Blossom Pulse Archive
What happened in psychedelic research in 2014
109 events from 2014, 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.
Browse by year
Week of 29 December 2014
This unregistered trial (n=18) was an open-label pilot study of a single intravenous ketamine infusion for bipolar depression in inpatients, which found that neurocognitive performance improved independently of antidepressant effects.
Ketamine
Week of 22 December 2014
This meta-analysis (n=998) investigated the subjective effects of ketamine (68,31mg) compared to the symptoms of psychosis among heavy ketamine abusers, and patients with early and late-stage schizophrenia. Common symptoms included blunted affect, emotional withdrawal, poor rapport, passive/apathetic social withdrawal, lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation, and motor retardation, and chronic ketamine abusers and chronic schizophrenics also exhibited difficulty of abstract thinking.
KetamineAdolescentsDepressive DisordersSchizophreniaHealthy VolunteersThis ascending single-dose, placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group study (n=36) investigated the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of orally ingested noribogaine (3, 10, 30, or 60mg), and found that it was rapidly absorbed and slowly eliminated, and generally safe and well-tolerated in healthy male volunteers.
IbogaineHealthy VolunteersSafety & Risk ManagementMedicinal Chemistry & Drug DevelopmentPersonality & Trait Factors
Week of 15 December 2014
On 15 December 2014, the Research Advisory Panel of California approved the protocol and informed consent documents for the Phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, led by Phil Wolfson, M.D. The study will examine MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with life-threatening illness, following FDA and IRB approval, and must receive a Schedule I licence from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration before screening begins.
MDMAAnxiety Disorders
Week of 8 December 2014
This animal study (n=12) synthesized several different furan-substituted salvinorin A analogs and identified three potent variants which reduced drug-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, without producing the sedation observed with other κ-opioid agonists.
Salvia DivinorumDepressive DisordersSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Chronic PainMedicinal Chemistry & Drug Development
Week of 1 December 2014
The exploratory study, led by Charles Grob and Alicia Danforth, aims to assess whether MDMA combined with therapy can improve functional skills and quality of life in autistic adults with social anxiety. The fourth and fifth of 12 planned subjects completed treatment on 8 November and 6 December 2014, while nearly 100 people had entered the screening log.
MDMAAnxiety DisordersRandomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study (n=16) comparing single 200 µg oral LSD vs placebo in healthy adults to characterise acute physiological, endocrine and pharmacokinetic responses and assess long-term psychological effects.
LSDRandomised, two-period crossover fMRI study (n=24) in healthy volunteers comparing single oral LSD (100 µg) with placebo to assess neuronal correlates of altered consciousness.
LSDOpen-label pilot study (n=14) assessing IV ketamine (0.5 mg/kg over 45 min; twice weekly for 3 weeks) as augmentation for chronic suicidal ideation in severe treatment-resistant depression.
KetamineRandomised, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled crossover fMRI study (n=24) administering single doses of methylphenidate 60 mg, modafinil 600 mg, MDMA 125 mg, and placebo to healthy volunteers to assess emotion-processing and cognitive performance.
MDMAThe purpose of this study is to examine the effects of MDMA on encoding and retrieval of emotional and social memories in healthy young adults.
MDMARandomised, quadruple-blind, parallel Phase II trial (n=99) comparing single IV ketamine infusions (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) versus active placebo midazolam (0.045 mg/kg) in patients with treatment-resistant depression on stable antidepressant therapy.
KetamineRandomised, double-blind, crossover Phase I study (n=12) comparing single oral mephedrone 200 mg, MDMA 100 mg, and placebo in healthy male volunteers to assess abuse liability and human pharmacology.
MDMAThis unregistered trial (n=28) was a pilot study of intravenous ketamine combined with propofol-electroconvulsive therapy for treatment-resistant depression in adults, finding that the combination improved antidepressant effects for approximately seven days.
Ketamine
Week of 10 November 2014
In a post‑hoc analysis of 36 treatment‑resistant bipolar depressed patients (on lithium or valproate), a single 0.5 mg/kg ketamine infusion produced significant antidepressant effects on MADRS and HDRS through 14 days in both anxious and non‑anxious subgroups, with no evidence that baseline anxiety reduced ketamine’s efficacy.
KetamineAnxiety DisordersBipolar DisorderDepressive DisordersSuicidalityThe randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, led by Dr Phil Wolfson, will assess preliminary safety and efficacy data in 18 patients. The protocol received Institutional Review Board approval on 16 September, but California RAP-C and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration must approve it before participant screening can begin.
MDMAAnxiety DisordersThis review (2015) examined molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant efficacy of ketamine and other glutamate drugs in humans. Although antidepressant effects are partially mediated through glutamate release onto non-NMDA receptors including AMPA and metabotropic receptors, there are also reported effects on 5-HT, dopamine, and intracellular effects on the mTOR pathway in animal studies that are yet to be elucidated.
KetamineMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Bipolar DisorderDepressive DisordersImmunology & InflammationIn a 12‑month follow‑up of patients with anxiety related to life‑threatening disease, medically supervised LSD‑assisted psychotherapy produced sustained reductions in anxiety and improved quality of life with no lasting adverse reactions. Qualitative analysis suggests these benefits arose from facilitated emotional access, cathartic and peak experiences, interpersonal insights and a lasting restructuring of outlook and habits.
LSDAnxiety DisordersPalliative & End-of-Life DistressSet & SettingDepressive DisordersThis open-label, single-arm Phase II pilot study (n=12) assesses a single fixed oral dose of ibogaine (700mg/70kg) for reducing craving and opioid use in opioid-dependent patients with neuroimaging and electrophysiological secondary measures.
Ibogaine
Week of 3 November 2014
This selective review evaluates dopaminergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, cannabinoid, GABAergic, cholinergic and kappa‑opioid drug models for their similarity to schizophrenia and argues that integrating interactions among these neurotransmitter systems, rather than relying on any single model, is essential to form coherent pathogenesis hypotheses and identify new therapeutic targets.
SchizophreniaNeurocognitive DisordersThis meta-analysis (2015, n=20) examined the toxicity of the synthetic serotonergic hallucinogen NBOMe reported in publications that described adverse effects in response to analytically confirmed human ingestion. Severe adverse effects included agitation (85.0%), tachycardia (85.0%), and hypertension (65.0%), and seizures (40.0%) among patients.
This randomised, double-blind, active placebo-controlled study (n=62) investigated the neurocognitive and antidepressant effects of ketamine (35 mg/70kg) or midazolam (3.15mg/70kg) compared to the benzodiazepine anesthetic midazolam in patients with depression. Neurocognitive performance improved independently of treatment condition or change in depression severity due to learning, which indicates an absence of adverse effects of ketamine on neurocognitive functioning in contrast to electroconvulsive therapy which impacts memory.
KetamineAnxiety DisordersDepressive DisordersTreatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)Neurocognitive DisordersHealthy VolunteersThis case study (n=1) examines an individual who successfully used psilocybin to reduce the core symptoms of OCD for several years, and highlights avenues for future research investigating the role of serotonergic factors underlying OCD symptoms.
PsilocybinAnxiety DisordersObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Depressive DisordersThis meta-analysis (2014) examined double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials of acute ayahuasca administration and studies of long-term ayahuasca consumption that investigated its effects on the immune system. They found evidence that it reduces bloodstream levels of CD3 and CD4-type lymphocytes and increases the level of natural killer cells, or large granular lymphocytes, in the acute phase but not in the long term.
AyahuascaImmunology & Inflammation
Week of 27 October 2014
This post-hoc meta-analysis (n=133) examined the relationship between the antidepressant efficacy of intravenous ketamine (35mg/70kg) and its effects on suicidal ideation (SI) among patients with depression. Ketamine increased the patient's wish to live and decreased their wish to die, and these reductions in suicidal ideation independent of reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms.
KetamineAnxiety DisordersDepressive DisordersSuicidalityMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)Bipolar DisorderUsing factor analysis and structural equation modelling on self-reported legal, illegal and psychotropic drug use and four creativity measures (controlling for openness to experience), the study found that openness was the strongest predictor of creativity, although self-reported drug use produced small but significant incremental effects. The authors interpret these residual effects as likely reflecting expectancy/placebo influences rather than clear pharmacological enhancement.
CreativityPersonality & Trait FactorsThis open-label study (n=18) assessed antidepressant efficacy and neurocognitive performance of intravenous ketamine (35mg/70kg) in patients with bipolar depression (BD) and found that around half the patients responded to treatment. Independent of depressive symptoms, ketamine generally improved impairments in their cognitive performance, on measures related to psychomotor speed, verbal abilities, and executive functioning.
KetamineMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Bipolar DisorderDepressive DisordersNeurocognitive Disorders
Week of 13 October 2014
This review (2014) examines the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ketamine, summarizes the neurobiology of depression, reviews the mechanisms underlying the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, and discusses the prospects for next-generation rapid-acting antidepressants.
KetamineMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)Depressive DisordersRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II study (n=6) comparing MDMA-assisted therapy (125 mg initial + 62.5 mg supplemental per experimental session, two blinded sessions) versus placebo with therapy in adults with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD.
MDMAThis randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover within-subjects study (n=36) investigated the antidepressant efficacy of a single ketamine (35mg/70kg) infusion using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging on patients with bipolar depression (BD). Ketamine rapidly improved patients' anhedonia (emotional blunting), which was linked to increased glucose metabolism in their dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and putamen.
KetamineBipolar DisorderDepressive DisordersSchizophreniaMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Neuroimaging & Brain Measures
Week of 29 September 2014
Randomised, quadruple-blind, crossover study (n=20) comparing a single intranasal ketamine dose (up to 50 mg) versus intranasal saline in treatment-resistant depression.
KetamineThis retrospective analysis (n=75) found no serious adverse events and 61% abstinence when ibogaine was used as an underground treatment for a variety of drug (e.g. alcohol, cocaine) addictions.
IbogaineSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Safety & Risk Management
Week of 22 September 2014
This within-subjects, placebo-controlled study (n=10) found that the influence of suggestion is enhanced by LSD, especially in individuals with high trait 'conscientiousness', which may have implications for the use of LSD in psychotherapy.
LSDHealthy VolunteersSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)
Week of 8 September 2014
In an open-label 15-week pilot with 15 nicotine-dependent smokers, moderate and high doses of the 5-HT2A agonist psilocybin administered alongside structured cessation support yielded an 80% biochemically-confirmed seven-day point-prevalence abstinence rate at six months, substantially higher than typical rates (<35%). While the uncontrolled design prevents definitive efficacy claims, the study suggests psilocybin may be a promising adjunct to smoking cessation treatment and provides a framework for future controlled research.
PsilocybinTobacco/Nicotine Use Disorder (TUD)Substance Use Disorders (SUD)Healthy VolunteersPublic Health, Prevention & Behaviour Change
Week of 1 September 2014
This letter to the editor proposes blood d-serine levels as a predictive biomarker for the effects of ketamine.
KetamineMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Bipolar DisorderDepressive DisordersDouble-blind, randomised crossover fMRI study (n=37) testing a single IV ketamine infusion (0.5 mg/kg over 40 min) versus saline in remitted depressed volunteers to examine early antidepressant effects on rumination and reward-related brain activity.
KetamineSingle-group, open-label Phase II study (n=12) of IV ketamine infusions (0.3 mg/kg/hr over 100 minutes) given thrice-weekly for up to 2 weeks with weekly continuation x4 for remitters, in hospitalised adults with treatment-resistant depression and elevated suicide risk.
KetamineRandomised, quadruple-blind, parallel-arm trial (n=24) testing a single IV ketamine infusion (0.5 mg/kg, 40 min) versus midazolam (0.45 mg/kg, 40 min) for rapid reduction of suicidal ideation in adults hospitalized or presenting with SI.
KetamineThis study will test the use of ketamine for treatment of depression in adolescents that have not responded to other treatments. We will also examine neurobiological mechanisms of treatment.
KetamineRandomised, double-blind, crossover Phase I study (n=12) comparing single oral mephedrone 200 mg, MDMA 100 mg, and placebo in healthy male volunteers to assess abuse liability and human pharmacology.
MDMASingle-arm open-label Phase 2 pilot listed on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02078817). Participants: adolescents aged 12-18 with MDD and TRD. Intervention: six IV ketamine infusions at 0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes over 2 weeks. The published paper defines percent change in CDRS-R from baseline to 1 day after the final infusion as the primary outcome; CTG lists CGI responder count at 2 weeks as the registered primary outcome.
KetamineThis review (24 studies; n=416) found that ketamine is a reliable fast-acting anti-depressant for patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Long-term effects, however, remain to be studied.
KetamineMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)Depressive DisordersSuicidality
Week of 25 August 2014
This in vitro (neuronal cell culture) study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of NN-DMT and 5-MeO-DMT (100 μM), and demonstrate that its immunomodulatory effects on the functional activities of human dendritic cells operate through the sigma-1 receptor.
DMT5-MeO-DMTSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Immunology & InflammationThis neurochemical study reviews the potential applications for sigma receptor ligands, which may include endogenous DMT, in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
DMTNeuroimaging & Brain Measures
Week of 18 August 2014
This study evaluates the effects of Salvinorin A (SA). SA is the active ingredient of the plant Salvia divinorum that is known to have been used by Mexican Indians as part of religious rituals. The purpose of this project is to understand what people experience when they consume Salvinorin A.
Salvia Divinorum
Week of 11 August 2014
The study plans to include 23 people with PTSD linked to varied trauma, including sexual assault, violent crime, war and natural disasters. The approved amendment lets participants assigned to 100 mg for their first two unblinded sessions request 100 mg or 125 mg for a third session.
MDMAPTSDIn a naturalistic repeated‑measures study, acute recreational MDMA (ecstasy) use transiently increased perceived trustworthiness of faces and cooperative behaviour (dictator and ultimatum games) compared with controls, with no group differences three days later. The authors conclude a single dose appears to enhance aspects of empathy, which may help explain ecstasy’s recreational appeal and its potential to strengthen the therapeutic alliance.
MDMAPTSDHealthy VolunteersInterpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness
Week of 4 August 2014
The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will involve 18 participants in Marin, California. Led by psychiatrist Phil Wolfson, M.D., it received conditional IRB approval on 5 September 2014, pending a final point concerning participant privacy, before submission to the Food and Drug Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration.
MDMAAnxiety Disorders
Week of 28 July 2014
Single-group TRD study (n=10) providing ketamine infusions at Sheba Medical Center for treatment-resistant major depression.
KetamineThis review (2014) evaluates the use of LSD, peyote, ibogaine, and ayahuasca in the treatment of dependencies and the possible mechanisms underlying these treatments, including the notable “after-glow” effect that in part reflects their action on the serotonin neurotransmitter system.
LSDMescalineIbogaineAyahuascaDepressive DisordersSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Safety & Risk ManagementThis double-blind trial (n=14) compared the effects of MDMA (52.5-105 mg/70kg), intranasal oxytocin (20 IU or 40 IU), and placebo on plasma oxytocin concentrations. MDMA (105 mg/70kg only) increased plasma oxytocin levels to a mean peak of 83.7 pg/ml at approximately 90-120 min compared to a 48.0 pg/ml, 30-60 min increase after oxytocin administration.
MDMAInterpersonal Functioning & Social ConnectednessThis review (2014) examines the role of serotonergic transmission in Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), a rare perceptual disorder caused by LSD, and other classical hallucinogens, as well as MDMA. The disorder may be a result of a misbalance of inhibitory-excitatory activity in low-level visual processing caused by interneurons expresses 5-HT2A receptors, whose activity would normally suppress afterimages through inhibitory GABA release.
MDMAAdolescentsAnxiety DisordersSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)
Week of 14 July 2014
This review (2015, n=118) found that ketamine showed reliable anti-depressive effects in patients diagnosed with either MDD or bipolar disorder (BD). The duration of effects, however, requires further research.
KetamineMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)Bipolar DisorderDepressive DisordersSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)SuicidalitySchizophreniaThis study (2015) reviews the evidence on the neuropsychopharmacology of such substances as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline.
LSDPsilocybinMescalineSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)
Week of 7 July 2014
In a 11 July 2014 letter to Caroline Garcia, Doblin said MAPS would not accept an alternate principal investigator and warned that replacing Sisley could breach its contract. He also said NIDA’s failure to provide research marijuana had delayed the study by about six months, leaving time for Sisley’s appeal to proceed without delaying the trial.
PTSD
Week of 30 June 2014
This rodent study (2014) investigated the role of the 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, and mGlu2 receptors in DMT and another tryptamine. The authors conclude that 5-HT2A receptors likely play a major role in the effects of the substances, but that the other two types of receptors likely also play a modulatory role.
DMTRandomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=29 planned) assessing whether oral minocycline maintains antidepressant response after an open-label IV ketamine induction (0.5 mg/kg, six infusions) in patients with MDD and Bipolar II.
KetamineRandomised, double-blind, parallel-group Phase IV trial (n=60) comparing adjunctive IV ketamine 0.5 mg/kg versus saline combined with sevoflurane induction during ECT in patients with major depression.
KetamineThis rodent study (2014) argues that a full analysis of (R,S)-ketamine's metabolites is required to understand ketamine's anti-depressive and analgesic effects.
KetamineDepressive DisordersChronic PainThis double-blind cross-over study (n=12) showed that LSD (200 μg, 2 sessions) in combination with psychotherapy was safe to use and trended towards a positive effect on end-of-life anxiety.
LSDAnxiety DisordersDepressive DisordersPalliative & End-of-Life DistressSafety & Risk ManagementSet & Setting
Week of 23 June 2014
This study will consist of a single session of MDMA-assisted therapy with a full dose of MDMA for people who took part in a study of MDMA-assisted therapy in people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) whose PTSD symptoms returned to higher levels at least a year after the first MDMA sessions. The single session will be performed by the same pair of therapists who performed the sessions in the first study. People will have a preparatory session, the MDMA-assisted session and three non-drug sessions afterward. Their PTSD symptoms and symptoms of depression will be measured at the start of this study and two and 12 months after the session.
MDMA
Week of 16 June 2014
Randomised, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled crossover study (n=40) testing a single oral psilocybin dose (18.2 mg/70 kg) versus placebo in healthy volunteers to model psychosis and assess fMRI/qEEG changes.
Psilocybin
Week of 2 June 2014
This review (2014) examines the commonalities and differences across hallucinations occurring in schizophrenia and in response to psychostimulants, psychedelics, and dissociative anesthetics. They identify three principal pharmacological mechanisms activation of dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) with psychostimulants, (2) activation of serotonin 5HT2A receptors (HT2ARs) with psychedelics, and (3) blockage of glutamate NMDA receptors (NMDARs) with dissociative anesthetics, each of which explains different aspects of clinically observed hallucinations amongst patients with schizophrenia.
SchizophreniaNeuroimaging & Brain Measures
Week of 26 May 2014
Phase I single-group pharmacokinetics study (n=12) of oral psilocybin in healthy adults, ascending doses 0.3 → 0.45 → 0.6 mg/kg with attended dosing and overnight sampling.
PsilocybinSingle-group, Phase I study (n=60) assessing IV ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes, up to 4 sessions) in adults with major depression to identify neuroimaging and blood biomarkers of rapid response and relapse.
KetamineSeveral lines of evidence suggest that classic hallucinogens such as psilocybin can facilitate behaviour change in addictions such as alcohol dependence. The investigation is a multi-site, double-blind, active-controlled trial (n=95, 47 per group) contrasting the acute and persisting effects of psilocybin to those of diphenhydramine (placebo) in the context of outpatient alcoholism treatment.
PsilocybinThis randomised, double-blind, active placebo-controlled crossover proof-of-concept study (n=41) compared the efficacy of ketamine (35mg/70kg) and midazolam (3.15mg/70kg) for the treatment of patients with depressive symptoms associated with chronic PTSD. They found a rapid reduction in symptom severity following intravenous ketamine infusion.
KetamineBipolar DisorderDepressive DisordersPTSDTreatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)On 27 May 2014, the sixth, seventh and eighth subjects joined the study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD. The Institutional Review Board approved the increase to 23 subjects on 15 May, and the FDA’s 30-day review concluded on 1 June, while DEA approval for additional MDMA remained required. One subject withdrew after the first experimental session and two others dropped out.
MDMAPTSDThis analysis of a previous double-blind, placebo-controlled, fMRI study (n=15) found that psilocybin increased between-network resting-state functional connectivity (FC) more than MDMA.
MDMAPsilocybinHealthy VolunteersNeuroimaging & Brain Measures
Week of 12 May 2014
The report covered clinical and study methodology issues from research conducted between February 2013 and February 2014. The completed study was published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease on 4 March 2014.
LSDAnxiety Disorders
Week of 5 May 2014
This study (2014) analyzed the interaction of 21 different tryptamines with specific neurotransmitter transporters and receptor subtypes implicated in psychedelic effects in rodent brains. The authors found that all substances were 5-HT2A agonists, but that SERT activity may play an important role for some of the compounds.
Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Development
Week of 28 April 2014
Randomised, double-blind, parallel study (n=75) testing varying psilocybin dose levels (very low→high) and intensity/frequency of support for spiritual practice across 2–3 sessions in healthy volunteers.
PsilocybinDouble-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=40) using single or repeated all-day oral psilocybin sessions to examine acute and persisting effects on meditation, spirituality, well-being, prosocial attitudes and brain function in long-term meditators.
PsilocybinSingle-group interventional study (n=20) testing intravenous low-dose ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) for treatment-resistant depression, with MRS and inflammatory serum markers as secondary measures.
KetamineThis rat study (2014) found that repeated LSD administration to rats exhibits an anti-depressive effect in the animals, which the authors discuss in terms of a rebalancing of neurological signaling.
LSDDepressive Disorders
Week of 21 April 2014
Open-label, non-randomised, single-infusion study (n=60) testing IV ketamine 0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes in TRD patients stratified by family history of alcohol use disorder (FHP vs FHN) with 7T MRI measures.
Ketamine
Week of 7 April 2014
This study (n=36) assessed the effects MDMA (52.5-105 mg/70kg) has on perceptions of and responses to emotional expressions and its effects on social interaction. MDMA slowed the perception of angry expressions, increased psychophysiological responses to happy expressions, and increased positive word use and perceptions of partner empathy and regard in a social interaction.
MDMAHealthy VolunteersInterpersonal Functioning & Social ConnectednessThis double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled exploratory pilot study assessed the safety and feasibility of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy for social anxiety in MDMA-naïve adults on the autism spectrum.
MDMA
Week of 31 March 2014
This study (2014) demonstrated with the example of MDMA that speech analysis can capture subtle differences in mental state in drugged versus sober individuals. The authors found that the speech of individuals dosed with MDMA showed closer proximity to such concepts as intimacy and empathy than usual.
MDMASubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Interpersonal Functioning & Social ConnectednessThis non-treatment, randomised, triple-blind pharmacology study (n=20) used oral capsules of placebo or varying doses of dextromethorphan and psilocybin to study effects on mood and performance in healthy volunteers.
PsilocybinThis unregistered trial (n=90) was a three-arm, double-blind, active-controlled study of ketamine as an anaesthetic for treatment-resistant depression in inpatients, which found that higher doses improved remission rates and cognitive outcomes.
KetamineThis meta-analysis (n=108) examined whether the rapid antidepressant effect of a single subanesthetic ketamine (35mg/70kg) infusion is mediated by its dissociative side-effects or other symptoms related to its psychotomimetic profile. The analysis revealed that its dissociative effect was the only mediator that predicted a robust and sustained antidepressant efficacy.
KetamineMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Bipolar DisorderDepressive Disorders
Week of 17 March 2014
The study, led by University of Arizona researcher Sue Sisley with MAPS, will examine five cannabis potencies administered in smoked and vaporised forms to assess their effects on PTSD symptoms in 50 veterans. The approval follows MAPS’ 22-year effort to overcome the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s monopoly on cannabis for research.
MDMAPTSDThe review summarises evidence that classical hallucinogens exert their effects mainly via 5‑HT2A receptor agonism and broader modulation of serotonergic tone, thalamocortical sensory gating and cortical connectivity. Limited clinical trials suggest rapid antidepressant potential with favourable tolerability, but the neurobiology remains speculative and research is constrained by legislative barriers.
PsilocybinAnxiety DisordersDepressive Disorders
Week of 10 March 2014
This commentary (2014) argues for a reconciliation between the psychiatric profession and the culture of recreational psychedelic use to maximize the therapeutic potential of these compounds. It suggests that integrating these perspectives is essential for the future of psychiatric medicine and the responsible expansion of consciousness.
PTSDSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)This interview study (n=29) provides qualitative evidence for the efficacy of ritualized ayahuasca use in the treatment of substance dependence. It also discusses several factors that can influence therapeutic outcome.
AyahuascaSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Set & SettingPublic Health, Prevention & Behaviour ChangeThis essay describes the history and the development of the Heffter Research Institute, in their ongoing efforts to supply psilocybin for the purposes of fundamental and applied clinical research, with a prospective outlook that psilocybin will one day be recognized to have legitimate medical value and integrated within a specialized therapeutic practice.
PsilocybinAnxiety DisordersDepressive DisordersObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)Tobacco/Nicotine Use Disorder (TUD)Palliative & End-of-Life DistressSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)This review (2014) examines both the negative and positive aspects of using MDMA for psychotherapy, with specific regard to its neurohormonal profile, the effects of serotonergic depletion, and neurotoxicity of repeated usage. The most critical issues are related to the release of difficult feelings and memories and the lack of control thereof due to heightened environmental sensitivity, as well as the risk that negative mood states predominating the phase of neurochemical recovery amongst certain individuals.
MDMADepressive DisordersPTSDPersonality & Trait FactorsThis qualitative study (n=22) conducted a structured interview assessing the attitudes towards psychedelic self-experimentation amongst mental health professionals who took LSD (25-1000μg/70kg) legally between the years 1952-1974 in former Czechoslovakia. Most of the respondents reported positive effects in the domain of self-awareness and/or in their didactic ability to comprehend the world of mentally ill patients. None of the respondents reported any long-term negative effect of their self-experimentation.
LSDThis review (2014) examines the lack of evidence to support the notion that MDMA causes widespread cognitive deficits among its users and critiques a prevalent 'ecstasy paradigm' which exaggerates the negative effects of this substance, sustains publication bias by ignoring methodological shortcomings of their study design, and disregarding its therapeutic potential. Although MDMA poses risks to its users, there is no wide-scale evidence to suggest that its users have been damaged, a matter of fact according to the author, which requires no further empiric investigation but a more critical analysis of the already existing evidence.
MDMAThis review (2014) outlines the historic development of the non-profit association MAPS in its mission to develop medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. These efforts include the development of psychedelics into prescription medicines, training therapists, establishing treatment centers, supporting scientific research into spirituality, creativity, and neuroscience, and educating the public about the risks and benefits of psychedelic substances. They introduced the first double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 1994 and had planned for FDA prescription approval in 2021. Their ongoing efforts include plans for introducing (LSD)-assisted psychotherapies, parallel to harm-reduction strategies, such as the Zendo Project.
MDMAAnxiety DisordersAdolescentsPTSDSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Palliative & End-of-Life DistressAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)CreativitySafety & Risk ManagementDepressive DisordersThis review (2014) summarises the history of LSD research and outlines the potential applications in the future.
LSDPsilocybinAnxiety DisordersVeteransPTSDSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Palliative & End-of-Life DistressDepressive Disorders
Week of 24 February 2014
Open-label pilot study (N = 10) of two supervised oral psilocybin sessions combined with a 12-session MET behavioural intervention for alcohol dependence, assessing feasibility, safety, and preliminary drinking outcomes.
Psilocybin
Week of 3 February 2014
This seminal paper (2014) introduces the entropic brain hypothesis intending to build a bridge between neuroscience and psychoanalytic theories. The entropic brain hypothesis proposes two different forms of cognition, one being more 'critical' and unconstrained (whilst under psychedelics). It has become one of the major theories underlying our understanding of how psychedelics exert their therapeutic effects.
SchizophreniaNeuroimaging & Brain Measures
Week of 27 January 2014
Randomised, parallel-group study (n=40) comparing ketamine versus standard anaesthetic (propofol) as the anaesthetic for ECT to assess depressive symptoms, number of ECT treatments required, and effects on memory.
KetamineThis randomised, placebo-controlled parallel trial (n=35) tested a single oral dose of ayahuasca versus placebo in patients with treatment-resistant depression.
AyahuascaInterventional study in MDD (n≈12–13) assessing SEPs/MEPs as markers of cortical plasticity after a single IV ketamine infusion (0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes); includes an initial open-label cohort and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cohort.
KetamineThis placebo-controlled study (n=36) investigated the effects of MDMA (52.5mg & 105mg/70kg) on social rejection, as measured by self-reported ratings of positive mood and self-esteem in response to being excluded during a virtual ball-toss game. MDMA increased subjective pro-social feelings of lovingness, and reduced the impact of simulated social rejection on mood and self-esteem, in a dose-dependent manner.
MDMAHealthy VolunteersInterpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness
Week of 20 January 2014
This review links MDMA’s combined amphetamine‑ and mescaline‑like pharmacology and pharmacokinetics — including enhanced release of serotonin, cortisol, oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone — to both its sought‑after stimulant, empathogenic and psychedelic effects and a spectrum of serious harms (hepatic injury, rhabdomyolysis, serotonin syndrome, cardiovascular events, prolonged depression and death). It also highlights how rave environmental factors (heat, exertion, loud music) amplify both desired effects and risks, arguing that this integrated knowledge is essential for education, harm reduction and clinical management.
MDMAMescalineDepressive DisordersSafety & Risk ManagementMedicinal Chemistry & Drug DevelopmentPublic Health, Prevention & Behaviour ChangeThis double-blind trial (n=65) compared the effects of MDMA (52.5-105 mg/70kg), intranasal oxytocin (20 IU or 40 IU), and placebo on social and emotional processing. MDMA impaired recognition of angry and fearful facial expressions, and the larger dose increased the desire to be with others. At the same time, oxytocin produced small but significant increases in feelings of sociability and enhanced recognition of sad facial expressions.
MDMAHealthy VolunteersInterpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness
Week of 13 January 2014
This double-blind, randomised, inpatient study (n=8) evaluates the mystical and dissociative effects of ketamine in the treatment of cocaine dependant individuals. Ketamine led to significantly greater acute mystical-type effects than the active control, and mediated motivation to quit cocaine 24h post-infusion.
KetamineDepressive DisordersSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)
Week of 6 January 2014
Naturalistic hallucinogen use among 25,622 substance-involved individuals under community corrections supervision was associated with a lower likelihood of supervision failure (adjusted OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.46–0.79). These longitudinal results suggest hallucinogens may be linked to greater abstinence from alcohol and other drugs and increased prosocial behaviour in a high-recidivism population, though they do not establish causality.
Substance Use Disorders (SUD)Personality & Trait FactorsInterpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness
Week of 30 December 2013
This is a pilot study to finalise methods (n=10). A basic-science, parallel study assessing psilocybin effects on psychology, behaviour and brain function in long-term meditators with day-long drug sessions.
PsilocybinThis study is dedicated to achieving better treatments for suicidal thoughts. Specifically, the investigators are studying the effect of a medication called ketamine to quickly treat suicidal thoughts and depression.
KetamineDouble‑blind, randomised, parallel Phase III trial (n=100) comparing daily oral sub‑anesthetic ketamine for 21 days versus placebo in patients after a suicide attempt; includes fMRI mechanistic substudy and a healthy volunteer crossover (n≈40) with IV ketamine.
KetamineThis study measures biological and psychological processes that might help researchers to better understand what is taking place during low or medium dose and full dose MDMA-assisted psychotherapy treatment in people with PTSD.
MDMAThis unregistered trial (n=17) was an open-label, single-arm pilot study of ayahuasca for recurrent depression in adults, which demonstrated significant, sustained reductions in depressive symptoms alongside changes in regional cerebral blood flow.
AyahuascaThis vehicle-controlled mouse study (n=40) compared the antidepressant efficacy between R(-) and S(+) isomer forms of ketamine (10mg/kg) and found that both forms produce rapid antidepressant effects, but only arketamine produces long-lasting antidepressant effects persisting 7 days after a single infusion.
KetamineEsketamineMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Depressive DisordersThis review (2014) examines the cause of flashbacks or Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), which represents a cluster of recurrent visual disturbances which have been reported to persist after the acute phase of psychedelics, such as LSD. The authors delineate HPPD type I disorder: short-term, non-distressing, benign, and reversible state accompanied by a pleasant affect, and type II: long-term, distressing, pervasive, either slowly reversible or irreversible, non-benign state accompanied by an unpleasant affect. Although the prevalence of HPPD remains understudied, the authors review a large variety of medications that may alleviate the symptoms of this condition.
LSD
Showing 109 of 109 in 2014