Classic Psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, mystical experience, brain network function, and therapeutics

Publication date: Available online 4 December 2018Source: Pharmacology & TherapeuticsAuthor(s): Matthew W. Johnson, Peter S. Hendricks, Frederick S. Barrett, Roland R. GriffithsAbstractThe purpose of this paper is to provide an integrative review and offer novel insights regarding human research with classic psychedelics (classic hallucinogens), which are 5HT2AR agonists such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, and psilocybin. Classic psychedelics have been administered as sacraments since ancient times. They were of prominent interest within psychiatry and neuroscience in the 1950s to 1960s, and during this time contributed to the emergence of the field of molecular neuroscience. Promising results were reported for treatment of both end-of-life psychological distress and addiction, and classic psychedelics served as tools for studying the neurobiological bases of psychological disorders. Moreover, classic psychedelics were shown to occasion mystical experiences, which are subjective experiences reported throughout different cultures and religions involving a strong sense of unity, among other characteristics. However, the recreational use of classic psychedelics and their association with the counterculture prompted an end to human research with classic psychedelics in the early 1970s. We review recent therapeutic studies suggesting efficacy in treating psychological distress associated with life-threatening diseases, treating depression, and treating nicotine an...
Source: Pharmacology and Therapeutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research