PSY FPX 6110 Assessment 1 Annotated Bibliography-Psychedelic Therapy Studies

PSY FPX 6110 Assessment 1 Annotated Bibliography-Psychedelic Therapy Studies

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Capella University

PSY FPX 6110 Learning Theories in Psychology

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Annotated Bibliography

Davis, A. K., So, S., Lancelotta, R., Barsuglia, J. P., & Griffiths, R. R. (2019). 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 45(2), 161–169. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2018.1545024

Davis, So, Lancelotta, Barsuglia, and Griffiths (2019) investigated the use of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) for spiritual and recreational purposes, particularly its connection to personal improvements in depression and anxiety. The researchers examined self-reported experiences of depression and anxiety among individuals who participated in structured group settings with controlled doses and administration of 5-MeO-DMT. The study included preparation and support activities during and after the experience, mirroring clinical practices for administering hallucinogens.

Participants indicated whether their symptoms had increased or decreased, revealing a correlation between individual conditions and the perceived effects of 5-MeO-DMT. A total of 362 respondents completed an anonymous web survey, with 41% reporting a diagnosis of depression and 48% reporting anxiety. Following the use of 5-MeO-DMT, 80% of respondents noted improvements in depression, while 79% reported improvements in anxiety. Conversely, 17% and 19% indicated that their symptoms remained unchanged, and 3% and 2% reported worsening symptoms, respectively. The findings suggest that improvements may be linked to heightened spiritual significance or personal meaning associated with the experience.

PSY FPX 6110 Assessment 1 Annotated Bibliography-Psychedelic Therapy Studies

Duerler, P., Schilbach, L., Stämpfli, P., Vollenweider, F. X., & Preller, K. H. (2020). LSD-induced increases in social adaptation to opinions similar to one’s own are associated with stimulation of serotonin receptors. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 12181. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68899-y

Duerler et al. (2020) aimed to demonstrate that adapting one’s attitudes and behaviors to align with group norms is crucial for effective social integration and participation. The study explored how LSD influences social processing, particularly the role of 5HT2A receptors in social influence. In this double-blind, randomized crossover study, 24 volunteers received either a placebo, LSD (100 micrograms), or a 5HT2A receptor antagonist combined with LSD across three different sessions. The results indicated that LSD enhanced social adaptation, but this effect was observed only when the opinions of others were similar to the participants’ own. The increased social adaptation was linked to heightened activity in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex during social feedback processing. This research provides valuable insights into the neuropharmacological underpinnings of social cognitive behavior. However, a limitation of the study is that other receptors in the brain were not blocked, leaving uncertainty about their potential impact on the effects induced by LSD.

Forstmann, M., Yudkin, D. A., Prosser, A. M., Heller, S. M., & Crockett, M. J. (2020). Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(5), 2338–2346. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1918477117

Forstmann et al. (2020) hypothesized that transformative experiences and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psilocybin and other psychedelics in naturalistic settings. Conducted over three years, this study involved field research with 1,225 participants across six multi-day mass gatherings in the United States and the United Kingdom. The researchers categorized their findings into three main areas: transformative experience, social connectedness, and mood. Field studies were conducted by teams of 5-10 experimenters who recruited attendees, obtained informed consent, and administered questionnaires that included various scales and assessments.

PSY FPX 6110 Assessment 1 Annotated Bibliography-Psychedelic Therapy Studies

The survey inquired whether participants had consumed any substances within the past 24 hours or during the week. Attendees were also asked if they were under the influence at the time of the survey or if they had used psychedelic substances for the first time. The researchers discovered that the heightened levels of transformative experiences could not be attributed to a stronger desire or expectation for such experiences. Participants reported that their transformative experiences were more positive and intense, and they were more likely to indicate changes in their moral values as a result of these experiences.

Transformative experiences and social connectedness were found to statistically mediate the effects of recent psychedelic use on positive mood. This study is significant as it demonstrates that the use of psilocybin and other psychedelics in naturalistic settings is linked to personal transformation, enhanced feelings of social connectedness, and improved mood. The research protocol received approval from the Oxford Central Research Ethics Committee. However, a limitation of these studies is that the data is based on self-reports, which may introduce biases.

Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W., Carducci, M. A., Umbricht, A., Richards, W. A., Richards, B. D., Cosimano, M. P., & Klinedinst, M. A. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford), 30(12), 1181-1197. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675513

Griffiths et al. (2016) investigated the effects of psilocybin on depression and anxiety symptoms in cancer patients. The study involved 51 cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses who were randomized in a double-blind, crossover trial. One group received a low dose of psilocybin, while another group received a high dose, with a counterbalanced sequence and a 5-week interval between sessions, followed by a 6-month follow-up. Throughout the study, participants, their communities, and staff observed changes in moods, attitudes, and behaviors. High doses of psilocybin resulted in significant reductions in both clinician and self-reported measures of depressed mood and anxiety, along with increases in life meaning, quality of life, and optimism.

PSY FPX 6110 Assessment 1 Annotated Bibliography-Psychedelic Therapy Studies

Participants also reported lower levels of death anxiety. At the 6-month follow-up, approximately 80% of participants continued to show reductions in depressed mood and anxiety. Improvements in attitudes toward life, relationships, and spirituality were also noted following the high-dose experience, with over 80% of participants reporting enhanced well-being or life satisfaction. Community observer ratings corroborated these changes. Additionally, mystical-type experiences on the day of the session mediated the effects of psilocybin dosage on therapeutic outcomes. A limitation of this study is that the data is self-reported, which may introduce potential biases.

Mitchell, J. M., Bogenschutz, M., Lilienstein, A., Harrison, C., Kleiman, S., Parker-Guilbert, K., Ot’alora G, M., Garas, W., Paleos, C., Gorman, I., Nicholas, C., Mithoefer, M., Carlin, S., Poulter, B., Mithoefer, A., Quevedo, S., Wells, G., Klaire, S. S., van der Kolk, B., Tzarfaty, K., … Doblin, R. (2021). MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine, 27(6), 1025–1033. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01336-3

Mitchell et al. (2021) recently completed a phase 3 trial assessing the efficacy and safety of MDMA-assisted therapy for individuals with severe PTSD. The study involved 90 participants who were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either MDMA therapy or a placebo, along with three preparatory sessions and nine integrative sessions. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) was used to measure baseline symptoms, and the CAPS-5 was utilized for reevaluation two months after the final session.

The results indicated that MDMA therapy led to significant reductions in CAPS-5 scores compared to the placebo group. Following just one or two sessions of MDMA therapy, many patients achieved remission, no longer meeting the CAPS-5 criteria for PTSD diagnosis. The researchers concluded that MDMA-assisted therapy is highly effective for individuals with severe PTSD and is safe and well-tolerated. This therapy represents a potential breakthrough treatment that warrants expedited clinical evaluation.