A Review of Psychedelic Research
Scientific Studies into the Effectiveness of Mind Altering Medicine
Feb 4, 2009
Most psychedelic medicines — drugs that create an altered awareness — are stigmatized or have been made illegal. Because of this, in the United States research on their medical benefit for humans has been difficult to conduct. Also, because their patents have expired or aren’t possible to get, profit-driven pharmaceutical research companies have no interest in pursuing such research. However, a few non-profit organizations are coordinating studies with the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and regulatory agencies across the globe. Among the most active of these organizations is MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Some of the research underway is outlined below.
MDMA for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
According to the 2008-09 MAPS Winter Bulletin, 2008-09 , Vol XVIII No. 3, there are currently at least four MDMA (Methylenedioxy metamphetamine) research trials being conducted in various countries. Some of these are:
In the United States, the FDA has approved research, IND #63,384, run by Dr. Michael Mithoefer. This research trial, which started in 2002, seeks to test the efficacy of MDMA on treating resistant post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The second phase has currently ended with the last subject treated. Phase three trials are currently being reviewed and protocols for a large-scale phase three trial are in development.
The McLean Hospital of Harvard Medical School is conducting a study under the supervision of John Halpern, M.D., to determine if MDMA can help terminal cancer patients experiencing end-of-life anxiety.
The Canadian Institutional Review Board has approved initial protocols for a double-blind, active placebo controlled evaluation as of Nov. 7, 2008. Final approval to go forward with this study, under the supervision of practicing psychiatrist Ingrid Pacey and psychologist Andrew Feldmar of the Feldmar Institute, has not yet been obtained.
In Israel, MDMA is being studied for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), specifically in response to war and terrorism. Data from an April 2006 report in the American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 659-666, shows PTSD developed at a rate between 21 and 35 percent in citizens living in two suburbs of Jerusalem.
Protocol for a Swiss study, authored by Peter Oehen and approved by the Swiss Ethics Committee on May 28, 2007, has treated six of twelve enrolled subjects.
Psilocybin and LSD Use to Combat Headaches and Anxiety
MAPS is currently sponsoring research into common psychedelics sich as psilocybin and LSD. Information form the winter bulletin shows these medicines being studied for end-of-life anxiety in terminal cancer patients. One such study underway in Switzerland has enrolled four subjects and two have begun treatment.
In a letter dated September 2008, Thomas Laughren, M.D. from the FDA Division of Psychiatry Products agreed to accept data published from the study to evaluate the potential for therapies in the United States.
Another non-profit research group located in Lombard, Il, Cluster Busters, is collecting information on the ability of LSD and psilocybin to treat neuro-vascular headaches, including migraines. Ergotamine, derived from the same source as LSD, has been shown for years to be effective at treating sudden, acute symptoms of migraines and the data suggests that LSD and psilocybin do have a long term mitigating effect, as reported in the MAPS Winter Bulletin.
Ibogaine as an Addiction Interrupter
Information regarding the ability of Ibogaine to interrupt addictions has been written about since this property was discovered in 1962 by Howard Lotsof. While Ibogaine is illegal in the U.S., this is not the case throughout the rest of the world. Licensed therapy centers are located just across the U.S. border in Mexico and Canada. Centers in Spain, the Netherlands, South America, St. Kitts, and others are amassing data to corroborate Ibogaine’s addiction interruption properties. The Iboga Therapy House in Vancouver is enrolling patients for long term studies.
Research into therapeutic uses of psychedelic medicine has progressed slowly for a variety of reasons. However, having a few non-profit organizations sponsoring scientific trials means they could some day become accepted tools for the treatment of PTSD, migraines or addiction recovery.
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