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Borissova A, Ferguson B, Wall MB, Morgan CJA, Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Bloomfield MAP, Williams TM, Feilding A, Murphy K, Tyacke RJ, Erritzoe D, Stewart L, Wolff K, Nutt D, Curran HV, Lawn W. Acute effects of MDMA on trust, cooperative behaviour and empathy: A double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment. J Psychopharmacol 2021; 35:547-555. [PMID: 32538252 PMCID: PMC8155732 DOI: 10.1177/0269881120926673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is being actively researched as an adjunct to psychotherapy. It may be beneficial to trust, empathy and cooperative behaviour due to its acute prosocial effects. AIM To test (a) the acute effects of MDMA on measures of empathy, trust and cooperative behaviour, and (b) subacute changes in mood three days after MDMA administration. METHODS Twenty-five participants (n=7 female), participated in this double-blind, repeated-measures, placebo-controlled experiment. Participants attended two acute sessions, one week apart. Each acute session was followed by a subacute session three days later. Participants received placebo (100 mg ascorbic acid) during one acute session, and MDMA (100 mg MDMA-HCl) at the other, with order counterbalanced. Participants completed the following tasks assessing prosocial behaviour: a trust investment task, a trustworthy face rating task, an empathic stories task, a public project game, a dictator game and an ultimatum game. Participants reported subjective effects. Blood was taken pre-drug, 2 and 4 hours post-drug, and tested for plasma MDMA levels. RESULTS MDMA acutely increased self-reported 'closeness to others' and 'euphoria' and increased plasma concentrations of MDMA. MDMA did not significantly change task-based empathy, trust or cooperative behaviour. Using Bayesian analyses, we found evidence that MDMA and placebo did not differ in their effects on empathy and cooperative behaviour. MDMA did not significantly change subacute mood and this was supported by our Bayesian analyses. CONCLUSION Despite augmentation in plasma MDMA levels and subjective drug effects, we found no increase in prosocial behaviour in a laboratory setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Borissova
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit,
UCL, London, UK,NIHR University College London
Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College Hospital, London,
UK,Anna Borissova, UCL Clinical
Psychopharmacology Unit, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6HB, UK
| | - Bart Ferguson
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center,
University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Wall
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit,
UCL, London, UK,Invicro London, London, UK,Neuropsychopharmacology Unit,
Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Celia JA Morgan
- Psychopharmacology and Addiction
Research Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit,
Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK,Centre for Psychedelic Research,
Department of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Bolstridge
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit,
Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michael AP Bloomfield
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit,
UCL, London, UK,NIHR University College London
Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College Hospital, London,
UK,Translational Psychiatry Research
Group, Research Department of Mental Health Neuroscience, Division of
Psychiatry University College London, London, UK,The Traumatic Stress Clinic, St
Pancras Hospital, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London,
UK,National Hospital for Neurology
and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Tim M Williams
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit,
Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Kevin Murphy
- Cardiff University Brain
Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff, UK
| | - Robin J Tyacke
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit,
Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David Erritzoe
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit,
Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK,Centre for Psychedelic Research,
Department of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Kim Wolff
- School of Biomedical Sciences,
King’s College London, London, UK
| | - David Nutt
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit,
Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Will Lawn
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit,
UCL, London, UK
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Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Day CMJ, Rucker J, Watts R, Erritzoe DE, Kaelen M, Giribaldi B, Bloomfield M, Pilling S, Rickard JA, Forbes B, Feilding A, Taylor D, Curran HV, Nutt DJ. Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:399-408. [PMID: 29119217 PMCID: PMC5813086 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4771-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 433] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Recent clinical trials are reporting marked improvements in mental health outcomes with psychedelic drug-assisted psychotherapy. OBJECTIVES Here, we report on safety and efficacy outcomes for up to 6 months in an open-label trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. METHODS Twenty patients (six females) with (mostly) severe, unipolar, treatment-resistant major depression received two oral doses of psilocybin (10 and 25 mg, 7 days apart) in a supportive setting. Depressive symptoms were assessed from 1 week to 6 months post-treatment, with the self-rated QIDS-SR16 as the primary outcome measure. RESULTS Treatment was generally well tolerated. Relative to baseline, marked reductions in depressive symptoms were observed for the first 5 weeks post-treatment (Cohen's d = 2.2 at week 1 and 2.3 at week 5, both p < 0.001); nine and four patients met the criteria for response and remission at week 5. Results remained positive at 3 and 6 months (Cohen's d = 1.5 and 1.4, respectively, both p < 0.001). No patients sought conventional antidepressant treatment within 5 weeks of psilocybin. Reductions in depressive symptoms at 5 weeks were predicted by the quality of the acute psychedelic experience. CONCLUSIONS Although limited conclusions can be drawn about treatment efficacy from open-label trials, tolerability was good, effect sizes large and symptom improvements appeared rapidly after just two psilocybin treatment sessions and remained significant 6 months post-treatment in a treatment-resistant cohort. Psilocybin represents a promising paradigm for unresponsive depression that warrants further research in double-blind randomised control trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Carhart-Harris
- Psychedelic Research Group, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - M Bolstridge
- Psychedelic Research Group, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - C M J Day
- Psychedelic Research Group, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - J Rucker
- Psychedelic Research Group, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - R Watts
- Psychedelic Research Group, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - D E Erritzoe
- Psychedelic Research Group, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - M Kaelen
- Psychedelic Research Group, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - B Giribaldi
- Psychedelic Research Group, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - M Bloomfield
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London and Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - S Pilling
- Clinical Psychology and Clinical Effectiveness, University College London, London, UK
| | - J A Rickard
- Barts Health Pharmaceuticals, Barts Health NHS Trust, the Royal London Hospital, London, UK
| | - B Forbes
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
| | - A Feilding
- The Beckley Foundation, Beckley Park, Oxford, UK
| | - D Taylor
- Pharmacy and Pathology, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - H V Curran
- Clinical Psychology and Clinical Effectiveness, University College London, London, UK
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - D J Nutt
- Psychedelic Research Group, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Joy G, Bolstridge M, Whiskey E, McDonagh TA, Shergill S, Plymen C. 12 Characterisation of clozapine referrals to a tertiary cardiology unit. Heart 2017. [DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2017-311726.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Porras-Segovia A, Krivoy A, Horowitz M, Thomas G, Bolstridge M, Ion D, Shergill SS. Rapid-onset clozapine-induced loss of glycaemic control: case report. BJPsych Open 2017; 3:138-140. [PMID: 28507773 PMCID: PMC5425930 DOI: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.117.004481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Clozapine has proved to be an effective antipsychotic for the treatment of refractory schizophrenia - characterised by the persistence of symptoms despite optimal treatment trials with at least two different antipsychotics at adequate dose and duration - but its use is hampered by adverse effects. The development of clozapine-induced diabetes is commonly considered to arise as part of a metabolic syndrome, associated with weight gain, and thus evolves slowly. We present the case of an individual with refractory schizophrenia and metformin-controlled diabetes who developed rapid-onset insulin-dependent hyperglycaemia immediately after starting clozapine. Given the refractory nature of his illness, the decision was made to continue clozapine and manage the diabetes. This case supports the existence of a more direct mechanism by which clozapine alters glycaemic control, aside from the more routine slow development of a metabolic syndrome. DECLARATION OF INTEREST S.S.S. is supported by a European Research Council Consolidator Award (Grant Number 311686) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing of the report. COPYRIGHT AND USAGE © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amir Krivoy
- , MD, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Psychosis Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust London, London, UK
| | - Mark Horowitz
- , MBBS PhD, National Psychosis Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust London, London, UK
| | - George Thomas
- , BSc, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Mark Bolstridge
- , MBCHP MRCPsych, National Psychosis Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust London, London, UK
| | - Dragos Ion
- , RMN, National Psychosis Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust London, London, UK
| | - Sukhwinder S Shergill
- , PhD FRCPsych, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Psychosis Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust London, London, UK
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Terhune DB, Luke DP, Kaelen M, Bolstridge M, Feilding A, Nutt D, Carhart-Harris R, Ward J. A placebo-controlled investigation of synaesthesia-like experiences under LSD. Neuropsychologia 2016; 88:28-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Carhart-Harris RL, Kaelen M, Bolstridge M, Williams TM, Williams LT, Underwood R, Feilding A, Nutt DJ. The paradoxical psychological effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Psychol Med 2016; 46:1379-1390. [PMID: 26847689 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291715002901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a potent serotonergic hallucinogen or psychedelic that modulates consciousness in a marked and novel way. This study sought to examine the acute and mid-term psychological effects of LSD in a controlled study. METHOD A total of 20 healthy volunteers participated in this within-subjects study. Participants received LSD (75 µg, intravenously) on one occasion and placebo (saline, intravenously) on another, in a balanced order, with at least 2 weeks separating sessions. Acute subjective effects were measured using the Altered States of Consciousness questionnaire and the Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI). A measure of optimism (the Revised Life Orientation Test), the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, and the Peter's Delusions Inventory were issued at baseline and 2 weeks after each session. RESULTS LSD produced robust psychological effects; including heightened mood but also high scores on the PSI, an index of psychosis-like symptoms. Increased optimism and trait openness were observed 2 weeks after LSD (and not placebo) and there were no changes in delusional thinking. CONCLUSIONS The present findings reinforce the view that psychedelics elicit psychosis-like symptoms acutely yet improve psychological wellbeing in the mid to long term. It is proposed that acute alterations in mood are secondary to a more fundamental modulation in the quality of cognition, and that increased cognitive flexibility subsequent to serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) stimulation promotes emotional lability during intoxication and leaves a residue of 'loosened cognition' in the mid to long term that is conducive to improved psychological wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Carhart-Harris
- Imperial College London,Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology,Division of Brain Sciences,Faculty of Medicine,London,UK
| | - M Kaelen
- Imperial College London,Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology,Division of Brain Sciences,Faculty of Medicine,London,UK
| | - M Bolstridge
- Imperial College London,Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology,Division of Brain Sciences,Faculty of Medicine,London,UK
| | - T M Williams
- Department of Psychiatry,The University of Bristol,Bristol,UK
| | - L T Williams
- Imperial College London,Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology,Division of Brain Sciences,Faculty of Medicine,London,UK
| | - R Underwood
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience,Department of Psychology,King's College London,London,UK
| | - A Feilding
- The Beckley Foundation,Beckley Park,Oxford,UK
| | - D J Nutt
- Imperial College London,Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology,Division of Brain Sciences,Faculty of Medicine,London,UK
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7
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Tagliazucchi E, Roseman L, Kaelen M, Orban C, Muthukumaraswamy S, Murphy K, Laufs H, Leech R, McGonigle J, Crossley N, Bullmore E, Williams T, Bolstridge M, Feilding A, Nutt D, Carhart-Harris R. Increased Global Functional Connectivity Correlates with LSD-Induced Ego Dissolution. Curr Biol 2016; 26:1043-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Carhart-Harris RL, Murphy K, Leech R, Erritzoe D, Wall MB, Ferguson B, Williams LTJ, Roseman L, Brugger S, De Meer I, Tanner M, Tyacke R, Wolff K, Sethi A, Bloomfield MAP, Williams TM, Bolstridge M, Stewart L, Morgan C, Newbould RD, Feilding A, Curran HV, Nutt DJ. The Effects of Acutely Administered 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Spontaneous Brain Function in Healthy Volunteers Measured with Arterial Spin Labeling and Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent Resting State Functional Connectivity. Biol Psychiatry 2015; 78:554-62. [PMID: 24495461 PMCID: PMC4578244 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2013] [Revised: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The compound 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a potent monoamine releaser that produces an acute euphoria in most individuals. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, balanced-order study, MDMA was orally administered to 25 physically and mentally healthy individuals. Arterial spin labeling and seed-based resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) were used to produce spatial maps displaying changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and RSFC after MDMA administration. Participants underwent two arterial spin labeling and two blood oxygen level-dependent scans in a 90-minute scan session; MDMA and placebo study days were separated by 1 week. RESULTS Marked increases in positive mood were produced by MDMA. Decreased CBF only was observed after MDMA, and this was localized to the right medial temporal lobe (MTL), thalamus, inferior visual cortex, and the somatosensory cortex. Decreased CBF in the right amygdala and hippocampus correlated with ratings of the intensity of global subjective effects of MDMA. The RSFC results complemented the CBF results, with decreases in RSFC between midline cortical regions, the medial prefrontal cortex, and MTL regions, and increases between the amygdala and hippocampus. There were trend-level correlations between these effects and ratings of intense and positive subjective effects. CONCLUSIONS The MTLs appear to be specifically implicated in the mechanism of action of MDMA, but further work is required to elucidate how the drug's characteristic subjective effects arise from its modulation of spontaneous brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London.
| | - Kevin Murphy
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (KM), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - David Erritzoe
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London
| | - Matthew B Wall
- Institute of Neurology (MBW),; Imanova (MBW, IDM, MT, RDN), Centre for Imaging Sciences, London
| | - Bart Ferguson
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit (BF, LS, CM, HVC), University College London, London; University College London, London
| | - Luke T J Williams
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London
| | - Leor Roseman
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London
| | - Stefan Brugger
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London
| | - Ineke De Meer
- Imanova (MBW, IDM, MT, RDN), Centre for Imaging Sciences, London
| | - Mark Tanner
- Imanova (MBW, IDM, MT, RDN), Centre for Imaging Sciences, London
| | - Robin Tyacke
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London
| | - Kim Wolff
- School of Biomedical Sciences (KW), Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ajun Sethi
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London
| | - Michael A P Bloomfield
- Psychiatric Imaging Group (MAPB), MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Institute of Clinical Science, Imperial College London, London
| | - Tim M Williams
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London
| | - Mark Bolstridge
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London
| | - Lorna Stewart
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit (BF, LS, CM, HVC), University College London, London; University College London, London
| | - Celia Morgan
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit (BF, LS, CM, HVC), University College London, London; University College London, London
| | | | | | - H Val Curran
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit (BF, LS, CM, HVC), University College London, London; University College London, London
| | - David J Nutt
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology (RLC-H, DE, LTJW, LR, SB, RT, AS, TMW, MB, DJN) and C3NL (RL), Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London, London
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9
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Kaelen M, Barrett FS, Roseman L, Lorenz R, Family N, Bolstridge M, Curran HV, Feilding A, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL. LSD enhances the emotional response to music. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:3607-14. [PMID: 26257162 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-4014-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE There is renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). LSD was used extensively in the 1950s and 1960s as an adjunct in psychotherapy, reportedly enhancing emotionality. Music is an effective tool to evoke and study emotion and is considered an important element in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy; however, the hypothesis that psychedelics enhance the emotional response to music has yet to be investigated in a modern placebo-controlled study. OBJECTIVES The present study sought to test the hypothesis that music-evoked emotions are enhanced under LSD. METHODS Ten healthy volunteers listened to five different tracks of instrumental music during each of two study days, a placebo day followed by an LSD day, separated by 5-7 days. Subjective ratings were completed after each music track and included a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the nine-item Geneva Emotional Music Scale (GEMS-9). RESULTS Results demonstrated that the emotional response to music is enhanced by LSD, especially the emotions "wonder", "transcendence", "power" and "tenderness". CONCLUSIONS These findings reinforce the long-held assumption that psychedelics enhance music-evoked emotion, and provide tentative and indirect support for the notion that this effect can be harnessed in the context of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Further research is required to test this link directly.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kaelen
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK,
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10
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Carhart-Harris RL, Kaelen M, Whalley MG, Bolstridge M, Feilding A, Nutt DJ. LSD enhances suggestibility in healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:785-94. [PMID: 25242255 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3714-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has a history of use as a psychotherapeutic aid in the treatment of mood disorders and addiction, and it was also explored as an enhancer of mind control. OBJECTIVES The present study sought to test the effect of LSD on suggestibility in a modern research study. METHODS Ten healthy volunteers were administered with intravenous (i.v.) LSD (40-80 μg) in a within-subject placebo-controlled design. Suggestibility and cued mental imagery were assessed using the Creative Imagination Scale (CIS) and a mental imagery test (MIT). CIS and MIT items were split into two versions (A and B), balanced for 'efficacy' (i.e. A ≈ B) and counterbalanced across conditions (i.e. 50 % completed version 'A' under LSD). The MIT and CIS were issued 110 and 140 min, respectively, post-infusion, corresponding with the peak drug effects. RESULTS Volunteers gave significantly higher ratings for the CIS (p = 0.018), but not the MIT (p = 0.11), after LSD than placebo. The magnitude of suggestibility enhancement under LSD was positively correlated with trait conscientiousness measured at baseline (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS These results imply that the influence of suggestion is enhanced by LSD. Enhanced suggestibility under LSD may have implications for its use as an adjunct to psychotherapy, where suggestibility plays a major role. That cued imagery was unaffected by LSD implies that suggestions must be of a sufficient duration and level of detail to be enhanced by the drug. The results also imply that individuals with high trait conscientiousness are especially sensitive to the suggestibility-enhancing effects of LSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Carhart-Harris
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK,
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