Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Newsletter 2024

Summer 2024 Newsletter

Strides in Psychedelic Science

This year, we honor and acknowledge the legacy of our founding director, Dr. Roland Griffiths. Dr. Griffiths passed away last fall and was a pioneer in the field of psychedelic science whose visionary leadership led to the creation of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. The CPCR is committed to carrying on his legacy and continues steady progress in growing the program and ensuring long-term sustainable psychedelic research with ever increasing standards of scientific rigor and excellence.

Several exciting projects are currently underway at the CPCR. We recently launched clinical trials for folks with chronic low back pain, PTSD, Opioid Use Disorder, Cannabis Use Disorder, and have an upcoming trial to study the effects of microdosing.

Our team has also been developing training programs for medical professionals as well as development of an online Coursera course.
Stay tuned to learn more, with more information to come in future newsletters!

Earlier this year, Drs. Brandon Weiss and Fred Barrett provided scientific testimony in congressional hearings regarding the use of psychedelic therapies for military personnel.

Honorable Mentions

There have been many accomplishments this year. Notably, our Center Director and Associate Director, Drs. Frederick Barrett and Albert Garcia-Romeu both received honorable and prestigious professorships.

Dr. Barrett was named the Oliver Lee McCabe, III, Ph.D. Professor of the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness. After receiving the news, he wrote, “I want to express in the strongest terms how humbled and truly honored I am…I feel an even greater responsibility than before to continue on the trailblazing path trod by both the namesake of this professorship and its inaugural recipient [Roland Griffiths]…I do feel a palpable sense of both gratitude and motivation to be a worthy steward of this position, with both the history and the vision that it represents within the fields of psychedelic science and consciousness research.”

Dr. Garcia-Romeu was named the next Susan Hill Ward Professor in Psychedelics and Consciousness.

He was also recently awarded the 2023 Rosalind Franklin Society (RFS) Award in Science in the Medicine and Surgery category with the award winning paper, “Double-Blind Comparison of the Two Hallucinogens Dextromethorphan and Psilocybin: Experience-Dependent and Enduring Psychological Effects in Healthy Volunteers”, published in Psychedelic Medicine.

The RFS Awards in Science recognizes outstanding peer-reviewed research by women and underrepresented minorities in STEM.

A new paper, Adverse Events in Studies of Classic Psychedelics, was published early September from Dr. Jared Hinkle, with CPCR researchers Marianna Graziosi, Dr. Sandeep Nayak, and Dr. David Yaden.

The systematic review analyzes adverse events in trials of classic psychedelics, suggesting an overall favorable safety profile. However, serious adverse events, while rare, did occur. This meta-analysis highlights ways to improve the detection and reporting of adverse events in classic psychedelic administration and calls for urgent improvements to be made.

Psychedelic Research Updates

NEW STUDIES
This year, CPCR researchers have launched several clinical trials. We are interested in learning about the effects of psychedelics on individuals with Opioid Use Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Cannabis Use Disorder. Another study is focused on learning its effects on those chronic low back pain and co-occurring depression.

ONLINE STUDIES
If in-person studies are not ideal, you can check out our online survey studies! We recently launched an anonymous survey study for individuals who have used psychedelics and struggle with behavioral addictions such as gambling, video gaming, internet/social media use, pornography and other sexual behaviors, or shopping.

In addition, we plan to resume recruitment for a study involving psilocybin as therapy for individuals with PTSD. If these studies are of interest and relevance to you, we hope you’ll consider participating!

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

Those who are unable to participate in an in-person trial, may consider one of our online surveys.

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 Study for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Psilocybin and Buprenorphine Induction Study for Opioid Use Disorder

Study of Psilocybin for Chronic Low Back Pain and Co-Occurring Depression

Psilocybin and Alzheimer’s Disease

Psilocybin for Co-Occurring Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder

Effects of Psilocybin in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Effects of Psilocybin in Cannabis Use Disorder

Psilocybin Healthy Volunteer Study on Brain Activity

PRoMiSS Study Effects of Music on Emotions, Well-Being, and Brain Function

Survey of Psilocybin Treatment for Substance Use Disorders (OPEN Survey)

Survey of Psychedelic Use and Behavioral Addictions

Psychedelics in the News

Trouble for ecstasy? What MDMA’s FDA setback could mean for psychedelics
In early June, an advisory committee to the FDA voted against the effectiveness on MDMA as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Drs. Frederick Barrett and Alan Davis comment on the lessons that can be learned from the committee’s stance, viewing it as a learning experience for ongoing studies to follow “the most rigorous methods”.

After FDA setback, psychedelic drugmakers distance themselves from a pioneer
Dr. David Yaden offers his perspective on the “real risks and benefits of psychedelics” after the FDA’s rejection of MDMA for the treatment of PTSD. He hopes that public sentiment will become more “balanced and nuanced” regarding the state of evidence on psychedelics as medicine.

The State of Psychedelics
Oprah Daily describes the history of hallucinogenic medicines and personal accounts on existing research from universities and centers including the CPCR. Dr. Frederick Barrett discusses the “entropic effect” of psychedelics as well as the realistic risks and care that should be taken when handling the future of psychedelic research.

Cognitive impairment, dementia, Alzheimer’s and psychedelics: 5 Questions for researcher Albert Garcia-Romeu
In an interview with The Microdose, Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu speaks on the potential of psilocybin to treat issues associated with cognitive decline. With the ongoing clinical trial using psilocybin in treating depression for those with mild cognitive impairment and early-stage Alzheimer’s in mind, he remarks on existing treatments, neuroplasticity, and the ethics of participant recruitment.

People use drugs like Xanax to halt a bad psychedelic trip — but "trip killers" also come with risks
“Salon makes a deep dive on psychedelic experiences and the usage of “trip killers”, where Dr. Sandeep Nayak explains the long-lasting effects of a “bad trip” and protocols for emergency situations.”

Why You Should Seek More Awe in the New Year
Ashley Stimpson writes about her experience with the CPCR and the mixing of psychedelics and VR, where Drs. David Yaden and Albert Garcia-Romeu remark on the possibilities of studying awe and psychedelics.

Indiana Senate committee passes medical psilocybin research bill
Dr. Brandon Weiss expresses his support with the passing of legislation in Indiana in January for the funding of research on psilocybin and its medical applications. He tells lawmakers about the “great potential for medical innovation” that come with greater funding and investment.

If psychedelics heal, how do they do it?
PNAS reviews psilocybin therapy and the mystery of how it functions, speaking with Drs. Albert Garcia-Romeu and Ceyda Sayalı on current clinical trials. Dr. Garcia-Romeu explains the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for breaking negative habits and patterns and Dr. Sayalı comments on research regarding the improvement of cognitive effort.

Get Involved in Psychedelic Science

The CPCR team is growing! Stay tuned for more information on future employment opportunities. Interested Johns Hopkins University students can also apply to become student interns.

Student Internships

Recent Publications

Hinkle, J. T., Graziosi, M., Nayak, S. M., Yaden, D. B. (2024). Adverse Events in Studies of Classic Psychedelics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. Published Online. September 4, 2024.

Ehrenkranz, R., Agrawal, M., Nayak, S. M., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Adverse events should not be surprising in psychedelic research. Psychedelic Medicine, 2. Published Online. September 4, 2024.

Yaden, D. B., Goldy, S. P., Weiss, B., Griffiths, R. (2024). Clinically relevant acute subjective effects of psychedelics beyond mystical experience. Nature Reviews Psychology, 3, 606–621.

Goldy, S. P., Hendricks, P. S., Keltner, D., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Considering distinct positive emotions in psychedelic science. International Review of Psychiatry, 1–12.

Hughes, M. E. & Garcia-Romeu, A. (2024). Ethnoracial inclusion in clinical trials of psychedelics: a systematic review. EClinicalMedicine, 74, 102711-102711.

Heller, N. H. & Barrett, F. S. (2024). Teaching a new dog old tricks: bringing rigor, grounding, and specificity to psychedelic neuropsychopharmacology. Neuropsychopharmacology. Published Online. August 26, 2024.

Yaden, D. B., Mathai, D., Bogenschutz, M., & Nichols, D. E. (2024). The pharmacology of hallucinogens. In: Miller et al. (Eds.). Principles of Addiction Medicine. American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Yaden, D. B., Nayak, S. M., Griffiths, R. R. (2024). Belief change and agnostic frames in psychedelic research and clinical contexts. In: C. Letheby (Ed.). Philosophy and the psychedelic renaissance. Oxford University Press, New York.

Tiwari, P., Ehrenkranz, R., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Psychiatric Applications of Psychedelics: Neurobiological Foundations for Treatments of Depression, Anxiety, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Advances in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, 4(1), 47-56.

Ehrenkranz, R., Agrawal, M., J. Kim Penberthy, & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Narrative review of the potential for psychedelics to treat Prolonged Grief Disorder. International Review of Psychiatry, 1–12. Published Online. May 23, 2024.

Nayak, S. M., White, S. H., Hilbert, S. N., Lowe, M. X., Jackson, H., Griffiths, R. R., Garcia-Romeu, A., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Psychedelic Experiences Increase Mind Perception but do not Change Atheist-Believer Status: A Prospective Longitudinal Study. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 1–10. Published Online. May 7, 2024.

Strickland, J. C., Garcia-Romeu, A., Johnson, M. W. (2024). The Mystical Experience Questionnaire 4-Item and Challenging Experience Questionnaire 7-Item. Psychedelic Medicine, 2(1), 33-43.

Barnett, B. S., Anand, A., Dewey, E. N., Smith, D., Nayak, S. M., Bruckman, D., & Weleff, J. (2024). Perceived Risk of Trying Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in the United States from 2015 to 2019: Are Americans Assessing Lysergic Acid Diethylamide’s Risk Profile More Favorably? Psychedelic Medicine, 2(2), 74-86.

Weiss, B., Roseman, L., Giribaldi, B., Nutt, D. J., Carhart-Harris R. L., Erritzoe, D. Unique Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Psilocybin Therapy Versus Escitalopram Treatment in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 22(2), 806–841.

Yaden, D. B., Berghella, A. P., Hendricks, Yaden, M. E., Levine, M., Rohde, J. S., Nayak, S. M., Johnson, M. W., Garcia-Romeu, A. (2024). IUPHAR-review: The integration of classic psychedelics into current substance use disorder treatment models. Pharmacological Research, 199, 106998.

Click here for a full list of our publications

Support Psychedelic Research

Be 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.

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