What happened in psychedelic research in 1998

Week of 30 November 1998

• PaperPsilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action1 Dec

  This paper (1998) was one of the first to identify psilocybin/psilocin as working on the serotonin (5-HT2A) receptor and not only on the dopaminergic system. The direct comparisons as mentioned in the article are nowadays a bit more nuanced.

  PsilocybinSchizophreniaHealthy Volunteers

  View paper→

• PaperHallucinogens, Serotonin and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder1 Dec

  This theory-building paper makes the cases for using psychedelics to treat OCD as far back as 1998. It is hypothesized that psychedelics could exert therapeutic effects in the treatment of OCD given that they are serotonin receptor agonists (5-HT). The serotonin neurotransmitter system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of OCD.

  Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  View paper→

• PaperDr. Leary's Concord Prison Experiment: A 34-Year Follow-up Study1 Dec

  This long-term follow-up study (1998) re-examined the Concord Prison Experiment (1961-1963), which used psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to reduce recidivism. It finds that original claims of treatment efficacy were erroneous and emphasises that psychedelic interventions require comprehensive post-release community support to successfully alter behavioural patterns.

  Psilocybin

  View paper→

Week of 28 September 1998

• PaperReflections on the Concord Prison Project and the follow-up study1 Oct

  This commentary (1998) by Ralph Metzner reflects on the Harvard Psilocybin Project and the Concord Prison Experiment, concluding that the original positive findings regarding reduced recidivism were likely erroneous and no better than chance. He suggests that while psychedelics can induce insight, lasting behavioural change requires sustained rehabilitation and support.

  Depressive Disorders

  View paper→

• PaperPsychological and cardiovascular effects and short-term sequelae of MDMA (“ecstasy”) in MDMA-naıve healthy volunteers1 Oct

  This double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=13) investigated the physiological and psychological effects of a typical recreational dose of MDMA (119 mg/70 kg) in drug-naïve volunteers. Results confirm MDMA’s distinct ‘entactogenic’ profile of enhanced mood and emotional sensitivity, though significant increases in blood pressure were observed, highlighting potential cardiovascular risks.

  MDMAAnxiety DisordersHealthy VolunteersPersonality & Trait Factors

  View paper→

Week of 29 December 1997

• StartedKetamine Psychotherapy for Heroin Addiction: Double-Blind Dose-Comparison RCT (Krupitsky 2002, Leningrad Regional Cent… (ketamine)1 Jan

  This unregistered trial (n=70) was a double-blind, dose-comparison randomised controlled trial of high-dose versus low-dose ketamine combined with psychotherapy for heroin addiction in detoxified inpatients, which demonstrated significantly greater long-term abstinence and reduced craving in the high-dose group.

  Ketamine

  View trial→

• PaperPsychedelic Effects of Ketamine in Healthy Volunteers: Relationship to Steady-state Plasma Concentrations1 Jan

  This crossover study of healthy volunteers (n=10) given computer-assisted continuous infusions, subanaesthetic ketamine (50–200 ng/ml steady-state plasma concentrations) produced dose-related psychedelic effects. Subjective ratings (VAS and the Hallucinogen Rating Scale) correlated highly linearly with venous ketamine concentrations (R ≈ 0.93–0.99 for VAS; overall plasma-target correlation R = 0.997) and yielded HRS scores comparable to those seen with DMT.

  LSDDMTKetamineHealthy Volunteers

  View paper→