Blossom Pulse Archive
What happened in psychedelic research in 2006
17 events from 2006, dated by when they happened rather than when we logged them. Papers as they published, trials starting and finishing, programme milestones, and the news coverage around them, grouped by week.
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Week of 25 December 2006
This unregistered trial (n=59) was an evaluator-blind, randomised controlled trial of multiple versus single ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions for heroin dependence in detoxified adults, which found that repeated sessions significantly improved long-term abstinence rates.
KetamineDouble‑blind, randomised, placebo‑controlled crossover study (n=12) testing a single oral 75 mg dose of MDMA versus placebo on prospective and verbal memory in recreational MDMA users.
MDMA
Week of 18 December 2006
This relatively early study (2006) combined a literature review with interviews of ceremony participants to establish the effects and toxicity of ayahuasca. The author concludes that risks are relatively low (transient psychological effects, low toxicity, low abuse/addiction potential).
AyahuascaSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Schizophrenia
Week of 27 November 2006
This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=26) aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of ketamine and riluzole in patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Additionally, the study will assess whether lamotrigine can mitigate ketamine-associated side effects.
Ketamine
Week of 13 November 2006
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=9) of psilocybin (up to 21mg/70kg) found no adverse effects and improvements in OCD symptoms. Immediate improvements on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) varied between 23-100% reductions. Positive results were also observed after the 24 hours reported in the study.
PsilocybinAnxiety DisordersObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Week of 11 September 2006
Randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial (n=14) of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD comparing full dose (125 mg + optional 62.5 mg booster) versus low active placebo (25 mg + optional 12.5 mg booster) across three 8-hour therapy sessions.
MDMA
Week of 31 July 2006
This commentary paper (2006) traces the history of LSD as a treatment for alcoholism from 1950-1970.
LSDAdolescentsAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD)Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
Week of 3 July 2006
This is one of the first (and key) double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (n=36) on psilocybin and its effect on 'healthy normals'. It shows that a high (30mg/70kg) dose can occasion mystical (peak) experiences (participants did already have a spiritual/religious practice beforehand). The experience is rated as personally meaningful. The participants exhibit positive mood (and lower anxiety) immediately and after two months.
PsilocybinAnxiety Disorders
Week of 26 June 2006
This qualitative interview study (n=53) assessed the efficacy of psilocybin and LSD to treat cluster headaches and found that a single dose was often sufficient to terminate a cluster period and that subhallucinogenic doses were also often reported to be effective treatments.
LSDPsilocybinChronic PainHeadache Disorders (Cluster & Migraine)
Week of 29 May 2006
Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled crossover study (n=16) in regular ecstasy and cannabis users assessing cardiovascular, cognitive and serotonergic effects of 100 mg oral MDMA, vapourised THC (4–6 mg) alone and combined.
MDMA
Week of 15 May 2006
This randomised controlled parallel group Phase II trial (n=80) evaluated the safety and efficacy of ketamine for mental depression.
Ketamine
Week of 27 March 2006
Randomised, placebo-controlled crossover neuroimaging study (n=50) using oral dexfenfluramine (40–60 mg) challenge with [18F]-altanserin PET to compare 5-HT release capacity in current MDMA users, former users, and MDMA‑naïve controls.
Week of 13 March 2006
This study tested the effects of psilocybin (15mg/70kg) on attentional tracking and spatial working memory, using a placebo-controlled design and ketanserin pretreatment condition to control for the 5-HT2A specific effects. Results indicated reduced attentional tracking ability, but unimpaired working memory, which was not related to 5-HT2A activity.
PsilocybinHealthy Volunteers
Week of 27 February 2006
This re-analysis of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover-design study (n=18) compared the effects of MDMA (75mg) and Ritalin (20mg) concerning spatial memory performance. Results indicated that a single dose of MDMA caused subjects to perform worse on a simple spatial memory task only during acute intoxication. It did not affect their ability to detect rapid contextual changes in visuospatial information relevant to traffic safety.
MDMANeurocognitive Disorders
Week of 6 February 2006
In rat models, ibogaine and its metabolite noribogaine produce lasting reductions in self‑administration of opioids and stimulants (with shorter effects on alcohol and nicotine) and acutely lower nucleus accumbens dopamine. These anti‑addictive effects are attributed to combined actions at kappa‑opioid receptors and NMDA antagonism (for opioids and stimulants), serotonergic uptake inhibition (for alcohol), nicotinic antagonism (for nicotine), and sigma‑2 binding linked to neurotoxicity, with prolonged action from fat sequestration and metabolism to noribogaine.
IbogaineAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD)Tobacco/Nicotine Use Disorder (TUD)Substance Use Disorders (SUD)Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Development
Week of 23 January 2006
MDMA at recreational doses (50–150 mg) produces sympathetic stimulation (mydriasis, marked increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate), a biphasic small change in oral temperature, slight dose‑dependent psychomotor impairment, and marked rises in plasma cortisol and prolactin. Peak concentrations and effects occurred at 1–2 h and returned to baseline by 4–6 h, with an elimination half‑life of about 8–9 h.
MDMAHealthy VolunteersMedicinal Chemistry & Drug Development
Week of 26 December 2005
Observational case-control study (n=18) comparing recreational MDMA users and healthy controls using SPECT with [123I]IBZM to assess dopaminergic function before and after a motorbike-riding computer task.
Showing 17 of 17 in 2006