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Link to original content: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21674151
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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2011 Dec;218(4):649-65.
doi: 10.1007/s00213-011-2358-5. Epub 2011 Jun 15.

Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects

Roland R Griffiths  1 , Matthew W Johnson, William A Richards, Brian D Richards, Una McCann, Robert Jesse
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects

Roland R Griffiths et al. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2011 Dec.

Abstract

Rationale: This dose-effect study extends previous observations showing that psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having persisting positive effects on attitudes, mood, and behavior.

Objectives: This double-blind study evaluated psilocybin (0, 5, 10, 20, 30 mg/70 kg, p.o.) administered under supportive conditions.

Methods: Participants were 18 adults (17 hallucinogen-naïve). Five 8-h sessions were conducted individually for each participant at 1-month intervals. Participants were randomized to receive the four active doses in either ascending or descending order (nine participants each). Placebo was scheduled quasi-randomly. During sessions, volunteers used eyeshades and were instructed to direct their attention inward. Volunteers completed questionnaires assessing effects immediately after and 1 month after each session, and at 14 months follow-up.

Results: Psilocybin produced acute perceptual and subjective effects including, at 20 and/or 30 mg/70 kg, extreme anxiety/fear (39% of volunteers) and/or mystical-type experience (72% of volunteers). One month after sessions at the two highest doses, volunteers rated the psilocybin experience as having substantial personal and spiritual significance, and attributed to the experience sustained positive changes in attitudes, mood, and behavior, with the ascending dose sequence showing greater positive effects. At 14 months, ratings were undiminished and were consistent with changes rated by community observers. Both the acute and persisting effects of psilocybin were generally a monotonically increasing function of dose, with the lowest dose showing significant effects.

Conclusions: Under supportive conditions, 20 and 30 mg/70 kg psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences having persisting positive effects on attitudes, mood, and behavior. Implications for therapeutic trials are discussed.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Within session time-course of psilocybin. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and monitor ratings of overall drug effect, and joy/intense happiness as a function of time since capsule ingestion (time 0 = before drug administration). Data points are means; filled data points indicate a significant difference from 0 mg/70 kg at the indicated time point (Planned Comparisons).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Time-course of monitor ratings of anxiety or fearfulness after 30 mg/70 kg in the five volunteers whose mean ratings were 2.0 or higher at one or more time point. Data points are mean ratings of the two session monitors. Different symbols represent different volunteers. The figure illustrates the unpredictable time-course of anxiety or fear across the session.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effects of dose sequence on ratings of persisting effects of well-being/life satisfaction and positive mood completed one month after sessions. Data points are means and brackets show 1 SEM for participants in the ascending dose sequence (triangles) and the descending dose sequence (circles). Dose x Dose Sequence interactions were significant. Asterisks indicate a significant difference between the ascending and descending dose sequence at the indicated dose (Fisher’s LSD post hoc).
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