Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance

Griffiths, Roland R.; Richards, William A.; McCann, Una D.; Jesse, Robert L.

doi:10.1007/s00213-006-0457-5

Cited by 1,257 publications

(1,466 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Because participants crossed over from low to high dose, and vice versa, at 5 weeks, the blind was effectively broken at this point. Significant associations between mystical type experiences and enduring positive changes were observed, reflecting previous research done by this group (Griffiths et al, , 2006.…”

Section: Modern Clinical Studiessupporting

confidence: 87%

Psychiatry & the psychedelic drugs. Past, present & future

2018

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a b s t r a c tThe classical psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide and mescaline, were used extensively in psychiatry before they were placed in Schedule I of the UN Convention on Drugs in 1967. Experimentation and clinical trials undertaken prior to legal sanction suggest that they are not helpful for those with established psychotic disorders and should be avoided in those liable to develop them. However, those with so-called 'psychoneurotic' disorders sometimes benefited considerably from their tendency to 'loosen' otherwise fixed, maladaptive patterns of cognition and behaviour, particularly when given in a supportive, therapeutic setting. Pre-prohibition studies in this area were sub-optimal, although a recent systematic review in unipolar mood disorder and a meta-analysis in alcoholism have both suggested efficacy. The incidence of serious adverse events appears to be low. Since 2006, there have been several pilot trials and randomised controlled trials using psychedelics (mostly psilocybin) in various non-psychotic psychiatric disorders. These have provided encouraging results that provide initial evidence of safety and efficacy, however the regulatory and legal hurdles to licensing psychedelics as medicines are formidable. This paper summarises clinical trials using psychedelics pre and post prohibition, discusses the methodological challenges of performing good quality trials in this area and considers a strategic approach to the legal and regulatory barriers to licensing psychedelics as a treatment in mainstream psychiatry.

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Section: Modern Clinical Studiessupporting

confidence: 87%

Psychiatry & the psychedelic drugs. Past, present & future

2018

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“…How this differential behavioral sensitivity in G q null mice relates to human hallucinogenic drug experience is not known. Recent studies of psilocybin in humans suggest that anxiety is a significant symptom (Griffiths et al, 2006), although presumably unrelated to the unique psychedelic experience. The head-twitch response is a stereotypical behavior that is a well accepted behavioral model of 5-HT 2A receptor activation in rodents (Dursun and Handley, 1996;Kleven et al, 1997;Schreiber et al, 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Gq protein in behavioral effects of the hallucinogenic drug 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane

2007

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SUMMARYExtensive evidence suggests that 5-HT2 receptors may play a role in mental disorders including schizophrenia. In addition, several studies indicate that G q -coupled 5-HT 2A receptors are likely targets for the initiation of events leading to the hallucinogenic behavior elicited by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), (±)1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), and related drugs. However, 5-HT 2A receptors couple to other G proteins in addition to G q protein. To evaluate the role of the G q signaling pathway in DOI-induced behaviors, we utilized two behavioral models of 5-HT 2A receptor activation: induction of head-twitches by DOI, a common response to hallucinogenic drugs in rodents, and DOI elicited anxiolytic-like effects in the elevated plus maze. Experimental subjects were genetically modified mice [Gα q (−/−)] in which the G q alpha gene was eliminated. Gα q (−/−) mice exhibited a decrease in DOI-induced head-twitches, when compared to wild-type littermates. In addition, the DOI-induced increase in anxiolytic-like behavior was abolished in Gα q (−/−) mice. These results, combined with our finding that DOI-induced FOS expression in the medial prefrontal cortex was also eliminated in Gα q (−/−) mice, suggests a key role for G q protein in hallucinogenic drug effects.

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“…Oxytocin is thought to contribute to the empathogenic and prosocial effects of MDMA (60) The primary safety concerns with hallucinogen research are psychological rather than somatic adverse effects (1). In laboratory studies that use psilocybin, ketamine, or MDMA, moderate anticipatory anxiety is common at the beginning of the onset of the drug's effects (58,64,65). Acute anxiety was also infrequently reported when LSD was administered at the same dose as the one used in the present study for LSD-assisted psychotherapy in patients with anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases (11).…”

Section: Subjective Effects Of Lsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…LSD is thermogenic in animals (79) and hyperthermia has been reported to be a consequence of massive LSD overdose in humans (80). Other serotonergic hallucinogens including psilocybin and DMT produce similar cardiostimulant and autonomic responses to LSD (17,54,58,(81)(82)(83)). …”

Section: Autonomic and Endocrine Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%