Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance

By Roland R. Griffiths, William A Richards, U. McCann, R. Jesse. Psychopharmacology, 2006

781 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Subfields: Clinical Psychology, Social Psychology, Toxicology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/a938b18073aa78b06c799e700af70d9da680f750

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Citations in the corpus

Constructing drug effects: A history of set and setting (2017, background): “Integrating variables of set and setting into clinical drug research would entail great complications for a pharmaceutical industry bent on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and with limited patience for injecting fuzzy social and cultural elements into its considerations.”
The neurobiology of psychedelic drugs: implications for the treatment of mood disorders (2010, background): “and was rated as among the most personally meaningful experience”
Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study (2015, positive): “…to increase the dose; (ii) experienced adverse effects during the first session which suggested that a higher dose would pose significant risk; or (iii) reported a “complete” mystical experience during the first session (Griffiths et al., 2006), indicating very strong effects from 0.3 mg/kg.”
Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity (2018, background): “Classical serotonergic psychedelics are known to cause changes in mood (Griffiths et al., 2006, 2008, 2011) and brain function (Carhart-Harris et al., 2017) that persist long after the acute effects of the drugs have subsided.”
The Varieties of Self-Transcendent Experience (2017, background): “…with mystical experiences (elicited by psilocybin) include increased positive attitudes about one’s life and self, positive mood, altruistic social effects, positive behavior change, meaning in life, and life satisfaction (Griffiths et al., 2008, 2006; Streib & Hood, 2016; Yaden et al., 2016b).”
REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics (2019, background): “Evidence from a series of recent small-scale studies (Moreno et al., 2006; Grob et al., 2011; Gasser et al., 2014; Bogenschutz et al., 2015; Osório Fde et al., 2015; Carhart-Harris et al., 2016a, 2018a; Griffiths et al., 2016; Ross et al., 2016; Palhano-Fontes et al., 2019), in addition to…”
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial (2016, background): “…transient near-psychotic symptoms) attributable to psilocybin are all known AEs of psilocybin, were transient, tolerable, and consistent with prior trials of psilocybin administration in normal volunteers (Griffiths et al., 2006, 2008, 2011), and patients with terminal cancer (Grob et al., 2011).”
Pilot study of psilocybin treatment for anxiety in patients with advanced-stage cancer. (2011, background): “The investigators corroborated previous findings that psilocybin could reliably catalyze mystical experiences leading to significant and lasting improvements in quality of life.(21) In another study, the effects of psilocybin were examined in patients with severe, refractory obsessive-compulsive dis”
Of Roots and Fruits: A Comparison of Psychedelic and Nonpsychedelic Mystical Experiences (2017, background): “However, as previous work on the topic has discussed at length, the psychedelic substance is often not considered the “cause” but rather the “occasion” of the experience (Griffiths et al., 2006; Hood, 2014; Huxley, 1958; Smith, 1964).”
The overview effect: Awe and self-transcendent experience in space flight. (2016, background): “Such intensely self-transcendent experiences have historically been associated with practices such as prayer, meditation, and religious rituals as well as the use of psychedelic drugs (Griffiths et al., 2006; Yaden, Iwry, Smith, Pawelski, in press).”
Serotonin and brain function: a tale of two receptors (2017, positive): “…5-HT2AR signalling has a time and context sensitive effect on cognition and emotion, increasing plasticity-related processes (and often anxiety (Griffiths et al., 2006)) in the short-term while facilitating openness, learning and well-being in the longer-term (Carhart-Harris et al., 2016c;…”
The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future (2017, background): “…et al, 2004, 2006; Vollenweider et al, 1997), psychology (Carhart-Harris et al, 2015, 2016c; Carter et al, 2007; Gouzoulis-Mayfrank et al, 2005; Griffiths et al, 2006; MacLean et al, 2011; Schmid et al, 2015), and psychopharmacology studies with psychedelics (Kometer et al, 2012; Preller et…”
Psychedelics (2016, methodology): “These experiences are often characterized as among the most meaningful of the subject’s life (e.g., see Griffiths et al., 2006) and can lead to persisting positive effects on attitudes, mood, and behavior.”
Mystical Experiences Occasioned by the Hallucinogen Psilocybin Lead to Increases in the Personality Domain of Openness (2011, methodology): “Finally, designating participants who met the criteria for a complete mystical experience allowed a comparison with previous studies (Griffiths et al., 2008; Griffiths et al., 2006; Pahnke, 1963; Richards et al., 1977; Griffiths et al., 2011).”
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial (2016, methodology): “The structured interview (Community Observer Questionnaire) consisted of asking the rater to rate the participant’s behavior and attitudes using a 10-point scale (from 1 = not at all, to 10 = extremely) on 13 items reflecting healthy psychosocial functioning: inner peace; patience; good-natured humo”
Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: Immediate and persisting dose-related effects (2011, methodology): “The questionnaire included three additional questions (see Griffiths et al. 2006 for more specific wording): (1) How personally meaningful was the experience?”