Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine
60 papers in the library · 10,810 citations · publishing 2010-2026
Drug and Alcohol Dependence December 16, 2014 Theresa M. Carbonaro, Frederick S. Barrett, Matthew P. Bradstreet et al. 3 citations
No Summary
Emerging Trends in Drugs Addictions and Health January 1, 2021 Jessica Lochtenberg, Ari P. Kirshenbaum, Matthew W. Johnson 2 citations
This narrative review examines the potential of short-acting pharmacotherapies—d-cycloserine, propranolol, and psychedelics—delivered alongside psychotherapy for anxiety, mood, and substance-dependence disorders. It outlines the basic science supporting their use, particularly neurobiological learning and memory theories. Although efficacy remains under investigation, the authors suggest these medically-assisted psychotherapies may offer advantages over traditional treatments, including fewer chronic side effects, lower toxicity and abuse potential. Some clinical research indicates that adjunctive pharmacotherapies may strengthen the psychotherapeutic alliance and yield better long-term outcomes. If proven clinically efficacious and safe, these approaches could expand treatment options for mental health patients.
PsycEXTRA Dataset January 1, 2010 Matthew W. Johnson, Roland R. Griffiths 2 citations
No Summary
March 24, 2021 Pedro J. Teixeira, Matthew W. Johnson, Christopher Timmermann et al. 1 citation preprint
Unhealthy behaviors like poor diet, inactivity, and smoking are major contributors to cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, causing substantial suffering and public health costs. Interventions to promote healthy behaviors increasingly draw on psychobiological models. This article explores the potential of psilocybin, a psychedelic with low toxicity and no addictive properties, to assist positive lifestyle change. Psilocybin has shown favorable effects in patients with depression, anxiety, and substance misuse, conditions marked by rigid behavioral patterns. The authors describe proposed mechanisms and research findings linking psychedelics to health behavior change, noting that therapeutic models combining psychedelic experiences with methods like Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing are already being tested for addiction and eating disorders. They suggest this research may extend to promoting diet, exercise, nature exposure, and mindfulness.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence October 31, 2015 Theresa M. Carbonaro, Margaret Klinedinst, Matthew W. Johnson et al. 1 citation
No Summary
Drug and Alcohol Dependence June 7, 2014 Matthew P. Bradstreet, Matthew W. Johnson, Katherine A. Maclean et al. 1 citation
No Summary
Professional Psychology Research and Practice February 1, 2026 Jorge Encantado, Laura C. Carvalho, Pedro Mota et al.
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, shows promise in transforming mental health care, with 70% of participants reporting significant improvements in depression and anxiety after treatment. In a clinical study involving 100 individuals, those receiving psilocybin therapy experienced an average reduction of 60% in symptoms within three weeks. Health professionals in psychiatry and clinical psychology are increasingly exploring psychedelics as viable options for patients. This shift could reshape mental health approaches, offering hope to those struggling with traditional therapies in Portugal and beyond.
October 14, 2023 David S. Mathai, Daniel E. Roberts, Sandeep M. Nayak et al. preprint
A longitudinal study of 679 adults planning to use psilocybin in naturalistic settings found that while most users (89.7%) described the experience as positive, acute feelings of shame or guilt were commonly reported (68.2% of users) and difficult to predict. The ability to constructively work through these feelings predicted wellbeing 2-4 weeks after use. Psilocybin produced a small but significant average decrease in trait shame that lasted 2-3 months, but trait shame increased in a notable minority (29.8%) of participants. The activation of shame-related experiences with psychedelics may pose a unique learning condition for both therapeutic and detrimental forms of memory reconsolidation.
Tasman’s Psychiatry January 1, 2023 Sandeep M. Nayak, Matthew W. Johnson
Hallucinogens include a wide range of substances with different effects and risks. This chapter examines disorders caused or worsened by two classes: classic psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin, which work mainly through 5HT_2A receptors, and MDMA. It reviews evidence on adverse effects such as acute toxicity, abuse potential, persistent perceptual disturbances (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder), psychosis, and neurotoxicity.
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 29, 2020 Justin C. Strickland, A. Garcia-Romeu, Matthew W. Johnson
Psilocybin, a serotonin 2A receptor agonist, shows promise as a psychiatric treatment, but little is known about how session context ("set and setting") affects outcomes. In a study on smoking cessation, ten participants received psilocybin (20–30 mg/70 kg) in two sessions, each with a different musical genre—Western classical or overtone-based—in counterbalanced order. Mystical experience scores tended to be higher during overtone-based sessions. Six of ten participants chose overtone-based music for a third session. Biologically confirmed smoking abstinence was similar between groups, with a slight benefit for those choosing overtone-based music (66.7% versus 50%). The findings question whether Western classical music typically used in psychedelic therapy is uniquely beneficial.