This list includes original research and reviews of literature about psychedelic compounds (such as LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA), with a strong focus on research in humans.

This collection exists to present a broad survey of the currently available literature, and to introduce readers to the clinical psychedelic research literature. Readers may wish to investigate the reference lists of any paper that interests them to locate further reports.

 

Featured MDMA Research

Wagner, A.C., Mithoefer, A.T., Liebman, R.E., Feduccia, A.A., Jerome, L., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Mithoefer, M.C., Doblin, R. (2020) MDMA-Facilitated Cognitive-Behavioural Conjoint Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Uncontrolled TrialEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology.

Jerome, L., Feduccia, A.A., Wang, J.B., Hamilton, S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Mithoefer, M.C., Doblin, R. (2020) Long-Term Follow-Up Outcomes of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of PTSD: A Longitudinal Pooled Analysis of Six Phase 2 TrialsPsychopharmacology.

Wolfson, P.E., Andries, J., Feduccia, A.A., Jerome, L., Wang., J.B., Williams, E., Carlin, S.C., Sola, E., Hamilton, S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Mithoefer, M.C., Doblin, R. (2020) MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of Anxiety and Other Psychological Distress Related to Life-Threatening Illnesses: A Randomized Pilot StudyScientific Reports.

Marseille E, Kahn J.G., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Doblin, R. (2020) The Cost-Effectiveness of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Chronic, Treatment-Resistant PTSDPLoS ONE.

Wagner, A.C., Mithoefer, M.C., Mithoefer, A.T., Monson, M.C. (2019) Combining Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD with 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): A Case ExampleJournal of Psychoactive Drugs.

Feduccia, A.A., Jerome, L., Mithoefer, A., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Doblin, R. (2019) Breakthrough for Trauma Treatment: Safety and Efficacy of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Compared to Paroxetine and Sertraline. Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Feduccia, A.A., Jerome, L., Mithoefer, A., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Doblin, R. (2019) Breakthrough for Trauma Treatment: Safety and Efficacy of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Compared to Paroxetine and Sertraline. Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Mithoefer, M.C., Feduccia, A.A., Jerome, L., Mithoefer, A., Wagner, M., Walsh, Z., Hamilton, S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Doblin, R. (2019) MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials. Psychopharmacology. 1-11.

Feduccia, A.A., Mithoefer, M.C. (2018) MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Are memory reconsolidation and fear extinction underlying mechanisms? Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. 84 221-228.

Ot’alora, G, M., Grigsby, J., Poulter, B., Van Derveer, J. W., Giron, S. G., Jerome, L., Feduccia, A., Hamilton, S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Mithoefer, M., Doblin, R. (2018). 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized phase 2 controlled trialJournal of Psychopharmacology.

Danforth, A.L., Grob, C.S., Struble, C., Feduccia, A.A., Walker, N., Jerome, L., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A. (2018) Reduction in Social Anxiety After MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy with Autistic Adults: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot StudyPsychopharmacology

Mithoefer, M. C., Mithoefer, Mithoefer, A. T., Feduccia, A. A., Jerome, L., Wagner, M., Wymer, J., Holland, J., Hamilton, S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Doblin, R. (2018) 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-Assisted Psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans, Firefighters, and Police Officers: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Dose-Response, Phase 2 Clinical TrialThe Lancet Psychiatry

Yazar‐Klosinski, B., Mithoefer, M. (2017), Potential Psychiatric Uses for MDMAClin. Pharmacol. Ther., 101: 194-196.

Feduccia, A. A., Holland, J., & Mithoefer, M. C. (2017) Progress and promise for the MDMA drug development programPsychopharmacology 1-11.

Mithoefer M, Grob C, Brewerton T (2016) Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. The Lancet Psychiatry 3 (5): 481–488

Heifets B, Malenk R (2016) MDMA as a Probe and Treatment for Social Behaviors. Cell 166: 269-272

Danforth A, Struble C, Yazar-Klosinski B, Grob C (2016) MDMA-assisted therapy: A new treatment model for social anxiety in autistic adults. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 64: 237–249

Mithoefer M, Wagner M, Mithoefer A, Jerome L, Martin S, Yazar-Klosinski B, Michel Y, Brewerton T, Doblin R (2013) Durability of improvement in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and absence of harmful effects or drug dependency after 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy: a prospective long-term follow-up study. J Psychopharmacol 27(1): 28-39

Oehen P, Traber R, Widmer V, Schnyder U (2013) A randomized, controlled pilot study of MDMA (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)- assisted psychotherapy for treatment of resistant, chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Journal of Psychopharmacology 27(1): 40–52

Jerome L, Schuster S, Yazar-Klosinski B (2013) Can MDMA Play a Role in the Treatment of Substance Abuse? Current Drug Abuse Reviews 6: 54-62

Mithoefer M, Wagner M, Mithoefer A, Jerome L, Doblin R (2010) The safety and efficacy of ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Psychopharmacology 25(4): 439–452

Sumnall H, Cole J, Jerome L (2006) The varieties of ecstatic experience: an exploration of the subjective experiences of ecstasy. Journal of Psychopharmacology 20(5): 670–682

Greer G, Tolbert R (1986) Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 18(4): 319-327


Additional MDMA Resources

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (2016) MDMA Investigator’s Brochure

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (2014) Protocol: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Dose Response Phase 2 Pilot Study of Manualized MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy in Subjects with Chronic, Treatment-Resistant Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Mithoefer M (2013) A Manual for MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (2013) Protocol: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Phase 2 Pilot Study Comparing 3 Different Doses of MDMA in Conjunction with Manualized Psychotherapy in 24 Veterans, Firefighters, and Police Officers with Chronic, Treatment-Resistant Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Mithoefer M (2013) MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy: How Different is it from Other Psychotherapy? MAPS Bulletin 23(1): 10-14


Featured Ibogaine Research

Kingsley Brown T, Alpher K (2017) Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Vol 43(2), 1-13

Noller, G, Frampton, C, Yazar-Klosinski, B (2017) Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Vol 43(2), 1-10


Featured LSD Research

Gasser P, Holstein D, Michel Y, Doblin R, Yazar-Klosinski B, Passie T, Brenneisen R (2014) Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 202(7): 513-520


Additional Psychedelic Research

Barbanoj MJ, Riba J, Clos S, Gimenez S, Grasa E, Romero S (2008) Daytime ayahuasca administration modulates REM and slow-wave sleep in healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 196: 315-326 (PDF)

Bedi G, Phan KL, Angstadt M, de Wit H (2009) Effects of MDMA on sociability and neural response to social threat and social reward. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 207: 73-83 (PDF)

Bouso JC, Doblin R, Farre M, Alcazar MA, Gomez-Jarabo G (2008) MDMA-assisted psychotherapy using low doses in a small sample of women with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. J Psychoactive Drugs 40: 225-236 (PDF)

Carter OL, Hasler F, Pettigrew JD, Wallis GM, Liu GB, Vollenweider FX (2007) Psilocybin links binocular rivalry switch rate to attention and subjective arousal levels in humans. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 195: 415-24 (PDF)

Doblin R (1998) Dr. Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment: a 34-year follow-up study. J Psychoactive Drugs 30: 419-426. (PDF) ( HTML version). Additional commentary is available in Ralph Metzner’s Reflections on the Concord Prison Experiment and the Follow-Up Study.

Dumont GJ, Sweep FC, van der Steen R, Hermsen R, Donders AR, Touw DJ, van Gerven JM, Buitelaar JK, Verkes RJ (2009)Increased oxytocin concentrations and prosocial feelings in humans after ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) administration. Soc Neurosci 4: 359-366 (PDF)

Dyck E (2005) Flashback: psychiatric experimentation with LSD in historical perspective. Can J Psychiatry 50: 381-388 (PDF)

Fantegrossi WE, Murnane KS, Reissig CJ (2008) The behavioral pharmacology of hallucinogens. Biochem Pharmacol 75: 17-33 (PDF)

Gamma A, Buck A, Berthold T, Liechti ME, Vollenweider FX (2000) 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) modulates cortical and limbic brain activity as measured by [H(2)(15)O]-PET in healthy humans. Neuropsychopharmacology 23: 388-95 (PDF)

Geyer MA, Vollenweider FX (2008) Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses. Trends Pharmacol Sci 29: 445-453. (PDF)

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: 565-581 (PDF)

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 (PDF)

Griffiths R, Richards W, Johnson M, McCann U, Jesse R (2008) Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later. J Psychopharmacology 22: 621-632 (PDF)

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: 268-83; discussion 284-292 (PDF)

Halpern JH, Pope HG, Jr. (1999) Do hallucinogens cause residual neuropsychological toxicity? Drug Alcohol Depend 53: 247-256 (PDF)

Halpern JH, Sherwood AR, Passie T, Blackwell KC, Ruttenber AJ (2008) Evidence of health and safety in American members of a religion who use a hallucinogenic sacrament. Med Sci Monit 14: SR15-22 (PDF)

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: 145-56 (PDF)

Johnson M, Richards W, Griffiths R (2008) Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. J Psychopharmacology 22: 603-620 (PDF)

Krupitsky EM, Burakov 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: 13-9 (PDF)

Kurland AA, Grof, S., Pahnke, W. N., Goodman, L.E. (1973) Psychedelic Drug Assisted Psychotherapy. In Patients With Terminal Cancer. In: Goldberger IK, Malitz S, Kutscher AH (eds) Psychotheramacological Agents for the Terminally Ill and Bereaved 1973,. Columbia University Press, New York, NY, pp 86-133 (PDF)

Liechti ME, Gamma A, Vollenweider FX (2001) Gender differences in the subjective effects of MDMA. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 154: 161-168 (PDF)

Ludwig A, Levine J, Stark L, Lazar R (1969) A clinical study of LSD treatment in alcoholism. Am J Psychiatry 126: 59-69 (PDF)

Mangini M (1998) Treatment of alcoholism using psychedelic drugs: a review of the program of research. J Psychoactive Drugs 30: 381-418 (PDF)

Moreno FA, Wiegand CB, Taitano EK, Delgado PL (2006) Safety, tolerability and efficacy of psilocybin in 9 patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 67: 1735-11740 (PDF)

Nichols DE (2004) Hallucinogens. Pharmacol Ther 101: 131-181 (PDF)

Passie T, Halpern JH, Stichtenoth DO, Emrich HM, Hintzen A (2008) The pharmacology of lysergic Acid diethylamide: a review. CNS Neurosci Ther 14: 295-314 (PDF)

Passie T, Seifert J, Schneider U, Emrich HM (2002) The pharmacology of psilocybin. Addict Biol 7: 357-64 (PDF)

Riba J, Rodriguez-Fornells A, Barbanoj MJ (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 (PDF)

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

Strassman RJ (1995) Hallucinogenic drugs in psychiatric research and treatment. Perspectives and prospects. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 183: 127-138 (PDF)

Strassman RJ, Qualls C, Berg L (1996) Differential tolerance to biological and subjective effects of four closely spaced doses of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in humans. Biological Psychiatry 39: 784-795 (PDF)

Vollenweider FX, Leenders KL, Scharfetter C, Maguire P, Stadelmann O, Angst J (1997) Positron emission tomography and fluorodeoxyglucose studies of metabolic hyperfrontality and psychopathology in the psilocybin model of psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology 16: 357-372 (PDF)

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 32(9):1876-1887 (PDF)

 

Reference:
MAPS. (2021). Research Papers. Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. CA