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Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies
- Source :
- Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England). 25(11)
- Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Psilocybin and related hallucinogenic compounds are increasingly used in human research. However, due to limited information about potential subjective side effects, the controlled medical use of these compounds has remained controversial. We therefore analysed acute, short- and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans by pooling raw data from eight double-blind placebo-controlled experimental studies conducted between 1999 and 2008. The analysis included 110 healthy subjects who had received 1–4 oral doses of psilocybin (45–315 µg/kg body weight). Although psilocybin dose-dependently induced profound changes in mood, perception, thought and self-experience, most subjects described the experience as pleasurable, enriching and non-threatening. Acute adverse drug reactions, characterized by strong dysphoria and/or anxiety/panic, occurred only in the two highest dose conditions in a relatively small proportion of subjects. All acute adverse drug reactions were successfully managed by providing interpersonal support and did not need psychopharmacological intervention. Follow-up questionnaires indicated no subsequent drug abuse, persisting perception disorders, prolonged psychosis or other long-term impairment of functioning in any of our subjects. The results suggest that the administration of moderate doses of psilocybin to healthy, high-functioning and well-prepared subjects in the context of a carefully monitored research environment is associated with an acceptable level of risk.
- Subjects :
- Hallucinogen
Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Context (language use)
610 Medicine & health
Dysphoria
Psilocybin
2738 Psychiatry and Mental Health
Young Adult
Double-Blind Method
Internal medicine
Surveys and Questionnaires
medicine
2736 Pharmacology (medical)
Humans
Pharmacology (medical)
Adverse effect
Psychiatry
Pharmacology
Panic
Psychedelic therapy
Middle Aged
Psychiatry and Mental health
Affect
3004 Pharmacology
10054 Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics
Hallucinogens
Anxiety
Female
Perception
medicine.symptom
Psychology
medicine.drug
Follow-Up Studies
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14617285
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d9c7309c2ae6792fce0269edd1e9f806