In April 2004, MAPS received a grant of $250,000 from Peter Lewis for MDMA psychotherapy research. As a result, this study is now fully funded. As of May 28, 2004, MAPS is seeking an additional $250,000 for our MDMA psychotherapy research projects in development, primarily the proposed study of MDMA in the treatment of anxiety in patients with advanced stage cancer, hopefully to take place at Harvard, and the Spain and Israeli MDMA/PTSD studies (see below).

Prior donations to the US MDMA/PTSD study that have brought us to this point have amounted to about $310,000 ($113,000 from John Gilmore, $58,000 from an anonymous family foundation, $50,000 from an anonymous family foundation, $35,000 from the Overbrook Foundation, $12,800 from Anja Saunders, $10,000 from Shawn Hailey, $10,000 from Richard Wolfe, $10,000 from the Zimmer Family Foundation, $5,000 from Michael Ziegler, $5,000 from Joby Pritzker, $1,780 from the Holland Fund, plus a few smaller donations). For more information about what is needed to develop MDMA-assisted therapy into a treatment for PTSD, see the MDMA Clinical Plan.
Last updated: Wed Jul 9 2008

MDMA Dose Response Study in Cancer Patients with Anxiety
Investigators: John Halpern MD, Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, Belmont MA
Contact:
Sponsor: Peter Lewis
Study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with anxiety as a result of advanced stage cancer, with outcome measures to evaluate anxiety, pain and quality of life. On February 23, 2004, MAPS donated $11,000 to McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, for Dr. Halpern's work on the protocol design and approval process ($15,000 was also donated to McLean for this study on June 2003). MAPS had initially worked with Dr. Charles Grob in a much earlier effort to conduct MDMA research in cancer patients prior to Dr. Grob's switching to psilocybin (see entry below). For more information about Dr. Grob's effort. see the details and reference page, the 1995 version of the protocol, and view the video. As of January, 2005, Dr. Halpern's study has now been approved by the McLean Hospital and Lahey Clinic IRBs, and the FDA has given permission (approved) the study as well. On March 7, 2006, the DEA has approved this study. MAPS has since withdrawn financial support for this study but will continue to assist in seeking donors to help support this study. The first subject has undergone both experimental sessions and had anxiety symptoms evaluated afterwards.
Last updated: Wed Jul 9 2008

• Study protocol submitted to IRBs.
• Informed consent forms for the study.

MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Investigators: Peter Oehen MD
Location: Switzerland
Sponsor: MAPS, Swiss Medical Association for Psycholytic Therapy
Contact:
This study is a randomized, double-blind comparison of low versus experimental doses of MDMA in 12 people with treatment-resisted PTSD, with eight people receiving 125 mg followed by 62.5 mg MDMA, and four people receiving 25 mg followed by 12.5 mg MDMA. Everyone will receive three separate experimental sessions during a full course of psychotherapy. PTSD symptoms before the study will be compared with symptoms after two sessions and after all three sessions, and all people who received 125 mg will have symptoms measured again 6 and 12 months after the final experimental session. People who received low dose MDMA will have an opportunity to take part in a second open-label continuation. To read the protocol for this study please click here. The first subject was enrolled in this study in October 2006. Five subjects are enrolled as of August 2007, and another individual is awaiting baseline measurements.
Last updated: Wed Aug 29 2007

Physiological correlates of PTSD before and after MDMA-assisted psychotherapy
Investigators: Dominique Holstein MS
Location: University Psychiatric Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
Sponsor: HMF Zurich, HRC Zurich
Contact: ,
This study is taking place in conjunction with a randomized, double-blind comparison of low versus experimental doses of MDMA in 12 people with treatment-resisted PTSD, with eight people receiving 125 mg followed by 62.5 mg MDMA, and four people receiving 25 mg followed by 12.5 mg MDMA being conducted by Peter Oehen MD. Dr. Oehen's study offers a unique opportunity to investigate further possible links between changes in physiological measures associated with the symptomatology of PTSD and improvement in patients undergoing treatment and symptom relief. People with PTSD may have deficits in information processing such as failures in sensory gating or filtering out information. Such measures of inhibition failure include prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex and P50 auditory evoked potential suppression. Measures of impaired cognitive performance include various types of evoked response potential (EEG-ERP). Psychophysiological measures include skin conductance and heart rate variability. Differences in these measures are associated with having PTSD, but they have never been measured in the same individuals as part of a single investigation before. Thus the aim of the present longitudinal study is 1) to characterize PTSD patients using a broad range of physiological candidate measures (PPI, P50, SC, HRV) and cognitive paradigms (P200, P300), and second, to investigate how these measures relate to the symptomatology of PTSD and clinical outcome.
All PTSD patients that participate in Dr. Oehens study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy will be assessed at baseline, before undergoing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, and three weeks after the third MDMA-assisted session. On the long run, the assessment of multiple physiological measures in PTSD patients shall further our understanding of the pathophysiology of this illness and increases the possibility to identify subgroups of PTSD patients, and help to identify more specific treatments.
Last updated: Tue Aug 28 2007

MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Location: Israel
Contact:
Sponsor: MAPS
The Israeli Ministry of Health, after seven years of struggle and three MAPS-sponsored international scientific conferences on MDMA that took place in Israel, has finally approved the MAPS-sponsored Israeli MDMA/PTSD pilot study to be directed by Dr. Moshe Kotler, Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University and former chief psychiatrist of the Israeli Defense Forces. The one condition was that the Israeli Anti-Drug Authority express its support for the study in writing, which it has done!. Fundraising efforts are now underway for this study, seeking the necessary $75,000-100,000. The study initiation visit took place at the site in October 2006. The research team has begun recruiting participants as of early April 2007. This study will enroll twelve subjects, each subject will attend five non-drug psychotherapy sessions and two experimental sessions in which the investigational product (full dose of MDMA or an active placebo of a sub-therapeutic dose of MDMA) is administered. Subjects who recieved the placebo dose are allowed to continue on to the phase II open-label portion of the study in which they will receive the fully active dose. This study also features a one-year follow-up period.
Read about the 1999 Israel MDMA Conference
Last updated: Fri Apr 13 2007

• MAPS-Supported MDMA/PTSD Research in Israel: An Update Rick Doblin PhD.
  MAPS Bulletin, Vol. 13, No. 1, Spring 2003
  
• Attack of the Happy People - An Israeli documentary about Ecstasy which includes a discussion of MAPS' Israeli MDMA/PTSD project.
• Shlosberg A, Strous R (2005) Long-term follow-up (32 years) of PTSD in Israeli Yom Kippur War veterans. J Nervous Mental Disease 193 693-696. Research paper on PTSD in Israel.
• Strous RD, Weiss M, Felsen I, Finkel B, Melamed Y, Bleich A, Kotler M, Laub D. (2005) Video testimony of long-term hospitalized psychiatrically ill Holocaust survivors. Am J Psychiatry 162(12):2287-2294. Related research paper on PTSD in Israel

> Read the author's outline of the research program and goals.

MDMA Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Spain Study
Investigators: Pedro Sopelana Rodriguez, psychiatrist at the Psychiatric Hospital of Madrid (Hospital Psiquiatrico de Madrid); Jose Carlos Bouso Saiz, Ph.D. candidate
U. de Autonoma de Madrid, Spain
Contact:
Sponsor: MAPS A pilot dose-finding study with the purpose of gathering information to be used to help select the dose for a subsequent study of therapeutic efficacy. The project is the first formal therapy study with MDMA ever conducted. Six of the 29 subjects have now been treated. We have completed treating the patients in the 50 mgs dose group (3 patients received 50 mgs and 1 received a placebo), and have treated two people in the 75 mg dose group (5 patients will receive 75 mgs and 2 will receive a placebo). Unfortunately, this study has been shut down for political reasons due to pressure on the hospital from the Madrid AntiDrug Authority, though we are working to overcome these obstacles. The Ministry of Health has not withdrawn permission, so there is a chance that the study can be resumed, though definitely not until sometime after we obtain permission to start the US MDMA/PTSD study. See the current update, the protocol and the informed consent form.
Last updated: Tue Feb 24 2004

• Tancer M, Johanson CE. (2006) The effects of fluoxetine on the subjective and physiological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in humans. Psychopharmacology (Berl) Published online Oct 18;
• Freedman RR, Johanson CE, Tancer ME. (2005)Thermoregulatory effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in humans.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 183(2):248-256.
• Johanson CE, Kilbey M, Gatchalian K, Tancer M. (2005) Discriminative stimulus effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in humans trained to discriminate among d-amphetamine, meta-chlorophenylpiperazine and placebo. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2005 Published On-line June 20.
• Tancer ME, Johanson CE (2003) Reinforcing, subjective and physiological effects of MDMA in humans; A comparison with d-amphetamine and mCPP. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 72: 33-44.
• Tancer ME, Johanson CE. The subjective effects of MDMA and mCPP in moderate MDMA users. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001 Dec 1;65(1):97-101.
• Serotonin and dopamine system interactions in the reinforcing properties of psychostimulants. MAPS - Volume 7, Number 3; Summer 1997.

Behavioral Effects of MDMA Related to Driving Ability
Investigators: C.T.J. Lamers PhD, J.G. Ramaekers PhD, W.J. Riedel
University of Maastricht, the Netherlands
Contact:
Sponsor: Ministry of Transport, the Netherlands
This research examines MDMA effects on driving related task performance, including psychomotor function (such as tracking, movement speed), cognitive function (attention, executive function and planning) and object movement prediction. In addition, mood changes and physiological measures were assessed, and MDMA levels were measured in blood, sweat, urine and saliva. Studies already published were conducted according to a placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind design and treatments included placebo, 75 mg MDMA and 0.5 g/kg alcohol.
Last updated: Wed Apr 7 2004

• Brookhuis KA, De Waard D, Samyn N. (2004) Effects of MDMA (ecstasy), and multiple drugs use on (simulated) driving performance and traffic safety. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004 Jan 9 [Epub ahead of print]
• Lamers CT, Ramaekers JG, Muntjewerff ND, Sikkema KL, Samyn N, Read NL, Brookhuis KA, Riedel WJ. (2003) Dissociable effects of a single dose of ecstasy (MDMA) on psychomotor skills and attentional performance. J Psychopharmacol. 17(4):379-387.
• Samyn N, De Boeck G, Wood M, Lamers C, De Waard D, Brookhuis K, Verstraete A, Riedel W (2002) Plasma, oral fluid and sweat wipe ecstasy concentrations in controlled and real life conditions. Forensic Sci Int 128: 90-97.

Effects of MDMA ("Ecstasy") on the Human Brain
Investigators: Franz Vollenweider, MD, Alex Gamma, PhD
Psychiatric University Hospital - Zrich, Switzerland
Contact:
Sponsors: Swiss National Science Foundation, UBS Science Foundation
Psychobiologic studies including: assessment of possible neurophysiological, psychological and cognitive alterations in chronic MDMA users; evaluation of the role of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine systems in mediating the effect of MDMA on mood, psychomotor behavior and sensorimotor gating in humans, investigating whether regular MDMA users show alterations in 5-HT reuptake site densities indicative of neurotoxic effects after long-term MDMA use. MAPS donated $6,000 to a sub-study in which 10 MDMA-naive subjects will receive a PET scan to measure serotonin reuptake sites before and after a single dose of MDMA (1.5-1.7mg/kg)
Last updated: Mon Jun 18 2001

For details see the MDMA Research in Switzerland Page

Gender Differences in the Subjective Effects of MDMA
Investigators: Liechti ME, Gamma A, Vollenweider, FX
Sponsors/Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation; Swiss Federal Health Office; Heffter Research Institute
References: Psychopharmacology DOI (2001) 10.1007/s002130000648
Last updated: Fri Feb 16 2001

Effects of MDMA (Ecstasy) on Prepulse Inhibition and Habituation of Startle in Humans After Pretreatment with Citalopram, Halperidol, or Ketanserin
Investigators: Liechti ME, Geyer MA, Hell D, Vollenweider FX
Sonsors/Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation; Swiss Federal Health Office; Heffter Research Institute
References: Neuropsychopharmacology (2001) 24:240-252
Last updated: Fri Feb 16 2001

MDMA Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Humans
Investigators: John Mendelson, MD and Reese Jones, MD
UC San Francisco - California, USA
Contact person:
Sponsor: NIDA
Drug administration phase completed, eight subjects were given 0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg MDMA HCl. A paper from it is in press at Annals of Internal Medicine. Data was presented at two conferences.
Last updated: Mon Sep 18 2000

See also Research in Germany.
See the MDMA Research Page for more links.

• Harris DS, Baggott M, Mendelson J, Mendelson JE, Jones RT (2002) Subjective and hormonal effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in humans. Psychopharmacol (Berl) 162: 396-405.
• Lester SJ, Baggott M, Welm S, Schiller NB, Jones RT, Foster E, Mendelson J (2000) Cardiovascular effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 133: 969-973.

Clinical pharmacology of the interaction between alcohol and MDMA
Investigators: Jordi Cam, MD, Magi Farr, MD, et al.
Institut Municipal d'Investigacio Medica - Barcelona, Spain
Contact:
Sponsor: funded in part by several government grants
Psychobiologic study looking at the interaction of MDMA (100 mg) and alcohol (.8 g/kg). Analysis nearly completed, papers being written. See the current update.
Last updated: Thu Sep 14 2000

Mood state and brain electric activity in Ecstasy users
Investigators: Alex Gamma, PhD, Edi Frei, Dietrich Lehmann (1), Roberto D. Pascual-Marqui (1), Daniel Hell and Franz Vollenweider, MD
Research Unit and (1) The KEY Institute for Brain-Mind Research, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Zrich
Sponsors/Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation; Swiss Federal Health Office; Heffter; MAPS.
Contact:
References Neuroreport (2000) 11 (1): 157-162.
Last updated: Wed Feb 9 2000

Pharmacological Effects of MDMA in Humans
Investigator: Jordi Cam, MD, Magi Farr, MD, et al.
Institut Municipal d'Investigacio Medica - Barcelona, Spain
Contact: or
Sponsor: funded in part by several government grants
Studies include: Quantification of MDMA and its metabolites in plasma and urine by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection; Human pharmacology of MDMA, Psychomotor performance and subjective effects.
Also see a list of published papers.
Last updated: Mon Jan 24 2000

Psychobiologic Effects of MDMA in Humans
Investigators: Charles S. Grob, MD, and Russell E. Poland, PhD
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center - Torrance, California, USA
Sponsor: MAPS, Harbor/UCLA
Contact: ,
FDA-approved Phase 1 dose-response safety study .25 to 2.25 mg/kg, dose administration phase completed, data for .25 to .75 mg/kg published. Data for 1.00 to 2.25 mg/kg being analysed for publication.
Also see the details and references page, and view the video.
Last updated: Wed Jan 19 2000

Acute effects of 3, 4 - methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "Ecstasy") on cerebral blood flow (CBF), brain electric activity (EEG), prepulse inhibition (PPI), psychological state and neuropsychological performance in healthy subjects
Investigators: Alex Gamma, PhD, Franz Vollenweider, MD
Psychiatric University Hospital - Zrich, Switzerland
Sponsor: UBS Science Foundation and others
Contact: or
Aim: an integrative characterization of MDMA in terms of its acute neurophysiological, psychological and cognitive effects in healthy, MDMA-naive human subjects. Subjects were given a single oral dose of MDMA (1.7 mg/kg).
Also see the references and details page.
Last updated: Tue Jan 18 2000

Low-dose MDMA ("Ecstasy") induces vasopressin secretion
Investigator: John Henry, MD
University College London, England
Contact:
This was a neurotoxicity study. Henry is directing additional MDMA studies at this time.
Last updated: Fri Jan 14 2000

• Fallon JK, Kicman AT, Henry JA, Milligan PJ, Cowan DA, Hutt AJ.
  Stereospecific analysis and enantiomeric disposition of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy) in humans.
  Clin Chem 1999 Jul;45(7):1058-69.
• Henry JA, Fallon JK, Kicman AT, Hutt AJ, Cowan DA, Forsling M
  Low-dose MDMA ("ecstasy") induces vasopressin secretion.
  Lancet 1998 Jun 13;351(9118):1784.

Psycholytic Therapy with MDMA and LSD in Switzerland
Investigators: Marianne Bloch, MD, Jurai Styk, MD and Dr. Samuel Widmer, MD
Sponsor: Swiss Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy
From 1988 to 1993 therapists with the Swiss Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy worked with MDMA and LSD as adjuncts to psychotherapy. The findings from this study were published in the MAPS Bulletin, Winter 1994-95 issue.
Drs. Juraj and Sonja Styk discussed this work at the 1999 MAPS MDMA symposium in Israel.
Read their talk, and view a video
Last updated: Fri Jan 14 2000

• MDMA (Ecstasy): Does It Play A Causal Role In Nephropathy? A Review John Podraza, Department of Biological Sciences, Hartwick College, New York

Level of use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") in humans correlates with EEG power and coherence
Investigators: Dafters RI, Duffy F, O'Donnell P, Bouquet C
Psychology Department, Glasgow University, Glasgow, Scotland G12 8RT
Sponsor(s)/Funding: Self funded
Contact: N/A
References: Psychopharmacology (1999) 145: 82-90, Abstract.
Last updated: Tue Jul 13 1999

MDMA and Memory
Investigators: Karen Bolla, PhD et al.
Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, Maryland
Sponsor: NIH
Neuropsychological memory testing of MDMA users and controls.
Last updated: Fri Apr 9 1999

Also see Alex Gamma - MDMA and Memory

• Bolla KI, McCann UD, Ricaurte GA (1998) Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users. Neurology Dec 1998;51(6):1532-7.

• U D McCann, Z Szabo, U Scheffel, R F Dannals, G A Ricaurte (1998) Positron emission tomographic evidence of toxic effect of MDMA ("Ecstasy") on brain serotonin neurons in human beings. The Lancet Oct 1998; 352(9138): 1433-37.

MDMA Pharmacokinetics
Investigator: Rudolf Brenneisen, PhD
University of Bern, Switzerland
Contact:
Sponsor:NIH
PET scan study, MDMA Neurotoxicity, MDMA Users vs. Control Group.

• MAPS Commentary on this study
• MDMA Neurotoxicity Study Page from Vaults of Erowid

• Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E, Thelen B, Maier S, Heekeren K, Kovar KA, Sass H, Spitzer M. (2002) Effects of the hallucinogen psilocybin on covert orienting of visual attention in humans. Neuropsychobiology, 45:205-212.
• Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E, Schreckenberger M, Sabri O, Arning C, Thelen B, Spitzer M, Kovar KA, Hermle L, Bull U, Sass H (1999) Neurometabolic effects of psilocybin, 3,4- methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE) and d-methamphetamine in healthy volunteers. A double-blind, placebo-controlled PET study with [18F]FDG. Neuropsychopharmacology 20: 565-81.
• Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E, Thelen B, Habermeyer E, Kunert HJ, Kovar KA, Lindenblatt H, Hermle L, Spitzer M, Sass H (1999) Psychopathological, neuroendocrine and autonomic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE), psilocybin and d-methamphetamine in healthy volunteers. Results of an experimental double-blind placebo-controlled study. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 142: 41-50.
• Schreckenberger M, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E, Sabri O, Arning C, Zimny M, Zeggel T, Wagenknecht G, Kaiser HJ, Sass H, Buell U (1999) "Ecstasy"-induced changes of cerebral glucose metabolism and their correlation to acute psychopathology. An 18-FDG PET study. Eur J Nucl Med 26: 1572-9.
• Spitzer M, Franke B, Walter H, Buechler J, Wunderlich AP, Schwab M, Kovar K, Hermle L, Gron G (2001) Enantio-selective cognitive and brain activation effects of N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine in humans. Neuropharmacology 41: 263-71.

Differential Cognitive and Brain Activation Effects of the Isomers of MDE
Investigators: Dr. Spitzer, et al.
University of Ulm, Germany
Contact:
This study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the cognitive and brain activation effects of the isomers of MDE. The researchers concluded "The so-called entactogenic effects of MDE are likely to be caused by the (S)-enantiomer, whereas (R)-MDE appears to be responsible for neurotoxic effect."
Last updated: Tue Jan 29 2002

• Spitzer M, Franke B, Walter H, Buechler J, Wunderlich AP, Schwab M, Kovar K, Hermle L, Gron G (2001) Enantio-selective cognitive and brain activation effects of N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine in humans. Neuropharmacology 41: 263-71.

Pharmacological, imaging and immunological studies of Ayahuasca in Healthy Volunteers
Investigators: Manel Barbanoj, MD, PhD and Jordi Riba
Institute de Recerca, Hospital de Sant Pau - Barcelona, Spain
Sponsor: Institut de Reserca, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (HSCSP)
Contact:
A study of the urinary excretion of ayahuasca alkaloids in the 22-volunteer, double-blind study (described below) is planned but has not yet been conducted due to lack of funding. The double-blind brain-imaging study using SPECT to study regional cerebral blood flow after ayahuasca administration has been fully approved and is now in progress. As of this date, seventeen volunteers have undergone all experimental sessions. This study will also look for any immunomodulating effects of ayahuasca. These studies are seeking additional information on mechanisms of action underlying the central effects of ayahuasca.
Read the update in the MAPS Bulletin, Summer 2000 issue.
Last updated: Mon Feb 23 2004

• "A Pharmacological Study of Ayahuasca in Healthy Volunteers" - Jordi Riba and Manuel J. Barbanoj, M.D., Ph.D., MAPS Bulletin, Vol. 8 No. 3, Autumn 1998

Ayahuasca in the Treatment of Substance Abuse
Investigators: Jacques Mabit, Jaime Torres, Rosa Giove, Javier Zavala, Olga Celis
Takiwasi Center - Tarapoto, Peru
Contact:
Website: www.takiwasi.com
Sponsors: Self-financed, funding sought from the French government, European Union, and United Nations
Takiwasi has been doing research with substance abuse treatment for several years.
Last updated: Wed Mar 5 2003

• "Blending Traditions - Using Indigenous Medicinal Knowledge to Treat Drug Addiction" - Jacques Mabit, M.D., MAPS Bulletin, Vol. 12 No. 2, Summer 2002. [PDF version]
• "Ayahuasca and Shamanism in Addiction Therapy" - Michel Mabit, MAPS Bulletin, Vol. 6 No. 3, Summer 1996
• "The Takiwasi Patient's Journey" - Michel Mabit, MAPS Bulletin, Vol. 6 No. 3., Summer 1996

A Study of Uniao do Vegetal (UDV) Adolescents
Investigators: Charles Grob, MD, Ailonso Luiza, Claudia Miranda,
Glacus de Souza Brito, MD and Marlene de Rios
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Contact:
Sponsor: Heffter
Testing and evaluation of adolescents who have used ayahuasca and matched controls have been completed. Data review now in process.
Last updated: Mon Mar 3 2003

Potential research participants and donors can view the research proposal for this study. Those interested in making a donation can read more about how to do this.
Last updated: Fri Aug 20 2004

• Read Dr. Echenhofer's research proposal.

Pharmacological Study of Ayahuasca in Healthy Humans
Investigators: Manel Barbanoj, MD, PhD and Jordi Riba
Institute de Recerca, Hospital de Sant Pau - Barcelona, Spain
Sponsor: Institut de Reserca, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (HSCSP), partial funding from Spanish government.
Contact:
A repeated dose study and a neurochemical mechanism study designed to evaluate the capacity of 5HT1A agonists and 5HT2A antagonists to block the effects of ayahuasca will both be conducted soon. These studies are also included as part of the program of research including a SPECT study of regional blood flow after ayahuasca that is already in progress, as described above.
Last updated: Fri Feb 20 2004

The use of the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca, obtained from infusing the shredded stalk of the malpighiaceous plant Banisteriopsis caapi with the leaves of other plants such as Psychotria viridis, is growing in urban centers of Europe, South and North America in the last several decades. Despite this diffusion, little is known about its effects on emotional states. The present study investigated the effects of ayahuasca on psychometric measures of anxiety, panic-like and hopelessness in members of the Santo Daime, an ayahuasca-using religion. Standard questionnaires were used to evaluate state-anxiety (STAI-state), trait-anxiety (STAI-trait), panic-like (ASI-R) and hopelessness (BHS) in participants that ingested ayahuasca for at least 10 consecutive years. The study was done in the Santo Daime church, where the questionnaires were administered 1 h after the ingestion of the brew, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled procedure. While under the acute effects of ayahuasca, participants scored lower on the scales for panic and hopelessness related states. Ayahuasca ingestion did not modify state or trait anxiety. The results are discussed in terms of the possible use of ayahuasca in alleviating signs of hopelessness and panic-like related symptoms.
Last updated: Mon May 28 2007

• Santos RG, Landeira-Fernandez J, Strassman RJ, Motta, V, Cruz APM (2007) Effects of Ayahuasca on psychometric measures of anxiety, panic-like and hopelessness in Santo Daime members. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2007 112 (3): 507-513. 2007. .
• Santos RG. Ayahuasca: Neuroquimica e Farmacologia. SMAD - Revista Eletronica Saude Mental Alcool e Drogas, 3 (1), 2007.
• Santos RG. "Efeitos da ingestao de ayahuasca em estados psicometricos relacionados ao panico, ansiedade e depressao em membros do culto do Santo Daime". Nucleo de Estudos Interdisciplinares sobre Psicoativos NEIP.
• More references at http://www.neip.info/perfil_rafael_e.htm
• Santos RG, (2006) "Ayahuasca e reducao do uso abusivo de psicoativos: eficacia terapeutica?". Nucleo de Estudos Interdisciplinares sobre Psicoativos NEIP, 2006.
• Santos, RG, Moraes, CC. and Holanda, A. (2006) Ayahuasca e reducao do uso abusivo de psicoativos: eficacia terapeutica?. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 22 (3): 363-370. 2006.

MMPI-2 Study of N.A. Ayahuasca Drinkers
Here are the docs for this study figures and document

Pharmacological Study of Ayahuasca in Healthy Volunteers
Investigators: Manel Barbanoj, MD, PhD and Jordi Riba
Institute de Recerca, Hospital de Sant Pau - Barcelona, Spain
Sponsor: Institut de Reserca, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (HSCSP)
Contact:
The initial pilot study has been completed, including a published report of subjective effects in 6 volunteers. An 18-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ayahuasca effects is now complete. Included were measures of subjective effects, cardiovascular effects, sensorimotor gating, EEG variables, urinary monoamine metabolite excretion, and pharmacokinetics of ayahuasca alkaloids.
Last updated: Fri May 9 2003

• Riba J (2003) Human Pharmacology of Ayahuasca, TESI Doctoral Dissertation, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona.
• Riba J, Valle M, Urban G, Yritia M, Morte A, Barbanoj MJ (2003) Human Pharmacology of Ayahuasca: Subjective and cardiovascular effects, monoamine metabolite exretion, and Pharmacokinetics. JPET 306 (In Press)
• Riba, J et al. (2001) Subjective Effects and tolerability of the South American psychoactive beverage Ayahuasca in healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology 154:85-95.
• Riba J, Rodriguez-Fornells A, Barbanoj M (2002) Effects of ayahuasca on sensory and sensorimotor gating in humans as measured by P50 suppression and prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex, respectively. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 165: 18-28
• Riba J, Anderer P, Morte A, Urbano G, Jane F, Saletu B, Barbanoj M (2002) Topographic pharmaco-EEG mapping of the effects of the South American psychoactive beverage ayahuasca in healthy volunteers. Brit J Clin Pharmacol 53: 613-628
• Yritia M, Riba J, Ortuno J, Ramirez A, Castillo A, Alfaro Y, de la Torre R, & Barbanoj MJ(2002): Determination of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and beta-carboline alkaloids in human plasma following oral administration of Ayahuasca Journal of Chromatography B 779:271-281
• "A Pharmacological Study of Ayahuasca in Healthy Volunteers" - MAPS Bulletin, Vol. 8 No. 3, Autumn 1998

EEG of Long-Term Ayahuasca Drinkers vs. Matched Controls
Investigators: Dr. Micheal Hessellink (Holland), Yatra da Silveira Barbosa (Brazil), Dr. Erik Hofmann (Denmark). Co-investigators are: Dr. Glacos Brito and Dr. Dartiu Xavier da Silveira both from Brazil.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Contact:
The protocol has been completed and an article reporting on the results is published in the MAPS Bulletin, Spring 2001.
Last updated: Wed Mar 5 2003

• Hoffmann E, Hesselink JMK, da Silveira-Barbosa YWM. Effects of a Psychedelic, Tropical Tea, Ayahuasca, on the Electroencephalographic (EEG) Activity of the Human Brain During a Shamanistic Ritual. MAPS Bulletin 2001 Spring;11(1):25-31. [PDF version]

Investigations on the Human Psychopharmacology of Ayahuasca: Phase I
Investigators: Dennis J. McKenna, PhD and Charles S. Grob, MD and Jace Callaway, PhD
Contact: and
Sponsor: Botanical Dimensions, Heffter, MAPS
Psychobiologic study, completed and published, follow-up studies possible.
Last updated: Mon Mar 3 2003

• "Blending Traditions - Using Indigenous Medicinal Knowledge to Treat Drug Addiction" - Jacques Mabit, M.D., MAPS Bulletin, Vol. 12 No. 2, Summer 2002. [PDF version]
• "Jungle Pilgrims: North Americans Participating in Amazon Ayahuasca Ceremonies" - Kim Kristensen
• References and links to additional articles

MAPS Bulletin - Volume 6 Number 1 Autumn 1995
University of New Mexico Update

Ibogaine treatment study with addiction
Investigator: Deborah Mash, PhD
St. Kitt, Virgin Islands
Contact:
Sponsor: Healing Visions Institute for Addiction Recovery, Ltd.
Sponsor: Healing Visions Institute for Addiction Recovery, Ltd. Clinical study of the safety and efficacy of ibogaine in the treatment of addiction, with data gathered from patients treated by Dr. Mash, an expert in the study of ibogaine in human patient volunteers. To date, she has evaluated the effect of ibogaine in over three hundred patients. Due to a lack of funds, most of these data come from treatment conducted off-shore.
Last updated: Mon Jun 18 2001

• Mash, D.C., Kovera, C.A. Pablo, J., Tyndale, R. F., Ervin, F.D., Williams, I.C., Singleton, E.G., and Mayor, M.
  Ibogaine: Complex Pharmacokinetics, Concerns for Safety, and Preliminary Efficacy. Neurobiological Mechansisms of Drugs of Abuse, Annals New York Acad. Sci. Vol. 94: 394-401, 2000.
• Mash DC, Kovera CA, Buck BE, Norenberg MD, Shapshak P, Hearn WL, Sanchez-Ramos J, (1998)
  Medication Development of Ibogaine as a Pharmacotherapy for Drug Dependence, Annals NY Acad Sci, v 844 pp 274-292.

There is additional information about ibogaine research at www.ibogaine.org

Safety studies in preparation for proposed study of ibogaine therapy in the treatment of cocaine addiction
Investigators: Juan Sanchez-Ramos, MD, PhD and Deborah Mash, PhD
Unversity of Miami Medical School - Florida, USA
Contact:
Sponsor: University of Miami, MAPS
Clinical study Phase I begun (up to 2 mg/kg), funding ceased, published. view video
Last updated: Wed Apr 30 2003

• MAPS Bulletin - Volume 6 Number 3 Summer 1996 Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Ibogaine in Human Patient Volunteers
• MAPS Bulletin - Volume 6 Number 1, Autumn 1995 Development of Ibogaine as an Anti-Addictive Drug: A progress report from the University of Miami School of Medicine
• MAPS Bulletin - Volume 5 Number 3 Winter 1994-95
  Ibogaine in the treatment of chemical dependence disorders: clinical perspectives

• Ketamine Research in Russia Page (MAPS)
• Krupitsky E, Burakov, A, Romanova, T, Dunaevsky, I, Strassman, R, Grinenko A (2002). Ketamine psychotherapy for heroin addiction: immediate effects and two-year follow-up. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 23, 273-283.
• Krupitsky, EM, Burakof AM, Dunaevsky IV, Romanova TN, Slavina TY, Grinenko AY (2007). Single Versus Repeated Sessions of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for People with Heroin Dependence. J Psychoactive Drugs 39(1): 13-19.
• Evegeny M. Krupitsky, M.D., Ph.D., Andrey M. Burakov, M.D., Ph.D., Tatyana N. Romanova, Ph.D., Nina I. Grinenko, M.D., Alexander Y. Grinenko, M.D., Ph.D., Jason Fletcher, M.A., Ismene L. Petrakis, M.D., and John H. Krystal, M.D. (2001). Attenuation of Ketamine Effects by Nimodipine Pretreatment in Recovering Ethanol Dependent Men: Psychopharmacologic Implications of the Interaction of NMDA and L-Type Calcium Channel Antagonists. Neuropsychopharmacology 25(6): 936-947

Experiments in Altered Perception of 3-D Visual Illusions as a Screening Method for Psychedelic Activity Using Ketamine
Investigators: Torsten Passie, MD; Udo Schneider MD and Hinderk Emrich, MD
Hannover, Germany
Contact:
www.schamanismus-information.de
Sponsor: MAPS, Dept. of Psychiatry Hannover Medical School
Clinical experiment with ketamine to establish a paradigm to use visual 3-D illusions as screening instruments for detecting psychedelic activity in humans below the subjective threshold of experience. Passie's team has recently published a report relating to this research. A second report on data from this MAPS-supported study will soon appear in the journal "Neuropsychobiology" in early 2005.
Last updated: Mon Feb 21 2005

• Passie T, Karst M, Borsutzky M, Wiese B, Emrich HM, Schneider U (2003)Effects of different subanaesthetic doses of (S)-ketamine on psychopathology and binocular depth inversion in man. J Psychopharmacology 17: (2003) 51-56
• Full Text in PDF Format
  

Ketamine Psychedelic Therapy in the Treatment of Heroin Addiction
Investigator: Evgeny Krupitsky, MD, PhD
St. Petersburg, Russia
Contact
Sponsor: MAPS, Heffter
Clinical study, drug administration phase completed, 70 patients treated (35 in the experimental and 35 in the control group). The study is finished, the researchers published the six-month follow-up paper in MAPS. The one-year follow-up analysis has been completed. Two year follow-up data has been analyzed and submitted for publication and is currently in the midst of the peer review process. Results are promising.
Research Protocol for the Therapeutic dose vs. Low Dose Placebo study
Last updated: Tue May 6 2003

Antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients
Investigators: Berman RM, Cappiello A, Anand A, Oren DA, Heninger GR, Charney DS, Krystal JH
Abraham Ribicoff Center Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit of theConnecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven 06519, USA
Seven subjects with major depression completed 2 test days that involved intravenous treatment with ketamine hydrochloride (.5 mg/kg) or saline solutions under randomized, double-blind conditions. RESULTS: Subjects with depression evidenced significant improvement indepressive symptoms within 72 hours after ketamine but not placebo infusion. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a potential role for NMDA receptor-modulating drugs in the treatment of depression.
Last updated: Wed Apr 12 2000

• Reference: Biol Psychiatry 2000 Feb 15;47(4):351-4.

Psychedelic effects of ketamine in healthy volunteers: relationship to steady-state plasma concentrations
Investigators: Bowdle TA, Radant AD, Cowley DS, Kharasch ED, Strassman RJ, Roy- Byrne PP
Department of Psychiatry, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle
Contact:
Ketamine or saline was administered in a single-blinded crossover protocol to 10 psychiatrically healthy volunteers. Hallucinogen rating scale scores were similar to those found in a previous study with psychedelic doses of DMT. Synopsis of paper in Anesthesiology (1998)
Last updated: Wed Nov 3 1999

Ketamine Psychedelic Therapy in the Treatment of Alcoholics
Investigator: Evgeny Krupitsky, MD, PhD
St. Petersburg, Russia
Contact:
Sponsor: Leningrad Regional Center for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Therapy, MAPS
Ten years of clinical studies completed and published.
Last updated: Fri Apr 9 1999

• Krupitsky E.M., Grinenko A.Y.
  Ketamine psychedelic therapy (KPT): a review of the results of ten years of research.
  Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 1997, Vol. 29, N.2, pp.165-183.

Ketamine Research in Russia Page (MAPS)

• Gasser P. Planning LSD Research in Switzerland - MAPS Bulletin 16(2): 10

Read this letter from MAPS researcher Peter Gasser discussing his recently approved Swiss LSD-End of life study.

Receptor Profiles of Lysergamides related to LSD
Investigator: David E. Nichols, PhD
Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN
Contact:
Sponsor: Heffter, Promind
Laboratory research, no human or animal subjects. It is well known that the nature of the amide function of lysergamides is critical to conferring activity and high potency onto these molecules. The N,N-diethylamide (LSD) is unique among all the known amides, both for the qualitative aspects of its effects and for its extremely high potency.This project is evaluating a series of lysergamides of varying amide structure using radioligand competition studies at cloned human brain neurotransmitter receptors expressed in cell lines. The project seeks to identify in these data the possible reasons for the high degree of variability in activity of the various amides. That is, is there a specific subset of receptors to which LSD binds that less potent lysergamides do not? In addition, intracellular signaling pathways are being examined to determine whether all lysergamides activate the same intracellular biochemical events.

Last updated: Wed Apr 9 2003

Marsha and David Weil have donated $50,000 for this research effort and Joseph Leonard has donated $2,000. An estimated $250,000 in addition is being sought to support this clinical trial. Potential donors can contact at Clusterbusters for more information. The effort to design and obtain approval for a study will be led by Dr. John Halpern at Harvard Medical School. Protocol development is still underway. Dr. Sewell and Halpern have completed and published a case series of people with cluster headaches who used psilocybin or LSD to treat their condition.
Last updated: Mon Dec 3 2007

• Sewell RA, Halpern JH, Pope HG Jr. (2006) Response of cluster headache to psilocybin and LSD. Neurology 27;66: 1920-1922.

Since the discovery of the psychoactive effects of LSD in 1943, over 1000 papers have been published on a huge range of effects of LSD in humans and animals. See the Psychedelic Bibliography for more on these studies. You may also view references from Torsten Passie's psychedelic/psycholytic therapy database, also accessible through the psychedelic bibliography. To view this collection, either search "entire collection," or use "Expert search" and type "passie" as the requested database.

Follow-up study of Bastiaans LSD therapy
Investigators: Nicole Maalste, Hans Ossebaard
Utrecht, Netherlands
Contact:
Sponsor: MAPS, Promind Foundation
Retrospective survey study with former clients who were treated with drug therapy by Dr. Jan Bastiaans. Data collection and analysis for pilot study completed. Funding sought for further research.
Last updated: Mon Mar 25 2002

• Final Report: Summer 1999.
• Progress Report: Winter 1999.
• Winter 2001.

Psycholytic Therapy with MDMA and LSD in Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
Investigators: Marianne Bloch, MD, Jurai Styk, MD and Dr. Samuel Widmer, MD
Sponsor: Swiss Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy
From 1988 to 1993 therapists with the Swiss Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy worked with MDMA and LSD as adjuncts to psychotherapy. The findings from this study were published in the MAPS Bulletin, Winter 1994- 95. Drs. Juraj and Sonja Styk discussed this work at the 1999 MAPS MDMA symposium in Israel. Read their talk, view video
Last updated: Fri Jan 14 2000

• A Critical Review of Theories and Research Concerning LSD and Mental Health David Abrahart
• Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Terminally Ill
  Bruce Sewick

A Critical Review of Theories and Research Concerning Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) and Mental Health
Investigator: David Abrahart
Contact:
A critical research literature review concerning LSD and mental health. In particular it concentrates on flashbacks, precipitated psychoses and therapeutic uses. Read it
Last updated: Wed Aug 25 1999

Follow-up study of Janiger LSD research
Investigators: Rick Doblin, Jerry Beck, PhD, Kate Obata, Maureen Alioto
Los Angeles Area, California
Contact
Sponsor: MAPS
Retrospective survey study with 45 people who participated in the LSD research of Dr. Oscar Janiger between 1954 and 1962. The Janiger LSD Follow-up Study was published by MAPS.
Last updated: Sun May 9 1999

• "Tracing the Synapses of Our Spirituality", S. Vedantam, 17 July 2001, Washington Post. Features an interview with Dr. Mathew.
• "Time" -- by Dr. Roy Mathew. MAPS - Volume 11, Number 2. Fall 2001.

• MAPS Bulletin -- Volume 11, Number 2 Fall 2001. "Research at Harvard Medical School" -- by Dr. John Halpern
• "Interview with John Halpern" -- by Valerie M.

• "The Hallucinogenic Way of Dying" Judith Lewis, LA Weekly

Psilocybin Effects on Attention, Perception and Cognition
Investigators: Franz Vollenweider MD, Olivia Carter PhD, Felix Hasler MD
Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland...
Contact:
Sponsor: Heffter
Dr. Vollenweider and colleagues continue to study the neural correlates of consciousness and the effects of psilocybin on visual perception, attention, working memory, and time perception. Other studies will use EEG or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.. Several published reports describe research findings, and other reports are forthcoming, or studies are underway at present.
Last updated: Fri Apr 13 2007

• Carter OL, Pettigrew JD, Burr DC, Alais D, Hasler F, Vollenweider FX. (2004) Psilocybin impairs high-level but not low-level motion perception. Neuroreport 15:1947-1951.
• Carter OL, Pettigrew JD, Hasler F, Wallis GM, Liu GB, Hell D, Vollenweider FX. (2005) Modulating the rate and rhythmicity of perceptual rivalry alternations with the mixed 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A agonist psilocybin. Neuropsychopharmacology 30: 1154-1162.
• Carter OL, Burr DC, Pettigrew JD, Wallis GM, Hasler F, Vollenweider FX. (2005) Using Psilocybin to Investigate the Relationship between Attention, Working Memory, and the Serotonin 1A and 2A Receptors. J Cogn Neurosci 17:1497-1508.
• Wittmann M, Carter O, Hasler F, Cahn BR, Grimberg U, Spring P, Hell D, Flohr H, Vollenweider FX. (2007) Effects of psilocybin on time perception and temporal control of behaviour in humans. J Psychopharmacol 21 50-64.
• Vollenweider FX, Csomor PA, Knappe B, Geyer MA, Quednow BB. (2007) The effects of the preferential 5-HT2A agonist psilocybin on prepulse inhibition of startle in healthy human volunteers depend on interstimulus interval. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007 Published online before print.

Experimental Studies on the Effects of Psilocybin on Binocular Depth Inversion, Binocular Rivalry, Neuropsychology and Synaesthesias
Investigators: Torsten Passie M.D., Jrgen Seifert M.D., Udo Schneider M.D., Hinderk M. Emrich M.D., Ph.D.
Medical School Hannover, Dept. of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover, Germany
Contact:
Web: www.schamanismus-information.de
Sponsor: MAPS/Medical School Hannover, Dept. of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
This is a randomized, double-blind, active placebo-controlled study of the effects of medium doses of psilocybin in 12 healthy physicians, examining the effects of psilocybin on different neuropsychological measures, perceptual changes, synaesthesias and some subjective effects. These measures include binocular rivalry (different, or conflicting, information presented to each eye) and the "hollow mask" paradigm, measures examining changes in central processing of visual perception. The study is fully approved. MAPS has donated $3,000 for the purchase of 250 milligrams of psilocybin, insurance, and other expenses. Six of twelve subjects have now been enrolled in this study. So far, subjects have not experienced any complications. The setting is designed so that subjects have some quiet times for self-exploration. It seems that they have had some healing passages in their experiences. Our plan is to complete the study in the second half of 2007.
Read more about this study
Last updated: Fri Mar 9 2007

Effects of Psilocybin on Healthy Volunteers
Investigators: Roland Griffiths PhD, William Richards PhD, Una McCann MD, Robert Jesse
Sponsor: NIDA, Council for Spiritual Practices, Heffter Research Institute
Contact:
A series of studies is planned to investigate the effects of psilocybin in healthy volunteers. The first was a double-blind study evaluating the psychological effects of 30 mg/70 kg psilocybin relative to methylphenidate, 40 mg/70 kg administered under comfortable, supportive conditions to 36 hallucinogen-naive adults reporting regular participation in religious or spiritual activities. After psilocybin, 61% of the volunteers met pre-established criteria, as measured on standardized scales, for a full mystical experience, and 31% reported significant fear sometime during their psilocybin session. Two months after sessions, 71% of the volunteers rated their psilocybin experience as among the five most "spiritually significant" experiences of their lifetimes. Seventy-nine percent of volunteers rated that it had increased their current sense of personal well being or life satisfaction. Community observer (family, friends, coworkers) ratings tended to confirm this. Fourteen month follow-up data is being analyzed.

Continuing support for this research program is uncertain and the investigators are attempting to network with individuals or foundations that could help provide support. Learn more about this research: http://www.bpru.org/jhscrp_letter.pdf

Last updated: Tue Aug 15 2006

• Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, Jesse R. (2006) Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 187(3):268-283.

Marsha and David Weil have donated $50,000 for this research effort and Joseph Leonard has donated $2,000. An estimated $250,000 in addition is being sought to support this clinical trial. Potential donors can contact at Clusterbusters for more information. The effort to design and obtain approval for a study will be led by Dr. John Halpern at Harvard Medical School. Protocol development is underway for this study. .
Last updated: Fri Apr 13 2007

• Sewell RA, Halpern JH, Pope HG Jr. (2006) Response of cluster headache to psilocybin and LSD. Neurology 27;66: 1920-1922.

• Moreno FA, Wiegand CB, Taitano EK, Delgado PL (2006) Safety, tolerability and efficacy of psilocybin in 9 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Clin Psychi 67: 1735-1740.

Psilocybin: Basic Dose-Response Safety Studies
Investigator: Franz Vollenweider, MD
Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
Contact:
Sponsor: Heffter
Dr. Vollenweider's team have completed a series of basic research studies into the dose-response effects of psilocybin on physiological and psychological measures, cognition, sensorimotor gating, sequential behaviour, and brain activity in healthy human subjects. Fifty-six individuals were examined after a range of doses of psilocybin. A paper reporting the effects of placebo, very low, low, medium and high doses of psilocybin (45 -315 mcg/kg) in eight individuals has been published on-line in November 2003 and in print in March 2004. The researchers assessed subjective, physiological and neuroendocrine effects of psilocybin, including an assessment of attention and visual perception, and previous investigations have examined the contribution of serotonin and dopamine transmitter sytsems to producing the subjective effects of psilocybin.
Last updated: Thu Mar 18 2004

• Hasler F, Bourquin D, Brenneisen R, Vollenweider FX. (2002) Renal excretion profiles of psilocin following oral administration of psilocybin: a controlled study in man. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 30: 331-339.
• Hasler F , Grimberg U, Benz MA, Huber T, Vollenweider FX (2004) Acute psychological and physiological effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-effect study. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 172: 145-156. Published on-line DOI: 10.1007/s00213-003-1640-6
• Umbricht D, Vollenweider FX, Schmid L, Grubel C, Skrabo A, Huber T, Koller R. (2003) Effects of the 5-HT2A agonist psilocybin on mismatch negativity generation and AX-continuous performance task: implications for the neuropharmacology of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology. 28(1):170-181.
• Vollenweider FX, Vollenweider-Scherpenhuyzen MF, Babler A, Vogel H, Hell D. (1998) Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action. Neuroreport 9:3897-3902.
• Vollenweider FX, Vontobel P, Hell D, Leenders KL. (1999) 5-HT modulation of dopamine release in basal ganglia in psilocybin-induced psychosis in man--a PET study with [11C]raclopride. Neuropsychopharmacology 20:424-433.

The Concord Prison Experiment Experiment Follow-Up
Investigator: Rick Doblin, Ph.D.

This study, originally published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs [Oct-Dec 1998] is one in a series of long-term follow-ups to early psychedelic research that MAPS has sponsored. The original 1961-63 Harvard study lead by Dr. Timothy Leary investigated the utility of psilocybin in reducing rates of recidivism for prisoners.
Last updated: Mon Jan 3 2000

• Article from MAPS Bulletin
  
• Leary Riedlinger Report

The Good Friday Experiment Follow-Up
Investigator: Rick Doblin, Ph.D.
Contact:
This study, originally published in the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology [1991 Vol 23(1)] is one in a series of long-term follow-ups to early psychedelic research that MAPS has sponsored. The original 1962 Harvard study lead by Walter Pahnke investigated the utility of psilocybin in triggering a mystical experience.

Last updated: Mon Jan 3 2000

• Doblin R (1991) Pahnke's "Good Friday Experiment": A Long-Term Follow-Up and Methodological Critique. J Transpersonal Psychol 23(1).

Psilocybin's effects on cognition
Investigator: Manfred Spitzer, MD, PhD et al.
Psychiatrische Universitats Klinic, Heidelberg, Germany
Human clinical study, completed and published. More psilocybin research in Germany
Last updated: Fri Apr 9 1999

• Spitzer M, et al. (1996)
  Increased activation of indirect semantic associations under psilocybin. Biol Psychiatry. 1996 Jun 15;39(12):1055-7.
• Psilocybin's effects on cognition: Recent research and its implications for enhancing creativity -- MAPS Bulletin, Volume 7, Number 1 Winter 1996/97

Human Psychopharmacology of Psilocybin
Investigator: Rick Strassman, MD
University of New Mexico, USA

Psychobiological study. Phase 1 dose-response study
Sponsor: NIDA
Begun, not completed due to personal reasons unrelated to study itself.
Last updated: Fri Apr 9 1999

• University of New Mexico Update -- MAPS Bulletin, Volume 6, Number 1 Autumn 1995

Receptor Mechanisms Contributing to Psychedelic Drug Effects
Investigators: Franz Vollenweider, MD and Mark Geyer, PhD
Psychiatric University Hospital - Zrich, Switzerland and UC San Diego - La Jolla, California
Contact: ,
Sponsor: Heffter
Last updated: Fri Apr 9 1999

• Read the investigator's essay "Solvents of Conceptual Sludge: Psychedelic Therapy Confronting the Cold War Mindset." Read about this study in the MAPS Bulletin

Northwest Amazonian Ayahuasca Shamanism and Near-Death Experience
Investigator: Marcus Lumby, PhD candidate
Contact:
Sponsorship: includes small grant from MAPS
Anthropological investigation, first phase completed.
Last updated: Thu Jun 8 2000

• Field Reports and
• MAPS article.

Insight, Integration and Implementation: The Personal Psychospiritual
Uses of Entheogens by Mental Health Professionals (doctoral dissertation)
Investigator: Sean House
University of Idaho, Counselor Education

Qualitative study of the processes by which entheogen use becomes therapeutic. Explores how insights become implemented in daily living. Development of a grounded theory outlining the therapeutic process. Participants all have training in one of the mental health professions.
Last updated: Wed Feb 23 2000

Guided, Structured, Group Use of Entheogenic Substances in Western Culture
(doctoral dissertation)
Investigator: Roger Marsden
California Institute of Integral Studies, Clinical Psychology
Contact:
Sponsors: 1998 Kranzke Scholarship; MAPS
What are the different frameworks being employed by entheogenic guides? How are these frameworks different from those used in the research of the 1960s? How do the variations in present day frameworks appear to affect the outcome? Regardless of one's individual assumption of the value of psychedelic work, it is happening in a variety of contexts across the planet. The investigator has completed all interviews in 3 guided, structured entheogen/psychedelic groups. Data anaysis is complete (10 central themes extracted for the basis of discussion, i.e., preparation, integration, relationship of participants to guide, role of relationship of participants to each other, description of the actual sessions, relationship of the work to drug abuse issues, etc.)
Last updated: Wed Jan 19 2000

• Read about this study in the MAPS Bulletin

The Role of Bwiti in West Africans
(doctoral dissertation)
Investigator: Larry Roussel
California Institute of Integral Studies, East-West Psychology
Sponsor: 1998 Kranzke Scholarship
Comparison of the religious use of iboga among the Bwiti with the ritual use of plants in other syncretic religions such as the Native American Church and the Santo Daime Church of Brazil which also use plant entheogens as an integral part of their ceremonies.
Last updated: Fri Apr 9 1999

Procedural Variables Needed to Achieve Therapeutic Gains Through the Use of Psychedelics
Investigator: Brad Watkins
California Institute of Integral Studies, Integral Counseling Psychology Program
Sponsor: 1998 Kranzke Scholarship
Analysis of published research studies in which psychedelics were used to treat neurosis and addiction, and will analyze the treatment procedures to discover the relationship between procedural variables and their outcomes.
Last updated: Fri Apr 9 1999

The Use of Calea Zacatechichi in the Induction of Lucid Dreams and Enhancement or Alteration of the Lucid Dream State
(doctoral dissertation)
California Institute of Integral Studies, Clinical Psychology
Investigator: David Stuckey
Sponsor: 1998 Kranzke Scholarship
Last updated: Fri Apr 9 1999