Frontiers in Epidemiology
March 23, 2022
Alan K. Davis, Brooke J. Arterberry, Yitong Xin et al.
20 citations
Asian females had the highest prevalence of past-year hallucinogen use (35.06%), two or more times that of White males and females and Native American males. More than half of White males and females, Multiracial males, and Hispanic males had ever used psilocybin or LSD, while less than a quarter of Black males and females reported lifetime psilocybin use. Native American males had the lowest lifetime MDMA use (17.62–33.30%) but the highest lifetime peyote use (40.37–53.24%). Pacific Islander males had the highest lifetime mescaline use (28.27%), and Pacific Islander males and females had the highest lifetime DMT use (15.68–38.58%).
Frontiers in Pain Research
March 18, 2025
Jenna McAfee, Avinash Hosanagar, Vijay Tarnal et al.
18 citations
In a small open-label pilot trial, five people with fibromyalgia received two doses of psilocybin (15 mg and 25 mg) along with psychotherapy. The treatment was well-tolerated: there were temporary increases in blood pressure or heart rate during dosing that returned to normal, no serious adverse events, and four of five participants had short-lived headaches. One month after the second dose, participants reported large reductions in pain severity, pain interference, and sleep disturbance. One participant rated their symptoms as very much improved, two as much improved, and two as minimally improved. Recruitment stopped early due to generalizability concerns and changing FDA guidance, but the results suggest psilocybin-assisted therapy is safe for fibromyalgia and warrants larger trials.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
November 19, 2021
Pratheek Mangini, Lynnette A. Averill, Alan K. Davis
18 citations
Among 27 Special Operations Forces Veterans who reported risky drinking before a psychedelic clinical program in Mexico, retrospective reports showed very large reductions in alcohol use and post-traumatic stress symptoms from before to after treatment, with 85% reducing drinking to non-risky levels (33% abstinent, 52% non-risky drinking). Psychological flexibility increased substantially and was strongly associated with both reductions. The authors call for rigorous longitudinal studies to determine whether psychedelic-assisted therapy holds promise for this population.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
January 1, 2022
Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Alan K. Davis
16 citations
Depression is the leading cause of global disability and a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Early experimental trials suggest that psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, combined with therapeutic support shows promise for treating depression, with large effect sizes. Neuroimaging reveals dynamic effects of psilocybin on brain functional activity. This chapter reviews methods and findings from three small clinical trials examining psilocybin therapy for major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression, presenting insights from functional magnetic resonance imaging and qualitative analyses, along with study limitations and future directions.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2015
Alan K. Davis, Harold Rosenberg
15 citations
People who persistently use ecstasy without being addicted may have a passionate attachment to the activity. In a community sample of ecstasy users, both obsessive and harmonious passion scores were linked to lower self-efficacy to refuse the drug and greater use of ecstasy to cope with worries. Obsessive passion was partially associated with more frequent use, more lifetime uses, and more pills consumed per occasion, whereas harmonious passion was not tied to those consumption measures. The modified Passion Scale could supplement assessments of the psychology behind ecstasy use.
Drugs Education Prevention and Policy
September 4, 2022
Jason B. Luoma, Brian Pilecki, Alan K. Davis et al.
13 citations
Psychologists' attitudes toward psychedelics vary with individual characteristics. Men, younger psychologists, those living in the West or Northeast US, those with greater knowledge of risks and benefits, those who are religiously unaffiliated, and those with direct or indirect experience with psychedelics report more positive attitudes. Previous addiction treatment training was not associated with more positive attitudes. These findings can help inform efforts to improve attitudes, such as using case studies in public education.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
August 21, 2023
Stacey B. Armstrong, Adam W. Levin, Yitong Xin et al.
12 citations
Among 856 U.S. mental health professionals—social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists—there were no differences in confidence that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) would be effective. However, psychiatrists showed a better understanding of PAT than social workers. Psychologists rated PAT as more acceptable than social workers did, and psychologists also rated it as a more reasonable treatment approach than both social workers and psychiatrists. Social workers perceived greater disadvantages of PAT than psychologists and psychiatrists, and they were less likely than both other groups to believe PAT could permanently improve clients' lives. The findings indicate a need for education and training across professions as PAT moves toward approval.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
October 1, 2021
Alan K. Davis, Pratheek Mangini, Yitong Xin
10 citations
Trauma exposure across the lifespan increases risks for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and disability. In a retrospective chart review of 18 patients (average age 45) who completed six sessions of sublingual ketamine-assisted body-centered psychotherapy in an outpatient clinic, improvements in depression were statistically significant and meaningful, with a medium effect size. Improvements in PTSD symptoms and global disability were meaningful but not statistically significant. No improvements in anxiety were observed. The study was underpowered and unrepresentative, requiring replication with larger, more diverse samples.
Psychedelic Medicine
January 20, 2025
Marianna Graziosi, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Mary P Cosimano et al.
9 citations
Psilocybin and other serotonergic psychedelics are used in research settings with safety measures including controlled environments, staff presence, screening, and psychoeducation. An analysis of study materials from psilocybin trials over the past two decades found that psychoeducation documents varied but commonly emphasized biological and physical safety, psychological safety and well-being, aspects of setting, and the potential for expectancies. The materials prioritized biological and psychological safety across all sites. The authors also identified elements unrelated to safety that may contribute to participant expectancies and suggest these extrapharmacological factors be studied systematically to maximize safety while minimizing extraneous expectancies.
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
September 1, 2025
Stanley Wong, Gray Meckling, Nicholas Fabiano et al.
6 citations
A systematic review and meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials involving 593 adults with psychiatric diagnoses found that psilocybin therapy led to a small but significant decrease in suicidal ideation compared to control conditions. No studies reported suicide attempts or deaths. The analysis showed low heterogeneity and no publication bias, though two studies had a high risk of bias. Current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, insufficient follow-up data, and inadequate assessment of blinding.
International Journal of Transgender Health
March 19, 2025
Skylar J. Gaughan, Angie R. Wootton, Daphne Krantz et al.
6 citations
Transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) people use psychedelics in naturalistic, non-clinical settings to explore and affirm their gender identity. Interviews with 20 TGE individuals revealed three main themes: the mindset and physical setting of a psychedelic experience shape its quality; such experiences often increase self-acceptance of gender identity through greater self-compassion and a broader concept of gender; and participants reported both challenging effects like gender dysphoria and benefits like gender euphoria. The findings suggest clinicians should help TGE clients prepare a gender-affirming setting before psychedelic use and support shifts in gender understanding afterward.
Science
September 19, 2024
Stacey B. Armstrong, Alan K. Davis
6 citations
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) combines hallucinogenic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA with psychotherapy, showing potential for treating mental health conditions that affect one in eight people worldwide. Clinical trials in the US and Europe suggest PAT may offer shorter treatment times and stronger effects than existing therapies. However, the field faces significant controversy due to unanswered questions about safety and effectiveness, highlighted by the FDA's recent decision against approving MDMA therapy for PTSD and the retraction of several MDMA trial papers due to unethical therapist conduct and data integrity issues. The research community must address these obstacles to transition from exploratory trials to established, evidence-based treatments.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
August 5, 2022
John Clifton, Annabelle M. Belcher, Aaron D. Greenblatt et al.
6 citations
Among Black individuals diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder recruited from an urban methadone program, most had heard of psilocybin mushrooms but only 17.8% had ever used them. Over 80% perceived a risk or were unsure of the risk for most psilocybin-related items. About half were willing to try therapy incorporating psilocybin, and half said they would be more likely to try it if FDA-approved for OUD. Most preferred to stay on methadone alone; only one participant chose psilocybin treatment without methadone. The authors suggest culturally informed treatment models and outreach to increase minority representation in psilocybin research.
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
February 27, 2024
Jacob S. Aday, Emily K. Bloesch, Alan K. Davis et al.
5 citations
People who attended an ayahuasca retreat showed increased appreciation of art and beauty one week and one month later, according to a survey of 54 participants. Contrary to expectations, intense drug effects such as mystical experiences, awe, or ego dissolution did not predict these changes. The open-label design limits certainty, but the findings align with anecdotal reports of lasting shifts in aesthetic attitudes after psychedelic use. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms behind these changes.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
September 4, 2025
Alan K. Davis, Meghan DellaCrosse, Nathan D. Sepeda et al.
4 citations
Over a five-year follow-up period, psilocybin-assisted therapy produced significant and sustained reductions in depression for people with major depressive disorder. Among the 18 participants who completed the study, 67% remained in remission for at least five years after treatment. Anxiety and functional impairment also improved. Qualitative interviews revealed lasting positive changes in mindset, emotional health, and relationships, including enhanced empathy, self-acceptance, and improved interpersonal relationships. No severe adverse events were reported. These findings support the long-term efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy for reducing depressive symptoms and improving mental health.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 12, 2024
Katinka Hooyer, Rachel Yehuda, Alan K. Davis et al.
4 citations
About half of U.S. military veterans surveyed reported using psychedelics, most often for healing or treatment (70%) and spiritual purposes (48%). The vast majority (85%) said they benefited from use. Veterans who used psychedelics indicated they would be more likely to use VA services, and they expressed greater interest in psychedelic therapy compared to non-users. However, some adverse outcomes were reported, suggesting that without proper preparation and support, psychedelics may carry risks. The findings point to a potential role for psychedelic-assisted approaches in veteran mental health care.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 5, 2024
Meghan DellaCrosse, A. Garcia-Romeu, Alan K. Davis
4 citations
A lack of consensus and theoretical clarity in psychedelic-assisted therapy research has led to polarized debates and unusual regulatory recommendations, such as removing psychological and medical safety measures to better study drug effects. This commentary argues that an ecological systems theory approach, adapted from Bronfenbrenner, can make contextual and practical factors explicit and testable in research. The proposed conceptual model aims to improve measurement of acute subjective experience and address limitations in current approaches. The authors suggest this framework could help reconcile conflicting perspectives and enhance safety in ongoing clinical trials.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 14, 2023
Christopher Timmermann, Aki Nikolaidis, Alan K. Davis et al.
4 citations
Spanish translations of three questionnaires measuring acute psychedelic effects—the Psychological Insight Questionnaire (PIQ), Challenging Experiences Questionnaire (CEQ), and Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ)—showed good psychometric properties in a sample of 442 native Spanish speakers. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the factor structures matched the original English versions, and this consistency held across subgroups who had used LSD or psilocybin. Construct validity was supported by positive associations between the PIQ and MEQ and between these measures and changes in cognitive fusion, alongside negative associations with changes in prosocial behaviors. Predictive validity was indicated by strong relationships between persisting effects and scores on the MEQ and PIQ. The Spanish versions can be reliably used in research with Spanish-speaking populations.
May 15, 2023
Jacob S. Aday, Emily K. Bloesch, Alan K. Davis et al.
3 citations
preprint
People who attended an ayahuasca retreat showed increased engagement with aesthetic experiences—such as appreciation of art, nature, and beauty—one week and one month afterward, compared to before the retreat. The study followed 54 participants and measured aesthetic experience using a validated questionnaire. Although participants reported strong mystical-type experiences, awe, and ego dissolution during their ayahuasca sessions, none of these acute effects predicted the long-term increase in aesthetic engagement. The open-label design limits certainty, but the findings support anecdotal reports that psychedelics can enhance aesthetic appreciation and point to a new area for future research.
JAMA Psychiatry
February 10, 2021
Alan K. Davis, Roland R. Griffiths
3 citations
No Summary
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 29, 2023
Neşe Devenot, Brian A. Pace, Jason Slot et al.
1 citation
The field of psychedelic scholarship is expanding rapidly across clinical research, neuroscience, pharmacology, and the humanities. This special issue introduces the Psychedemia 2022 conference, hosted by the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education at The Ohio State University, which brought together diverse academic disciplines to discuss integrating psychedelics into society. The conference built on the first Psychedemia in 2012 at the University of Pennsylvania, which helped establish Psychedelic Studies as an interdisciplinary field. As psychedelic research gains mainstream acceptance and a projected multi-billion-dollar medical market emerges, academics have a crucial role in articulating stakeholder concerns and shaping policy, theory, and methodology across social, legal, economic, and environmental dimensions.
June 7, 2023
Jacob S. Aday, Emily K. Bloesch, Alan K. Davis et al.
1 citation
preprint
People who attended an ayahuasca retreat showed increased gratitude, nature relatedness, and nature appreciation one week and one month afterward, compared with before the retreat. Mystical-type experiences and feelings of awe during the retreat were weakly to moderately linked to these increases, while ego dissolution was not. The findings suggest that the mystical and awe-inducing aspects of ayahuasca may lead to personality changes that benefit mental health and prosocial attitudes, though more research is needed to confirm the results.
Psychedelic Medicine
May 9, 2026
Yitong Xin, Alan K. Davis, Susan Yoon et al.
People with higher psychological resilience before an ayahuasca retreat reported more intense acute challenging experiences, such as nausea or emotional distress. Resilience also moderated how those challenging experiences related to later meaning-making: among participants with higher baseline resilience, the link between acute difficulty and a subsequent search for meaning in life was stronger. The findings suggest that resilience may help individuals transform difficult psychedelic moments into psychospiritual growth, pointing to the value of incorporating resilience-building into retreat preparation and integration programs.
Psychedelics
March 7, 2026
Skylar J. Gaughan, Jae Sevelius, Rafael Lancelotta et al.
Transgender and gender-expansive individuals, particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, use psychedelics to heal from identity-based traumas such as racism and transphobia. Interviews with 20 participants revealed awareness of the Indigenous roots of psychedelic plant medicine and concerns that ongoing medicalization of psychedelics, shaped by colonization and structural racism, reproduces inequities in access and experience. Some participants opposed medicalization, linking it to racist and colonial dynamics. The findings suggest that culturally humble and ethically responsible models of psychedelic-assisted therapy are needed to promote health equity for transgender and gender-expansive people of color.
January 8, 2026
Michael Esposito, Ana M Ortiz Bernal, Alan K. Davis et al.
preprint
A scoping review of 33 peer-reviewed studies on 5-MeO-DMT use in humans found that most interventional studies (13 of 15) used inhalation administration, though dosages and dosing regimens varied widely. Common outcomes measured include cognition, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. The review highlights large heterogeneity in study design, dosing, and support, and suggests future research should explore different routes of administration and include more neuroimaging, qualitative, and longitudinal data.