Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects

Abstract

Rationale This dose-effect study extends previous observations showing that psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having persisting positive effects on attitudes, mood, and behavior. Objectives This double-blind study evaluated psilocybin (0, 5, 10, 20, 30 mg/70 kg, p.o.) administered under supportive conditions. Methods Participants were 18 adults (17 hallucinogen-naïve). Five 8-hour sessions were conducted individually for each participant at 1-month intervals. Participants were randomized to receive the four active doses in either ascending or descending order (9 participants each). Placebo was scheduled quasi-randomly. During sessions volunteers used eyeshades and were instructed to direct their attention inward. Volunteers completed questionnaires assessing effects immediately after and 1 month after each session, and at 14 months follow-up. Results Psilocybin produced acute perceptual and subjective effects including, at 20 and/or 30 mg/70 kg, extreme anxiety/fear (39% of volunteers) and/or mystical-type experience (72% of volunteers). One month after sessions at the two highest doses, volunteers rated the psilocybin experience as having substantial personal and spiritual significance, and attributed to the experience sustained positive changes in attitudes, mood, and behavior, with the ascending dose sequence showing greater positive effects. At 14 months, ratings were undiminished and were consistent with changes rated by community observers. Both the acute and persisting effects of psilocybin were generally a monotonically increasing function of dose, with the lowest dose showing significant effects. Conclusions Under supportive conditions, 20 and 30 mg/70 kg psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences having persisting positive effects on attitudes, mood and behavior. Implications for therapeutic trials are discussed.

A Phenomenological Examination of Psilocybin and its Positive and Persisting Aftereffects

“…In another study, Griffiths et al (2011) found that administration of psilocybin, at the two highest doses given, produced mystical-type experiences in 72% of volunteers. Both 1 month and 14 months after psilocybin administration, participants attributed ongoing improvement to domains such as mood, behavior, and attitudes to the psilocybin experience (Griffiths et al, 2011, p. 649).…”

“…While there are other mushrooms that reportedly produce psychedelic effects, such as Fly Agaric and Panther Caps (Stafford, 1992), the most prolific psychedelic mushrooms are those containing psilocybin (Stafford, 1992;Inaba and Cohen, 2004). Mushrooms containing psilocybin were likely the most commonly used in an organized religious or spiritual manner for thousands of years (Stafford, 1992;Inaba and Cohen, 2004;Sessa, 2005;Griffiths et al, 2006Griffiths et al, , 2008Griffiths et al, , 2011. Based on differing reports, there are somewhere between 80 and 200 species of psilocybin-containing mushrooms (Stafford, 1992;Inaba and Cohen, 2004), with more recent reports suggesting the latter number.…”

“…Second, it is fairly common for subjects who have consumed psilocybin to report persisting aftereffects that extend well beyond the course of the drug. Finally, the subjects who have had profound mystical experiences on the substance were most likely to see benefits of its use and were more likely to report these aftereffects to be positive (Doblin, 1991(Doblin, , 1998Griffiths et al, 2006Griffiths et al, , 2008Griffiths et al, , 2011Grob et al, 2011;MacLean et al, 2011;Sessa, 2012).…”

“…Though these quotes from participants in Griffiths et al (2011) study provide a brief window, a more extensive qualitative examination of the relationship between psilocybin use and persisting positive aftereffects would be valuable.…”

Psychosis or Spiritual Emergency: The Potential of Developmental Psychopathology for Differential Diagnosis

“…Spiritual experiences are not rare, with five to forty percent of the general population reporting having had at least one spiritual or mystical experience (Allman et al, 1992;Davis & Smith, 1985;Greeley, 1974;Ring, 1985;Thomas & Cooper, 1978). Indeed, spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, or entheogen use are associated with increased numbers of spiritual or mystical experiences (e.g., Lyvers & Meester, 2012;Walsh & Vaughan, 1991), and the occurrence of these experiences is correlated with wellbeing (e.g., Griffiths et al, 2011;Griffiths, Richards, Johnson, McCann, & Jesse, 2008;Griffiths, Richards, McCann, & Jesse, 2006;Hood, 1977;Maslow, 1994).…”