Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Newsletter Winter 2023

Winter 2023 Newsletter

Strides in Psychedelic Science

In December, we announced the creation of the Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., Professorship Fund In Psychedelic Research on Secular Spirituality and Well-Being. This endowed fund will be held in perpetuity to support a professorship and to establish a world class, rigorous, empirical program of research with psychedelic substances to advance understanding of well-being and spirituality in the service of promoting human flourishing for generations to come. While it is wonderful to see funding for psychedelic research has increased, much of the funding is going towards research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. This endowed fund will ensure research to better understand well-being and spirituality using psychedelic substances. The endowed fund is currently at $14 Million and the goal is to ultimately reach $20 Million. If you feel so inclined, please consider donating to this fund to ensure ongoing research into spirituality and well-being for years to come.

Psychedelic Research Updates

ONGOING STUDIES
We are still seeking study participants for ongoing studies of psilocybin in Alzheimer’s Disease, Co-occurring alcohol use and depression, Post-Treatment Lyme Disease, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Those who are unable to participate in an in-person trial, may consider one of our online surveys, including a survey for any couples in which at least one partner has done a psychedelic. Finally, we are interested in hearing from healthcare professionals to learn more about their knowledge and attitudes towards the use of psychedelics for medical applications.

Learn more about our most recent findings in the publications section below.

RESEARCH FINDINGS
CPCR researchers have published new studies!

A survey study conducted by CPCR researchers that analyzed data from over 2,300 individuals who had a belief-changing psychedelic experience.
Using a machine learning cluster analysis, researchers identified distinct phenotypes of subjective psychedelic experience, with predictive value for change in depression, anxiety and other domains.
CPCR researchers explore the effects of psychedelics on creative cognition and mood within a cognitive control framework.
An examination of the ethical implications around the development and widespread use of ‘non-subjective’ psychedelics.
A review that provides an up-to-date summary of the potential mechanisms and use of psychedelic-assisted therapy in people diagnosed with eating disorders, with a focus on anorexia nervosa.
A case series on menstrual changes associated with psychedelic use. This is the first scientific literature on this subject since the 1950’s.
Researchers examine the implications of the Controlled Substances Act and the re-scheduling of psilocybin.

Learn more about our most recent findings in the publications section below.

Participate in Our Research

We are currently recruiting for multiple studies and surveys involving psychedelics. Click on a link below to find out more regarding the application process.

Psilocybin and Alzheimer’s Disease

Psilocybin for Co-occurring Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder

Psilocybin for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Psilocybin for Post-Treatment Lyme Disease

Psilocybin Healthy Volunteer Study on Brain Activity

Psychedelic and Romantic Relationships Survey

Healthcare Professionals Knowledge and Attitudes about Psychedelics

Psychedelics in the News

Roland Griffiths, PhD — Life’s Ultimate Glide Path, An Unexpected Stage IV Diagnosis, Facing Death, How Meditation and Psychedelics Can Help, and The Art of Living a Life of Gratitude (#641)
Dr. Roland Griffiths speaks about his long-standing meditation practice, journey into researching psychedelics and altered states of consciousness, equipoise and clarity gained from confronting his cancer diagnosis, and goal to create a world class research program to advance human flourishing and well-being. Dr. Griffiths invites listeners to join him in celebration and “deep gratitude for the preciousness of life.”

Can psychedelics cure?
In this episode of PBS NOVA, Drs. Roland Griffiths, Frederick Barrett, and Albert Garcia-Romeu explain how the profundity of mystical experiences and effects on the claustrum may give psychedelics the power to help people “get unstuck” from rigid behaviors and thought patterns.

What promise do psychedelics hold as therapeutics?
On the Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta podcast, Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu describes the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. The two also discuss the rapid change in public opinion toward psychedelics, the differences between psilocybin and ketamine, the whitewashing of psychedelics, and Garcia-Romeu’s hopes for the future of psychedelic research.

The harms of psychedelics need to be put into context
Wired reviews recent study findings to temper psychedelic hype and urge research on how to safely manage adverse experiences. Dr. Natalie Gukasyan addresses concerns of adverse events in clinical trials and the notion that psychedelics are a “miracle cure.”

It’s not just the psychedelics, therapy matters
Dr. William Richards expresses his concerns that safety and efficacy of psychedelic therapy are becoming overshadowed by legalization. Dr. Richards then explains why therapeutic relationships and well-monitored settings are critical to psychedelic treatment

Eight Times Science Exceeded Expectations in 2022
The New Yorker describes eight scientific feats in 2022, which includes the CPCR’s finding that the antidepressant effects of psilocybin can be sustained at one-year post-treatment. Other remarkable moments include changing asteroid trajectory, discovering two-million-year-old DNA, and developments in artificial intelligence

Could 'magic mushrooms' treat severe depression? A major study aims to find out
In anticipation of a Phase 3 clinical trial for the effects of psilocybin therapy on depression, NBC News highlights concern for long-term response and adverse events. Although a lack of initial response to psychedelic therapy can leave participants feeling both depressed and demoralized, Dr. Sandeep Nayak still reminds readers about its potential to treat those who were unsuccessful with existing treatments.

Psychedelics and mental health: the potential, risks, and hype
On the Radio Times podcast, Dr. David Yaden discusses topics such as tackling the mental health pandemic, ineffable insights, risks of recreational use, and being “cautiously optimistic” about psychedelic therapy.

Your brain on psychedelics
Based on neuroimaging studies, Nature presents different mechanisms of action that facilitate psychedelics’ effects in the brain. Dr. Manoj Doss weighs in on resting-state fMRI, brain entropy induced by psychedelics, and steps for future research.

Psychedelics & Mortality
Sam Harris speaks with Roland Griffiths about psychedelics and mortality. They discuss the current state of psychedelic research, the timeline for FDA approvals, the risks to mental health posed by psychedelics in vulnerable populations, the use of psychedelics among the well, the relationship between psychedelics and meditation, advice for “bad” trips, microdosing, Roland’s stage-4 cancer diagnosis, reflections on death, and other topics.

Get Involved in Psychedelic Science

The CPCR team is growing! We are hiring for the following positions:

Research Program Supervisor

Sr. Compliance Monitoring Specialist

Psychiatric Therapist

Research Psychologist

Recent Publications

Gukasyan, N. & Narayan, S.K. (2023) Menstrual Changes and Reversal of Amenorrhea Induced by Classic Psychedelics: A Case Series. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. Published Online. January 22, 2023.
Sayali, C. & Barrett, F.S. (2023) The costs and benefits of psychedelics on cognition and mood. Neuron. Published Online. January 20, 2023.
Gukasyan, N. (2023). On blinding and suicide risk in a recent trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression. Med, 4(1), 8–9.
Nikolaidis, A. & Lancelotta, R. & Gukasyan, N. & Griffiths, R.R. & Barrett, F.S. & Davis, A.K. (2022). Subtypes of the psychedelic experience have reproducible and predictable effects on depression and anxiety symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders. Published Online. December 27, 2022.
Kiluk, B.D., Kleykamp, B.A., Comer, S.D., Griffiths, R.R., Huhn, A.S., Johnson, M.W., Kampman, K.M., Pravetoni, M., Preston, K.L., Vandrey, R., Bergeria, C.L., Bogenschutz, M.P., Brown, R.T., Dunn, K.E., Dworkin, R.H., Finan, P. H., Hendricks, P.S., Houtsmuller, E.J., Kosten, T.R., Lee, D.C., Levin, F.R., McRae-Clark, A, Raison, C.L., Rasmussen, K, Turk, D.C., Weiss, D.R., Strain, E.C. (2022). Clinical trial design challenges and opportunities for emerging treatments for Opioid Use Disorder: a review. JAMA psychiatry. Published Online. November 30, 2022.
Yaden, D.B., Earp, B.D., & Griffiths, R.R. (2022). Ethical issues regarding nonsubjective psychedelics as standard of care. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 31(4), 464-471.
Gukasyan, N., Schreyer, C.C., Griffiths, R.R., & Guarda, A.S. (2022). Psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with eating disorders. Current Psychiatry Reports, Published Online. November 14, 2022.
Henningfield, J.E., Coe, M.A., Griffiths, R.R., Belouin, S.J., Berger, A., Coker, A.R., Comer, S.D., Heal, D.J., Hendricks, P.S., Nichols, C.D., Sapienza, F., Vocci, F.J., & Zia, F.Z. (2022). Psychedelic drug abuse potential assessment research for new drug applications and Controlled Substances Act scheduling. Neuropharmacology, 218, 109220.
Nayak, S.M., Singh, M., Yaden D.B., & Griffiths R.R. (2022). Belief changes associated with psychedelic use. Journal of Psychopharmacology, Published Online. November 1, 2022.
Nayak, S.M., Bari, B.A., Yaden, D.B., Spriggs, M.J., Rosas, F.E., Peill, J.M., Giribaldi, B., Erritzoe, D., Nutt, D.J. & Carhart-Harris, R., (2022). A Bayesian reanalysis of a trial of psilocybin versus escitalopram for depression. Psychedelic Medicine. Published Online. October 28, 2022.
Gaddis, A., Lidstone, D.E., Nebel, M., Griffiths, R.R., Mostofsky, S.H., Mejia, A., & Barrett, F.S. (2022). Psilocybin induces spatially constrained alterations in thalamic functional organization and connectivity. NeuroImage, 260, 119434.
Levin, A., Nagib, P.B., Deiparine, S., Gao, T., Mitchell, J., & Davis, A.K. (2022). Inconsistencies between national drug policy and professional beliefs about psychoactive drugs among psychiatrists in the United States. The International journal on drug policy, 108, 103816.
Madden, M.B., Stewart, B.W., White, M.G., Krimmel, S.R., Qadir, H., Barrett, F.S., Seminowicz, D.A., Mathur, B.N. (2022) A role for the claustrum in cognitive control. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Published Online. September 30, 2022.
Barrett, F.S. (2022) Comparative pharmacology and circuit-level models of the effects of psychedelic drugs on the human brain. Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 7(9), 849-851.
Yaden, D.B., Potash, J.B., & Griffiths, R.R. (2022). Preparing for the bursting of the psychedelic hype bubble. JAMA Psychiatry, Published Online. August 31, 2022.
Sweeney, M.M., Nayak, S., Hurwitz, E.S., Mitchell, L.N., Swift, T.C., & Griffiths, R.R. (2022). Comparison of psychedelic and near-death or other non-ordinary experiences in changing attitudes about death and dying. PLOS ONE 17(8), Published Online. August 24, 2022.
van Elk, M. & Yaden, D.B. (2022). Pharmacological, Neural, and Psychological Mechanisms underlying Psychedelics: A Critical Review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Published Online. July 22, 2022.
Mathai, D. & Yaden, D.B. & O’Donnell, K. (2022). The conundrum of therapeutic intoxication. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 221, 496-497.
Reckweg, J.T., Uthaug, M.V., Szabo, A., Davis, A.K., Lancelotta, R., Mason, N.L., & Ramaekers, J.G. (2022). The clinical pharmacology and potential therapeutic applications of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT). Journal of Neurochemistry, 162(1), 128-146.
Ross, S., Agrawal, M., Griffiths, R.R., Grob, C., Berger, A., & Henningfield, J.E. (2022). Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to treat psychiatric and existential distress in life-threatening medical illnesses and palliative care. Neuropharmacology, 216, 109174.
Mathai, D.S., Lee, S.M., Mora, V., O’Donnell, K.C., Garcia-Romeu, A., & Storch, E.A. (2022). Mapping consent practices for outpatient psychiatric use of ketamine. Journal of Affective Disorders, 312, 113-121. Published June 23, 2022
Boehnke, K.F., Davis, A.K., & McAfee, J. (2022). Applying lessons from cannabis to the psychedelic highway: Buckle up and build infrastructure. JAMA Health Forum, 3(6), e221618. Published June 17, 2022
Lawrence, B.W., Carhart-Harris, R., Griffiths, R.R., & Timmermann, C. (2022). Phenomenology and content of the inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine (N,N-DMT) experience. Scientific Reports. Published online May 24, 2022.

Click here for a full list of our publications

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