scholarly journals How does it feel to be on psilocybin? Dose-response relationships of subjective experiences in humans

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Hirschfeld ◽  
Timo Torsten Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Dose Response ◽  
Variance Estimation ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mystical Experience ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Study Participants

AbstractPsilocybin is the active component of magic mushrooms and is well known for its psychoactive properties. Different questionnaires have been developed to systematically quantify altered states of consciousness induced by psychoactive drugs. The aim of this study was to obtain the dose-response relationships of the subjective experiences induced by psilocybin in healthy study participants. For this purpose, we applied a linear meta-regression approach on questionnaire ratings after oral administration of psilocybin in a controlled setting. Data was obtained from The Altered States Database, which contains psychometric data extracted from peer-reviewed articles published in MEDLINE-listed journals that used standardized and validated questionnaires. Our meta-analysis included data of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale, the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30), and the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS). We used the Robust Variance Estimation Framework to obtain linear dose-response relationship estimates for each dimension of the given questionnaires. Ratings on most dimensions and subscales of the included questionnaires correlated positively with dose. Since subjective experiences are not only determined by dose, but also by individual differences and environmental factors, our results do not necessarily generalize to recreational use, as our analyses are based on data from controlled laboratory experiments. The paper at hand could serve as a general literature citation for the use of psilocybin in experimental and clinical research, especially for the comparison of expected and observed subjective drug experiences.

scholarly journals Dose–response relationships of psilocybin-induced subjective experiences in humans

2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112199267
Author(s):  
Tim Hirschfeld ◽  
Timo T Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Dose Response ◽  
Variance Estimation ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mystical Experience ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Almost All

Background: Psilocybin is the psychoactive component in Psilocybe mushrooms (‘magic mushrooms’). Whether and how the quality of the psilocybin-induced experience might mediate beneficial health outcomes is currently under investigation, for example, in therapeutic applications. However, to date, no meta-analysis has investigated the dose-dependency of subjective experiences across available studies. Aim: Establishing dose–response relationships of the subjective experiences induced by psilocybin in healthy study participants and a comparison of patient groups. Method: We applied a linear meta-regression approach, based on the robust variance estimation framework, to obtain linear dose–response relationship estimates on questionnaire ratings after oral psilocybin administration. Data were obtained from the Altered States Database, which contains data extracted from MEDLINE-listed journal articles that used standardized and validated questionnaires: the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale, the Mystical Experience Questionnaire and the Hallucinogen Rating Scale. Results: Psilocybin dose positively correlated with ratings on most factors and scales, mainly those referring to perceptual alterations and positively experienced ego dissolution. Measures referring to challenging experiences exhibited small effects and were barely modulated by dose. Conclusion: Psilocybin intensified almost all characteristics of altered states of consciousness assessed with the given questionnaires. Because subjective experiences are not only determined by dose, but also by individual and environmental factors, the results may only apply to controlled laboratory experiments and not to recreational use. This paper may serve as a general literature citation for the use of psilocybin in experimental and clinical research, to compare expected and observed subjective experiences.

scholarly journals Acute and subacute psychoactive effects of Kambô, the secretion of the Amazonian Giant Maki Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor): retrospective reports

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Torsten Schmidt ◽  
Simon Reiche ◽  
Caroline L. C. Hage ◽  
Felix Bermpohl ◽  
Tomislav Majić
Keyword(s):  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mystical Experience ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Experience Questionnaire

AbstractKambô, the secretion of the Amazonian Giant Leaf Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) contains a plethora of bioactive peptides and was originally used by indigenous communities from the Amazon basin as medicine for improving hunting capacities. In the last 20 years, Kambô has spread to Western urban healing circles. To date it is still controversial whether the acute effects of Kambô include alterations of consciousness similar to known psychoactive substance like serotonergic psychedelics. Here we retrospectively assessed psychological effects of Kambô in a sample of anonymous users (n = 22, mean age: 39 years, ± 8.5; 45.5% female), administering standardized questionnaires for the assessment of altered states of consciousness (ASC), including the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale, the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI), the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ), the Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) for acute effects and the Persisting Effects Questionnaire (PEQ) and a scale assessing connectedness for subacute effects. The intensity of retrospectively reported acute psychological effects remained on a mild to moderate level, with no psychedelic-type distortions of perception or thinking. Conversely, persisting effects were predominantly described as positive and pleasant, revealing high scores on measures of personal and spiritual significance.

A qualitative and quantitative account of patient’s experiences of ketamine and its antidepressant properties

2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112199832
Author(s):  
Rachael L Sumner ◽  
Emme Chacko ◽  
Rebecca McMillan ◽  
Meg J Spriggs ◽  
Christie Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Qualitative Interview ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
States Of Consciousness

Background: Ketamine is central to one of the most rapidly growing areas of neuroscientific research into novel treatments for depression. Limited research has indicated that the psychedelic properties of ketamine may play a role in its antidepressant effects. Aim: The aim of the current study was to explore the psychedelic experiences and sustained impact of ketamine in major depressive disorder. Methods: In the current study, ketamine (0.44 mg/kg) was administered to 32 volunteers with major depressive disorder in a crossover design with the active-placebo remifentanil, in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment. The 11-dimension altered states of consciousness questionnaire and individual qualitative interviews were used to capture the acute psychedelic experience. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and further interviewing explored lasting effects. The second qualitative interview took place ⩾3 weeks post-ketamine. Results: Greater antidepressant response (reduction in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale at 24 h) correlated with the 11-dimension altered states of consciousness dimensions: spirituality, experience of unity, and insight. The first qualitative interview revealed that all participants experienced perceptual changes. Additional themes emerged including loss of control and emotional and mood changes. The final interview showed evidence of a psychedelic afterglow, and changes to perspective on life, people, and problems, as well as changes to how participants felt about their depression and treatments. Conclusions: The current study provides preliminary evidence for a role of the psychedelic experience and afterglow in ketamine’s antidepressant properties. Reflexive thematic analysis provided a wealth of information on participants’ experience of the study and demonstrated the psychedelic properties of ketamine are not fully captured by commonly used questionnaires.

Acute subjective effects in LSD- and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy

2020 ◽  
pp. 026988112095960
Author(s):  
Yasmin Schmid ◽  
Peter Gasser ◽  
Peter Oehen ◽  
Matthias E Liechti
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Mystical Experience ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Compassionate Use ◽  
Group Settings ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Experience Questionnaire

Background: Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) were used in psychotherapy in the 1960s–1980s, and are currently being re-investigated as treatments for several psychiatric disorders. In Switzerland, limited medical use of these substances is possible in patients not responding to other treatments (compassionate use). Methods: This study aimed to describe patient characteristics, treatment indications and acute alterations of mind in patients receiving LSD (100–200 µg) and/or MDMA (100–175 mg) within the Swiss compassionate use programme from 2014–2018. Acute effects were assessed using the 5 Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness scale and the Mystical Experience Questionnaire, and compared with those in healthy volunteers administered with LSD or MDMA and patients treated alone with LSD in clinical trials. Results: Eighteen patients (including 12 women and six men, aged 29–77 years) were treated in group settings. Indications mostly included posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression. Generally, a drug-assisted session was conducted every 3.5 months after 3–10 psychotherapy sessions. LSD induced pronounced alterations of consciousness on the 5 Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness scale, and mystical-type experiences with increases in all scales on the Mystical Experience Questionnaire. Effects were largely comparable between patients in the compassionate use programme and patients or healthy subjects treated alone in a research setting. Conclusion: LSD and MDMA are currently used medically in Switzerland mainly in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in group settings, producing similar acute responses as in research subjects. The data may serve as a basis for further controlled studies of substance-assisted psychotherapy.

scholarly journals Experiências Anômalas e Dissociativas em Contexto Religioso: Uma Abordagem Autoetnográfica

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-161
Author(s):  
Everton de Oliveira MARALDI
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Significant Similarity ◽  
Subjective Data ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Ethnographic Approach ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Do So

The present study explored the phenomenological characteristics of anomalous experiences (AEs) reported during Umbanda rituals, a mediumistic Brazilian religion, with the aim of comparing AEs reported during rituals involving the use of Ayahuasca (an entheogen frequently used in some Umbanda contexts) and rituals without the use of this substance. In order to do so, we compared individuals with different levels of involvement with the mediumistic practices. The study was based on an auto-ethnographic approach. This methodological perspective allowed us to confront subjective data with the available knowledge in the scientific literature about AEs, dissociative phenomena and altered states of consciousness and was of fundamental importance for a more sensitive understanding of the nuances and characteristics of these experiences. The results attest to a significant similarity between the experiences reported with and without the use of Ayahuasca in mediumistic contexts. In both groups, the experiencers were able to identify certain similarities in their experiences regarding a reduction of voluntary motor control, changes in memory and perception, communicability and accessibility of experiences, anomalous information reception and increases in interpersonal sensitivity. The results support the methodological feasibility of autoethnography as a research tool and point to its relevance to a deeper understanding of AEs and other subjective experiences usually of difficult investigation by other research methods.

scholarly journals Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. e12412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erich Studerus ◽  
Alex Gamma ◽  
Franz X. Vollenweider
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
States Of Consciousness

scholarly journals Phenomenological assessment of psychedelic induced experiences: Translation and validation of the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Dworatzyk ◽  
Tallulah Jansen ◽  
Timo Torsten Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Translation And Validation ◽  
Experience Questionnaire

Several measures have been designed to assess subjective experiences induced by psychedelic substances and other mind-altering drugs or non-pharmacological methods. Recently, two self-report questionnaires have been introduced to measure acute adverse effects following psilocybin ingestion and the phenomenon of ego-dissolution associated with psychedelic use, respectively. The 26-item Challenging Experience Questionnaire assesses multiple dimensions of psilocybin induced experiences, whereas the 8-item Ego-Dissolution Inventory consists of a uni-dimensional scale. In the present study, these questionnaires were translated into German and their psychometric properties then evaluated in an online survey on psychedelic induced experiences. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the 7-factor structure of the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire with overall good internal consistency for all subscales. The factor structure did not differ based on gender or prior struggle with anxiety or depression, furthering the evidence of internal validity. Correlations with the State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory and the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale demonstrated convergent validity. Confirmatory factor analysis did not confirm the hypothesized single-factor structure of the German Ego-Dissolution Inventory and exploratory factor analysis suggested an alternative factor structure, where only five items loaded onto a common factor that was interpreted as ego-dissolution. Internal consistency of this 5-item measure was high and correlation with selected items of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire and Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale supported convergent validity. Translation and validation of these questionnaires contribute to the advancement of common standards in the psychological and neuroscientific study of altered states of consciousness.

Inner Worlds

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Weinel
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Deprivation ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Discrete States ◽  
Dimensional Models ◽  
Hypnagogic Hallucinations

This chapter provides an introduction to consciousness, and explores how our subjective experiences change during a variety of altered states of consciousness. An overview of cognition is given, outlining the processes involved in the construction of our experiences within the ‘stream’ or ‘theatre of consciousness’. Next, the main varieties of altered states of consciousness are discussed: psychosis, psychedelic experience, dreaming, hypnagogic hallucinations, sensory deprivation, meditation, trance, and hypnosis. Using existing dimensional models, these can be understood not as discrete states, but as points on a continuum, which significantly diverge from ‘normal waking consciousness’. For the purposes of Inner Sound, these altered states of consciousness can be represented or induced with the aid of sound and music; here an initial outline of how this may occur is given.

scholarly journals Increased spontaneous EEG signal diversity during stroboscopically-induced altered states of consciousness

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Schwartzman ◽  
Michael Schartner ◽  
Benjamin B. Ador ◽  
Francesca Simonelli ◽  
Acer Y.-C. Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Eeg Signal ◽  
Visual Hallucinations ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Eeg Signals ◽  
Neural Signal ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Signal Diversity

AbstractWhat are the global neuronal signatures of altered states of consciousness (ASC)? Recently, increases in neural signal diversity, compared to those found in wakeful rest, have been reported during psychedelic states. Neural signal diversity has previously been identified as a robust signature of the state of consciousness, showing lower scores during sleep or anaesthesia compared to wakeful rest. The increased neural signal diversity during psychedelic states raises the additional possibility that it may also reflect the increased diversity of subjective experiences associated with these states. However, psychedelic states involve widespread neuropsychopharmacological changes, only some of which may be associated with altered phenomenology. Therefore, we used stroboscopic stimulation to induce non-pharmacological altered states of consciousness while measuring the diversity of EEG signals. Stroboscopic stimulation caused substantial increases in the intensity and range of subjective experiences, with reports of both simple and complex visual hallucinations. These experiences were accompanied by increases in EEG signal diversity scores (measured using Lempel-Ziv complexity) exceeding those associated with wakeful rest, in line with studies of the psychedelic state. Our findings support the proposal that EEG signal diversity reflects the diversity of subjective experience that is associated with different states of consciousness.

scholarly journals Psychedelic experience dose-dependently modulated by cannabis: results of a prospective online survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Kuc ◽  
Hannes Kettner ◽  
Fernando Rosas ◽  
David Erritzoe ◽  
Eline Haijen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Mystical Experience ◽  
Subjective Effects ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Novel Treatments ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Contextual Setting ◽  
Experience Questionnaire

Abstract Rationale. Classic psychedelics are currently being studied as novel treatments for a range of psychiatric disorders. However, research on how psychedelics interact with other psychoactive substances remains scarce. Objectives The current study aimed to explore the subjective effects of psychedelics when used alongside cannabis. Methods Participants (n = 321) completed a set of online surveys at 2 time points: 7 days before, and 1 day after a planned experience with a serotonergic psychedelic. The collected data included demographics, environmental factors (so-called setting) and five validated questionnaires: Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ), visual subscales of Altered States of Consciousness Questionnaire (ASC-Vis), Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), Ego Dissolution Inventory (EDI) and Emotional Breakthrough Inventory (EBI). Participants were grouped according to whether they had reported using no cannabis (n = 195) or low (n = 53), medium (n = 45) or high (n = 28) dose, directly concomitant with the psychedelic. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and contrasts was used to analyse differences in subjective effects between groups while controlling for potential confounding contextual ‘setting’ variables. Results The simultaneous use of cannabis together with classic serotonergic psychedelics was associated with more intense psychedelic experience across a range of measures: a linear relationship was found between dose and MEQ, ASC-Vis and EDI scores, while a quadratic relationship was found for CEQ scores. No relationship was found between the dose of cannabis and the EBI. Conclusions Results imply a possible interaction between the cannabis and psychedelic on acute subjective experiences; however, design limitations hamper our ability to draw firm inferences on directions of causality and the clinical implications of any such interactions.

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