Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry
January 1, 2015
Zoë Ellison‐wright, Ben Sessa
7 citations
Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) typically follows use of classical hallucinogens like LSD or psilocybin, but its cause is unclear. This case report describes a boy who developed HPPD-like symptoms after using cannabis only seven times, suggesting that cannabis may also trigger the disorder. The authors present this case to highlight the possibility of HPPD occurring with cannabis use alone.
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.
Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
May 14, 2025
Hannah Thurgur, Ben Sessa, Laurie Higbed et al.
3 citations
In an open-label feasibility study, 14 adults with alcohol use disorder who had recently completed detoxification underwent an eight-week course of ten psychotherapy sessions, including two sessions with MDMA. Bayesian analysis estimated a 55%–63% probability of a two-level reduction in World Health Organization drinking risk three months after treatment. Preliminary findings also indicated reductions in alcohol craving and improvements in sleep and aspects of psychosocial functioning at the three-month follow-up compared to baseline. The results provide initial insights into MDMA-assisted psychotherapy's potential to improve quality of life and well-being beyond reducing drinking.
UNC Libraries
April 22, 2020
Peter J. Hellyer, Luke T. Williams, Ben Sessa et al.
1 citation
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in microgram doses produces profound, sometimes life-changing experiences and is a uniquely powerful psychoactive substance. In the first modern neuroimaging study of LSD, marked changes in brain blood flow, electrical activity, and network communication patterns were observed. These changes correlated strongly with the drug's hallucinatory and consciousness-altering properties. The findings have implications for understanding the neurobiology of consciousness and for potential applications of LSD in psychological research.
March 8, 2016
Ben Sessa, Eileen Worthley
1 citation
This book makes a case for re-evaluating psychedelic drugs—LSD, MDMA, DMT, psilocybin, ayahuasca, peyote, ibogaine, and more—as tools to assist clinical therapy. It covers how these chemical compounds affect the brain, defines key neurological and psychological terms, and describes disorders that may be helped, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, autism, and cluster headaches. The text discusses the history of mid-20th-century research halted by 1970s drug bans and examines the likelihood of a resurgence in developing psychedelic-assisted therapies. It aims to challenge 40-year-old prejudices against research into possible benefits of these drugs.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
March 17, 2022
Edward James, Joachim Keppler, Thomas L. Robertshaw et al.
No Summary
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 1, 2017
Ben Sessa
Alcohol use disorder has been a key target for psychedelic research since the 1950s and during the recent Psychedelic Renaissance. Most studies have used classical psychedelics as adjuncts to psychotherapy, emphasizing the psychospiritual aspect of the experience to promote abstinence. MDMA has never been explored for treating alcohol use disorder, but its unique pharmacological capacity to reduce fear and facilitate engagement in therapy around past psychological trauma could make it useful for tackling core features of the disorder. This paper describes the burden of alcohol use disorders and the history of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in addiction, provides theoretical and experimental justification for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, and introduces a forthcoming study in Bristol and London, UK, exploring MDMA's role in treating a person with this condition.
The British Journal of Psychiatry
August 1, 2013
Ben Sessa
No Summary
Psychedelics as Psychiatric Medications
March 1, 2023
Laurie Higbed, Ben Sessa
Psychedelic compounds present a distinct approach to mental health treatment, explored here as an alternative to standard maintenance medication. Used in controlled clinical settings as an adjunct to psychotherapy, the psychedelic experience allows individuals to access and examine the root causes of their difficulties. This approach emphasizes an individualized, formulation-driven understanding of mental distress rather than a reductionist diagnostic one, offering a holistic biopsychosocial intervention. The chapter details key therapeutic phases—preparation, psychedelic drug-assisted experiential sessions, and post-drug integration—to explain how psychedelics can benefit therapy for various mental health problems.