Psychopharmacology
September 2, 2016
Will Lawn, Tom P. Freeman, Rebecca Pope et al.
177 citations
Cannabis containing only THC reduced the likelihood of choosing high-effort rewards compared to placebo, indicating a transient amotivational state, while adding CBD altered the effect of THC on expected value. Cannabis-dependent individuals showed preserved motivation but impaired reward learning compared to non-dependent controls, though depression may have influenced results.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
May 18, 2015
Sunjeev K. Kamboj, Emma J. Kilford, Stephanie Minchin et al.
43 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) and compassionate imagery both increase self-compassion and reduce self-criticism in recreational users. In a non-blind experiment, participants who consumed ecstasy showed similar pro-social effects to those produced by a contemplative compassion exercise, particularly in those with higher attachment-related avoidance. The findings suggest MDMA may enhance psychotherapy by fostering compassionate attitudes toward oneself. However, because the study was not blinded and drug purity was unknown, controlled trials with pharmaceutical-grade MDMA are needed to confirm these effects.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
February 1, 2025
Sophie-Athéna Chapron, Guilhem Bonazzi, Laura Di Lodovico et al.
5 citations
A systematic review of 31 studies involving 2639 participants found that 12 studies reported a significant decrease in craving for alcohol, opioids, cocaine, or tobacco after psychedelic use. However, all but two studies had moderate to high risk of bias due to methodological issues, so the promising anti-craving effects must be interpreted cautiously. The review highlights the need for larger, well-controlled trials to better understand psychedelics' effects on craving, a core symptom of substance use disorders and a predictor of relapse.
Open Science Framework
October 20, 2025
Natalia Fernandez-Vinson, Roger Atkins, Marcus Glennon et al.
This registered clinical study investigates whether N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), alone or combined with reactivating alcohol-related memories, can produce lasting changes in the brain, cognition, and drinking behavior in people with mild alcohol use disorder who are hazardous drinkers but not seeking treatment. Up to 120 participants will be assigned to one of four groups: alcohol memory retrieval plus DMT, alcohol memory retrieval plus placebo, control memory retrieval plus DMT, or control memory retrieval plus placebo. Drinking levels will be measured over three lab sessions and a nine-month follow-up using timeline follow-back and blood tests.