|
$$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
Strides in Psychedelic ScienceWe are thrilled to announce the long-term results of our study examining the safety and efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder. The study was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology and showed that the rapid and substantial antidepressant effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy were durable for at least one year in some participants. This study extends findings from our initial results published in JAMA Psychiatry. At initial enrollment, participants’ average depression score (measured by the GRID-HAMD) was 22.8 points and dropped substantially one week later to 8.7 points. Reductions in depression were sustained at one month (8.9), three months (9.3), six months (7.0), and twelve months (7.7). At 12 months, 75% of participants showed a clinical response (at least 50% reduction in depression) and 58% were in remission (i.e., no longer met criteria for depression). This study is the first to document antidepressant effects lasting up to 12 months after psilocybin-assisted therapy in people with major depressive disorder.
|
|
JAMA Psychiatry recently announced that our original study showing the effects of psilocybin on participants with Major Depressive Disorder was the most discussed article of 2021. During a time where mental health is of the utmost concern, the results from this study showed a potential pathway towards treatment for those suffering from depression. The results of the study were covered by over 200 media outlets, including The Washington Post, Scientific American, NPR, Forbes, and many more. Dr. Frederick Barrett collaborated with the Johns Hopkins International Arts & Mind Lab on a scoping review of the effects of setting on psychedelic experiences. The paper reviews forty-three studies in which set and setting have been explicitly studied. Set and setting have repeatedly been reported as having a significant impact on the psychedelic experience, yet there is little consensus on what this means. The paper signifies that additional studies measuring the specific role that setting plays in a psychedelic experience, and further research on setting may provide better models for both the psychedelic-related and the broader variety of mental health interventions. Other new developments at the CPCR include the hiring of our first Communications Coordinator, Bobby Gross, and the launching of a new survey study examining healthcare professionals knowledge and attitudes towards the use of psychedelics in the medical setting. If you or someone you know is a healthcare professional, we would love to hear from you!
|
Psychedelic Research UpdatesNEW STUDIES
Last month, we launched a new online survey study. We are interested in hearing from healthcare professionals to learn more about their knowledge and attitudes towards the use of psychedelics for medical applications. Additionally, we have two online surveys that are looking for those who have used breathwork or psychedelics to help with anxiety, depression, trauma, or PTSD symptoms. We hope you’ll consider participating! ONGOING STUDIES
We are still seeking study participants for ongoing studies of psilocybin in anorexia nervosa, smoking cessation, Alzheimer’s Disease, healthy volunteers and co-occurring alcohol use and depression. Those who are unable to participate in an in-person trial, may consider one of our online surveys, including a survey for those who intend to take psilocybin and are interested in contributing to our scientific understanding. RESEARCH FINDINGS
CPCR researchers have published new studies! Learn more about our most recent findings in the publications section below.
|
Participate in Our ResearchWe are currently recruiting for multiple studies and surveys involving psychedelics. Click on a link below to find out more regarding the application process.
|
Dr. Matthew Johnson presented at the NIH Psychedelics as Therapeutics WorkshopClick the image below to watch his presentation!
|
|
Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depression Effective for Up to a Year for Most Patients, Study Shows
Dr. Natalie Gukasyan and colleagues published a 12-month follow up to our 2020 study on Major Depressive Disorder. This paper shows that after two doses of psilocybin, participant’s levels of depression decreased more than half and maintained that level for at least a year. “Our findings add to evidence that, under carefully controlled conditions, this is a promising therapeutic approach that can lead to significant and durable improvements in depression…” says Dr. Natalie Gukasyan but she also notes “…the results we see are in a research setting and require quite a lot of preparation and structured support from trained clinicians and therapists, and people should not attempt to try it on their own.” |
|
|
|
|
U.S. Government Funds First Therapeutic
Psilocybin Research in 50 Years
Rolling Stone reports the recent $4 million grant from the NIH to Johns Hopkins Medicine and other institutes to study psilocybin’s effects on tobacco addiction. This is the first instance of federal funding for therapeutic research with psychedelics in over 50 years. Dr. Matthew Johnson speaks to the significance of the grant for current and aspiring researchers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Rise of Psychedelic Retreats
The New York Times covers the current state of psychedelic retreats, including the general procedure, safety precautions, and personal experiences of attendees. Dr. Roland Griffiths adds that people should not underestimate the risks of these retreats, stressing the necessity of screening methods and supervision by medically trained personnel. |
|
|
|
The next big trend in mental health treatments? Psychedelic therapy
In an interview with USA Today, Dr. Matthew Johnson explains what psychedelic therapy is, emphasizing the importance of the integration process following the psychedelic experience. However, due to risks, Dr. Johnson still encourages skepticism and to not view psychedelics as a universal treatment. |
|
|
|
|
Psychedelics Offer New Route to Recovery from Eating Disorders
NEO.LIFE interviewed Dr. Natalie Gukasyan about the CPCR study on psilocybin-assisted therapy for anorexia nervosa. They spoke about the challenges of running a study of this nature and how, in a behavioral disease like anorexia, psychedelics can potentially aid in long-term behavioral changes. As Dr. Gukasyan says in regards to anorexia, “you behave your way into it, and you’ve got to behave your way out of it.” |
|
|
|
|
Fungi: The New Frontier
BBC Radio’s Tim Hayward explores the Fungi kingdom in a three-part series. Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu specifically discusses psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, outlining study procedures and discussing how psychedelics might influence the correction of maladaptive thoughts and behavioral patterns. Dr. Garcia-Romeu also cautions that health inequities could prevent certain groups from having access to psychedelic medicine in the future. |
|
|
|
How Do Psychedelic Treatments Work?
In an interview with WebMD, Drs. Roland Griffiths and Matthew Johnson describe the ways in which psychedelic treatments may influence improvements in mental illness, such as through pairings with psychotherapy, spiritually significant experiences, and neuroplasticity. |
|
|
|
|
The Future of Psychedelic Medicine Will Be Drugs You’ve Never Heard Of
Vice discusses the implications of the ongoing development of analogue and novel molecules that could improve upon current psychedelics, such as by eliminating negative side effects or hallucinogenic properties altogether. Dr. Manoj Doss adds that there are ways to alter a psychedelic experience without creating a new strain or class of psychedelics. Dr. Doss also emphasizes that these developments should not detract from the importance of patient-clinician interactions and therapeutic protocols. |
|
|
|
|
Unfiltered with Dan Bongino: Dr. Matthew Johnson on Psychedelics
In an interview with Fox News, Dr. Matthew Johnson describes the potential medical benefits of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy based on study findings. Dr. Johnson also explains the procedure of psychedelic treatment, specifying that the role of the researcher is to guide and support study participants, not to interpret their experiences for them. |
|
|
|
|
Transcendence: Why Chemicals Need Rituals
Dr. David Yaden joins the How God Works podcast to discuss psychedelically and non-psychedelically induced mystical experiences as a form of self-transcendence. Dr. Yaden then elaborates on the role of CPCR guides to support participants’ psychedelic experiences. |
|
|
|
|
Could Psychedelics Help Treat Dementia?
Psychology Today examines the feasibility of psychedelics as a form of treatment for dementia, such as by enhancing the effect of “socialceuticals,” which have been shown to be cognitively beneficial. The article then highlights Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu’s study on psilocybin’s effects on depression in Early-Stage Alzheimer’s disease. |
|
|
|
How to Make a Perfect Tune for an Acid Trip
The Daily Beast explores music as a powerful component of psychedelic therapy, including which sounds and styles may be most effective. Dr. Matthew Johnson comments on the potential synergy between psychedelics and music given that both are emotionally evocative experiences. |
|
|
|
|
Psychedelic Research and Clinical Trials in 2021 In their 2021 year in review, Psilocybin Alpha spoke with Dr. Sandeep Nayak about CPCR receiving the first federal grant in over 50 years to research the therapeutic use of psychedelics, what this means for the field of psychedelic research, and how government funded psychedelic trials are now occurring around the world. |
|
|
|
|
Psychedelics w/ Natalie Gukasyan
On the Finding Aum Podcast, Dr. Natalie Gukasyan examines topics and debates in psychedelic research, such as psychotherapies that could best accompany psychedelic treatment, whether therapists need their own psychedelic experience for better practice and guidance, and the overall future of the field. |
|
|
|
|
Webcast: The Future of Psychedelic Medicine, the Role of the Pharmacy
Pharmacy Times interviews Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu and other experts on the current involvement and prospective future roles of pharmacies in psychedelic medicine. He also spoke about the hurdles that need to be overcome in order for psychedelics to be available and affordable to the broader population |
|
|
|
|
Recent PublicationsGukasyan, N., Davis, A.K., Barrett, F.S., Cosimano, M.P., Sepeda, N.D., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2022). Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up. Journal of Psychopharmacology. Published Online. February 15, 2022. Golden, T.L., Magsamen, M., Sandu, C.C., Roebuck, G.M., Shi, K.M., & Barrett, F.S. (2022). Effects of setting on psychedelic experiences, therapies, and outcomes: A rapid scoping review of the literature. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. Published Online. February 10, 2022. Barrett FS, Zhou Y, Carbonaro TM, Roberts JM, Smith GS, Griffiths RR and Wong DF (2022) Human Cortical Serotonin 2A Receptor Occupancy by Psilocybin Measured Using [11C]MDL 100,907 Dynamic PET and a Resting-State fMRI-Based Brain Parcellation. Front. Neuroergon. January 20, 2022. Zeifman, R. J., Yu, D., Singhal, N., Wang, G., Nayak, S. M., & Weissman, C. R. (2022). Decreases in suicidality following psychedelic therapy: a meta-analysis of individual patient data across clinical trials. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 83(2), 39235. January 18, 2022
Yaden, D.B., Nayak, S.M., Gukasyan, N., Anderson, B.T., & Griffiths, R.R. (2022). The potential of psychedelics for end of life and palliative care. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. Published Online. January 5, 2022. Doss, M.K., Madden, M.B., Gaddis, A., Nebel, M., Griffiths, R.R., Mathur, B.N., & Barrett, F.S. (2021). Models of psychedelic drug action: modulation of cortical-subcortical circuits. Brain. Published Online. December 13, 2021. Agin-Liebes, G., & Davis, A.K. (2021). Psilocybin for Treatment of Depression: A Promising New Pharmacotherapy Approach. In: . Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. Published Online. November 23, 2021. Mangini, P., Averill, L.A., & Davis, A.K. (2021). Psychedelic treatment for co-occurring alcohol misuse and post-traumatic stress symptoms among United States Special Operations Forces Veterans. Journal of Psychedelic Studies. Published Online. November 16, 2021. Doss, M.K., Považan, M., Rosenberg, M.D., Sepeda, N.D., Davis, A.K., Finan, P.H., Smith, G.S., Pekar, J.J., Barker, P.B., Griffiths, R.R., & Barrett, F.S. (2021). Psilocybin therapy increases cognitive and neural flexibility in patients with major depressive disorder. Translational Psychiatry, 11, 574. Garcia-Romeu A., Darcy S., Jackson H., White T., Rosenberg P. (2021) Psychedelics as Novel Therapeutics in Alzheimer’s Disease: Rationale and Potential Mechanisms. In: . Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. Published Online. November 04, 2021. Mathai, D.S., McCathern, A.G., Guzick, A.G., Schneider, S.C., Weinzimmer, S.A., Cepeda, S.L., Garcia-Romeu, A., & Storch, E.A. (2021). Parental attitudes toward use of ketamine in adolescent mood disorders and suicidality. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 31(8), 553-561. Ermakova, A.O., Dunbar, F., Rucker, J., & Johnson, M.W. (2021). A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT. Journal of Psychopharmacology. Published Online. October 19, 2021. Nayak, S.M., Gukasyan, N., Barrett, F.S., Erowid, E., Erowid, F., Griffiths, R.R. (2021). Classic psychedelic coadministration with lithium, but not lamotrigine, is associated with seizures: an analysis of online psychedelic experience reports. Pharmacopsychiatry, 54(05), 240-245. Davis, A.K., Xin, Y., Sepeda, N.D., Garcia-Romeu, A., & Williams, M.T. (2021). Increases in psychological flexibility mediate relationship between acute psychedelic effects and decreases in racial trauma symptoms among people of color. Chronic Stress. Published Online. August 3, 2021. Yaden, Y.B., Berghella, A.P., Regier, P.S., Garcia-Romeu, A., Johnson, M.W., & Hendricks, P.S. (2021). Classic psychedelics in the treatment of substance use disorder: Potential synergies with twelve-step programs. International Journal of Drug Policy, 98, 103380. Yaden, Y.B., Johnson, M.W., Griffiths, R.R., Doss, M., Garcia-Romeu, A., Nayak, S., Gukasyan, N., Mathur, B.N., & Barrett, F.S. (2021). Psychedelics and consciousness: Distinctions, demarcations, and opportunities. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 24(8), 615–623. Cox, D.J., Garcia-Romeu, A., & Johnson, M.W. (2021). Predicting changes in substance use following psychedelic experiences: natural language processing of psychedelic session narratives. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 47(4), 444-454.
Click here for a full list of our publications
|
Get Involved in Psychedelic ScienceThe CPCR team is growing! We are currently hiring for for a Psychiatric Therapist and a Research Program Coordinator. Click below to learn more.
|
|
The Source Research Foundation (SRF) is a non-profit organization that aims to connect, inspire, and support students who study psychedelics. SRF is now accepting applications for their Community Grants and will award up to $30,000.
|
Support Psychedelic ResearchBe a part of the psychedelic renaissance! Help support the faculty and staff at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Individual donations are always appreciated, and make the work we do possible.
|
|
|
|
