Psychedelic Drugs

Recreational users of psychedelic drugs with low well-being are more likely than those with normal well-being to experience a positive mood change after taking LSD, psilocybin, or MDMA, according to new research published in the journal Drug Science, Policy and...

While a number of pharmaco- and psychotherapies exist to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a large group of individuals, including military veterans and first responders, have demonstrated resistance to classical approaches. As a result, less traditional treatments have been explored,...

New research provides evidence that a single psilocybin dose can result in long-term increases in mindfulness, even in the absence of explicit mindfulness training. The study, published in European Neuropsychopharmacology, suggests that these changes in mindfulness are related to changes...

MDMA induces only minimal and comparatively weak alterations of consciousness compared with LSD, according to the first controlled study to conduct a head-to-head comparison of the drugs. The findings have been published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. "MDMA and LSD are...

Scientists are beginning to examine whether the psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca can help reduce suicide risk. But the first study to examine the topic has found inconclusive results. The research has been accepted for publication in Frontiers in Pharmacology....

New research confirms that the alterations in consciousness associated with very low doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are not just the result of a placebo effect. But the findings suggest that these "microdoses" might not have many benefits. Preliminary...

MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, can safely enhance the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder when it is used in a clinical setting alongside psychotherapy, according to new research in Psychopharmacology that analyzed the outcomes of clinical trials. "In 2004,...

New research suggests that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with several beneficial side effects. In addition to reductions in PTSD symptoms, the treatment may be associated with lasting personal benefits and enhanced quality of life, according to...

Preliminary research published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs sheds light on the growing popularity of microdosing -- or taking small doses of psychedelic drugs to improve mood and attention. "About 9 years ago, I heard about microdosing, and followed...

New research suggests that a subgroup of people may respond differently to the drug ecstasy thanks to reductions in a molecule that regulates serotonin signaling between brain cells. The study has been published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. "My research...

New research provides evidence that the ritualistic use of the psychedelic drug ayahuasca is not a significant public health concern -- and could in fact have potential benefits. The study has been published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. "Ayahuasca...

A new exploratory study has attempted to systematically measure the psychological changes produced by microdosing -- or taking very small amounts of psychedelic substances on a regular basis. The findings, which appear in PLOS One, suggest that microdosing can improve...

New neuroimaging research provides evidence that the psychedelic drug LSD alters the capacity of the thalamus to control the flow of sensory information to other areas of the brain. The thalamus is a small section of the midbrain through which...

MDMA, the active compound in the recreational drug ecstasy, is popularly known to increase one’s love, affection and desire to interact with everyone around. Our latest research suggests that this may not be entirely accurate. Instead, it looks like the...

We just ran the first ever pre-registered scientific study on the microdosing of psychedelics and found some very promising results. We compared people who microdose — that is, who take a psychedelic substance such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) or...