authentic relationships. Challenges were also noted. The work highlights the need to address colonial legacies and integrate Indigenous Ways of Knowing for culturally safe psychedelic therapies.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 24, 2019
Kim P. C. Kuypers, E. B. de Sousa Fernandes Perna, Eef L. Theunissen et al.
13 citations
4-Fluoroamphetamine (4-FA), a novel psychoactive substance with a chemical structure similar to amphetamine and MDMA, induces a mild psychedelic state. In a placebo-controlled crossover study of 12 healthy poly-drug users, the psychedelic state peaked one hour after administration, coinciding with highest serum concentrations, and declined over time as concentrations fell. No change in creative (flexible) thinking occurred. The intensity of the 4-FA-induced psychedelic state falls between that produced by amphetamine and MDMA, consistent with user reports. More research is needed to determine whether 4-FA can alter creative thinking.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 1, 2002
Jos Ten Berge
13 citations
Intoxication, like dreams and madness, has historically been interpreted through two opposing cultural lenses: either as possession by an external agency or as liberation that reveals hidden truths (in vino veritas). Artists under LSD, mescaline, or psilocybin similarly describe feeling either possessed or liberated, influenced by their expectations and cultural dichotomies. However, analysis of a protocol suggests that intoxication can involve both possession and liberation almost simultaneously. Mediumistic and some psychedelic art display stylistic traits expressing both feelings. The demoniacal and psychedelic modes merge in experiential reality but are divided culturally.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 1, 2003
Ede Frecska, Keith D. White, Luis E. Luna
12 citations
Ingesting the South American hallucinogenic beverage ayahuasca reduced the rate of perceptual alternations in a binocular rivalry task, increased the duration of one percept, and produced evidence of phenomenal fusion. These findings align with brain activation studies showing right cortical activation under hallucinogens and support the concept of interhemispheric fusion in altered states of consciousness, rather than the earlier theory of changes in hemispheric integration.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 31, 2025
Samuel Thomson, Nikos Thomacos
11 citations
A systematic review of 19 studies with 949 participants examined whether psychedelics can enhance well-being in healthy individuals, applying the PERMA Theory of Well-Being. The substances studied included psilocybin, ayahuasca, LSD, and 5-MeO-DMT. Results consistently indicate that psychedelic consumption is related to enduring enhancements in positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. No serious adverse effects were reported in six studies, though discussion of adverse effects was often absent. The review calls for a paradigm shift toward recognizing psychedelics' capacity to foster human flourishing beyond a disease-focused lens.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
February 7, 2025
Amy Lehrner, Heather Jackson, David S. Mathai et al.
11 citations
Among 679 adults using psilocybin in naturalistic settings, 68.2% reported acute feelings of shame or guilt during the experience, which were difficult to predict. The ability to constructively work through these feelings predicted wellbeing 2-4 weeks later. On average, psilocybin produced a small but significant decrease in trait shame maintained 2-3 months after use (Cohen's dz = 0.37), though trait shame increased in 29.8% of participants. The activation of self-conscious emotions with psychedelics warrants further attention as a challenging experience subcategory relevant to psychological outcomes, potentially creating a unique learning condition for shame-related memory reconsolidation.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 10, 2024
Nilubon Thaoboonruang, Manupat Lohitnavy, Ornrat Lohitnavy
11 citations
Psilocybin, the main psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, acts as a prodrug that is rapidly converted in the body to its active form, psilocin. After ingestion, psilocin levels in blood and brain peak quickly and depend on the dose given. Psilocin is broken down through multiple metabolic pathways and has a short half-life of 2–3 hours. This review of 20 studies highlights that while basic pharmacokinetics are understood, important gaps remain—such as incomplete information on metabolism and limitations in study design—that future research should address to improve dosing and treatment optimization for conditions like major depressive disorder.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 10, 2023
Ashmita Grewal, Kalysha Closson, Gina Martin et al.
11 citations
People who experienced childhood adversity are more likely to suffer psychological distress. An online survey of adults who had used psilocybin in the past three months found that the link between adverse childhood experiences and current distress was weaker for those who had recently used psilocybin. Interest in and acceptance of psilocybin was high regardless of the severity of childhood adversity. The findings suggest psilocybin could be an acceptable and potentially helpful therapy for survivors of adverse childhood experiences, with the strongest benefits for those who faced the most severe adversity.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
August 24, 2023
Stanley Wong, An Yi Yu, Nicholas Fabiano et al.
11 citations
Interest in psychedelic therapies for mental and substance use disorders has grown, but evidence for non-psilocybin serotonergic psychedelics remains limited. A scoping review of mescaline, ibogaine, ayahuasca, DMT, and LSD identified 77 studies: 43 on LSD, 24 on ayahuasca, and 5 each on DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline. Reported benefits included improved mood, anxiety, insight, reduced substance use, better relationships, and fewer vegetative symptoms. Adverse effects were psychological, neurological, physical, and gastrointestinal; serious events like homicide and suicide appeared in LSD studies. The review concludes there is only low-level evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of these substances for mental and substance use disorders.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 11, 2022
Jeremy Weleff, Teddy J. Akiki, Brian S. Barnett
11 citations
After decades of limited research, interest in using psychedelics as psychiatric treatments has revived. A bibliometric analysis of 394 clinical studies on 5-MeO-DMT, ayahuasca, DMT, LSD, ibogaine, mescaline, MDMA, and psilocybin published from 1965 to 2021 found that publications resurged after a lull from the 1970s to the 1990s. MDMA was the most frequently studied substance (49%), followed by LSD (19%), psilocybin (18%), and ayahuasca (7%). Comparing studies from 1965-2009 with those from 2010-2021, the recent cohort had a higher proportion of studies on therapeutic applications and a lower proportion on effects in non-research settings. Psilocybin studies increased proportionally, while DMT and mescaline studies decreased. Researchers in the United Kingdom had the most diverse international collaborations.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 12, 2022
Vincent Hartong, Arnold van Emmerik
11 citations
People who microdose psychedelics, either currently or in the past, report lower trait anxiety than those who have never microdosed. This association appears to be partly explained by higher trait mindfulness, particularly the facets of non-judging and non-reactivity. However, when participants who had previously taken a full psychedelic dose were excluded from the analysis, the link between microdosing and lower anxiety disappeared. The findings indicate that previous macrodose experience may account for the observed differences, and randomized controlled trials are needed to test whether microdosing itself reduces anxiety.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 22, 2022
Lindsay Shaw, Kerri Rea, Nathan J. Lachowsky et al.
11 citations
Young adults in Victoria, Canada who had used magic mushrooms within the past three months described lasting impacts including transformation and learning. They used strategies such as researching magic mushrooms and relying on peer support to optimize their experiences. Aspects previously considered harmful were instead associated with learning and few harms. The perceived positive outcomes and low risk profile suggest the need for further research to help users maximize benefits and minimize harms.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 1, 2008
Jan G. Bruhn, Hesham R. Ei-Seedi, Nikolai Stephanson et al.
11 citations
Three new minor alkaloids—lophophine, homopiperonylamine, and lobivine—have been identified in peyote (Lophophora williamsii) and San Pedro (Trichocereus pachanoi) cacti. These are the first psychoactive phenethylamines other than mescaline reported in these species. The discovery suggests that substances resembling Ecstasy may occur naturally, and further investigation of biosynthetic analogues could clarify structure-activity relationships of mescaline. The findings raise the question of whether such natural compounds can be considered designer drugs.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 10, 2024
Ashutosh Bhave
10 citations
Decriminalization and legalization of psilocybin in several U.S. cities and states (Oregon and Colorado) have led to a significant increase in public interest in psilocybin, as measured by web search volume, while simultaneously reducing search interest in other psychedelics like LSD and MDMA. This shift occurred nationwide, even in states without psilocybin reforms. The authors suggest that moving public attention toward psilocybin, considered safer with lower overdose and hospitalization risks, has positive public health implications.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 7, 2023
Marianna Graziosi, Manvir Singh, Sandeep M. Nayak et al.
10 citations
Reports of psychedelic experiences show both similarities and differences across cultural contexts, yet most current characterizations come from Western medical and naturalistic settings. This article reviews the history of diverse psychedelic use in non-Western settings and compares accounts of acute subjective effects within and beyond Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) contexts. It contrasts themes from direct testimony and psychometric measures including the mystical experiences questionnaire, five-dimensional altered states of consciousness scale, Survey of God Encounters, Survey of Entity Encounters, Challenging Experiences Questionnaire, and Inventory of Nonordinary Experiences. Recommendations are offered for future empirical research to quantify cross-cultural similarities and differences.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 1, 2023
V. Tsang, Dragos C Razagan, P. Kryskow et al.
10 citations
Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are rising among healthcare providers, and conventional treatments have limited effectiveness. A 12-week pilot program combined a Community of Practice (CoP) group therapy with optional ketamine sessions for 57 healthcare providers. Symptoms were measured before and after the program. All participants showed significant reductions: depression scores dropped by an average of 6.79 points, anxiety by 5.57 points, and PTSD by 14.83 points. Those who also received ketamine had larger reductions, but the difference was not statistically significant, suggesting the group therapy itself drove the improvement.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
August 19, 2022
Marcio S. C. Longo, Bheatrix Bienemann, Marco Multedo et al.
10 citations
People who currently use ayahuasca/DMT, psilocybe mushrooms, LSD, cannabis, or MDMA/ecstasy score higher on nature relatedness than those who have never used these substances. After accounting for sociodemographic factors, only current and past use of ayahuasca/DMT remained positively associated with nature relatedness. Among those who reported an intention to use psilocybe mushrooms in the future, that intention was also linked to higher nature relatedness. The findings suggest that classic serotonergic psychedelics may have a unique relationship with nature relatedness, but the cross-sectional design cannot establish causation.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
February 9, 2019
Lorenzo Moccia, A. Tofani, Marianna Mazza et al.
10 citations
A 23-year-old man developed a substance-induced psychotic disorder after intravenously injecting an unspecified amount of methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine derivative hallucinogen. Clinically, he showed blunted affect, diminished social drive, loss of sense of purpose, and detachment from the environment. Psychometric tests revealed severe dissociation, lack of motivation, and mild impairments in verbal fluency, working memory, and attention. Brain scans using 18F-FDG PET/CT showed significantly reduced tracer uptake in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region critical for goal-oriented cognition, working memory, and attention. This case indicates that a single acute MXE intoxication can cause severe brain impairment.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 1, 2009
Jason P. Lott, Douglas B. Marlowe, Robert Forman
10 citations
Over a 25-month period starting in March 2003, researchers conducted eight Google searches using the term 'psilocybin spores' and scored the first 100 nonsponsored links from each search. Of the 800 links examined, 58% led to websites offering to sell psilocybin spores, and some sites also offered whole Psilocybe mushrooms. The authors did not verify whether the marketed products were genuine. The findings indicate that psilocybin and its spores are widely available for purchase online, which may facilitate illicit use of this potent psychoactive substance. Further studies are needed to determine whether advertised products are actually delivered.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
November 6, 2024
Rotem Petranker, Valentyn Sobolenko, Zeina Beidas et al.
9 citations
People who exclusively microdose psychedelics differ from those who also take larger doses. Exclusive microdosers are older (average 46.4 vs. 42.0 years), more often female (68.4% vs. 44.7%), non-Caucasian (25.4% vs. 14.7%), and urban residents (43.9% vs. 38.5%). They report using fewer non-psychedelic substances over their lifetime (3.8 vs. 4.7 substances). Most microdose multiple times a month (52.5%), commonly using psilocybin (74.5%), LSD (34.4%), or ketamine (15.8%), and 64.6% do not test their substances. The main reason for microdosing is improving general wellbeing (73.0%).
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 19, 2024
Anne Baker, Niloufar Pouyan, Julie Barron et al.
9 citations
A survey of 107 people who provide psychedelic support services outside clinical trials found that 40.2% held a full or in-progress license and 44.9% lacked a relevant graduate degree. Almost all practitioners pre-screened clients, offered preparation, integration, and trip-sitting, and used primarily non-directive approaches. Clients most often consumed psilocybin for conditions similar to those in clinical research. Practitioners perceived mostly positive symptom changes, though a small proportion reported worsened personality disorder symptoms. Further research on naturalistic psychedelic-assisted therapy is needed.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 13, 2024
Ar Wilson-Poe, Ka Hoffman, Jb Luoma et al.
9 citations
Experts with a mean of 15.2 years of experience facilitating psilocybin experiences overwhelmingly view first-hand experience with psychedelics as important for facilitators in emerging state-legal frameworks. Personal experience may indirectly improve care quality by enhancing facilitators' wellbeing and helping them understand clients' experiences. One participant questioned this necessity. The current legal frameworks in Oregon and Colorado do not address facilitators' personal psychedelic experience, creating an opportunity to study its association with service safety and outcomes.