PMID- 37608057
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20230824
LR  - 20231121
IS  - 2045-2322 (Electronic)
IS  - 2045-2322 (Linking)
VI  - 13
IP  - 1
DP  - 2023 Aug 22
TI  - Co-use of MDMA with psilocybin/LSD may buffer against challenging experiences and 
      enhance positive experiences.
PG  - 13645
LID - 10.1038/s41598-023-40856-5 [doi]
LID - 13645
AB  - Psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) experiences can range from very 
      positive to highly challenging (e.g., fear, grief, and paranoia). These 
      challenging experiences contribute to hesitancy toward psychedelic-assisted 
      psychotherapy among health care providers and patients. Co-use of 
      3,4-Methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) with psilocybin/LSD anecdotally reduces 
      challenging experiences and enhances positive experiences associated with 
      psilocybin/LSD. However, limited research has investigated the acute effects of 
      co-use of MDMA and psilocybin/LSD. In a prospective convenience sample (N = 698) 
      of individuals with plans to use psilocybin/LSD, we examined whether co-use of 
      MDMA with psilocybin/LSD (n = 27) is associated with differences in challenging 
      or positive experiences. Challenging experiences were measured using the 
      Challenging Experiences Questionnaire and positive experiences were measured 
      using the Mystical Experience Questionnaire and single-item measures of 
      self-compassion, compassion, love, and gratitude. Potentially confounding 
      variables were identified and included as covariates. Relative to psilocybin/LSD 
      alone, co-use of psilocybin/LSD with a self-reported low (but not medium-high) 
      dose of MDMA was associated with significantly less intense total challenging 
      experiences, grief, and fear, as well as increased self-compassion, love and 
      gratitude. Co-use of psilocybin/LSD and MDMA was not associated with differences 
      in mystical-type experiences or compassion. Findings suggest co-use of MDMA with 
      psilocybin/LSD may buffer against some aspects of challenging experiences and 
      enhance certain positive experiences. Limitations include use of a convenience 
      sample, small sample size, and non-experimental design. Additional studies 
      (including controlled dose-response studies) that examine the effects and safety 
      of co-administering MDMA with psilocybin/LSD (in healthy controls and clinical 
      samples) are warranted and may assist the development of personalized treatments.
CI  - (c) 2023. Springer Nature Limited.
FAU - Zeifman, Richard J
AU  - Zeifman RJ
AD  - NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, NYU 
      Grossman School of Medicine, 1 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA. 
      richard.zeifman@nyulangone.org.
AD  - Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of 
      Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK. richard.zeifman@nyulangone.org.
FAU - Kettner, Hannes
AU  - Kettner H
AD  - Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of 
      Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
AD  - Psychedelics Division, Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
FAU - Pagni, Broc A
AU  - Pagni BA
AD  - NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, NYU 
      Grossman School of Medicine, 1 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
FAU - Mallard, Austin
AU  - Mallard A
AD  - NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, NYU 
      Grossman School of Medicine, 1 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
FAU - Roberts, Daniel E
AU  - Roberts DE
AD  - NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, NYU 
      Grossman School of Medicine, 1 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
FAU - Erritzoe, David
AU  - Erritzoe D
AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-7022-6211
AD  - Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of 
      Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
FAU - Ross, Stephen
AU  - Ross S
AD  - NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, NYU 
      Grossman School of Medicine, 1 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
FAU - Carhart-Harris, Robin L
AU  - Carhart-Harris RL
AD  - Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of 
      Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
AD  - Psychedelics Division, Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
LA  - eng
GR  - 202110MFE-472921-HTB-272687/CIHR/Canada
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
DEP - 20230822
PL  - England
TA  - Sci Rep
JT  - Scientific reports
JID - 101563288
RN  - 2RV7212BP0 (Psilocybin)
RN  - 0 (Hallucinogens)
RN  - 44RAL3456C (Methamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Humans
MH  - Psilocybin
MH  - Prospective Studies
MH  - *Hallucinogens
MH  - Fear
MH  - *Methamphetamine
PMC - PMC10444769
COIS- RJZ and BAP are postdoctoral fellows in the NYU Langone Psychedelic Medicine 
      Research Training program funded by MindMed. HK is a scientific advisor to Maya 
      Health. DER has received compensation as an independent contractor from Fluence. 
      RCH is a scientific advisor to Usona Institute, Maya Health, Osmind, Beckley 
      Psychtech, TRYP therapeutics, Journey Collab and MindState Design Lab. DE is a 
      paid advisor for Aya Biosciences, Clerkenwell Health, and Mindstate Design Lab. 
      None of the aforementioned organizations were involved in the design, execution, 
      interpretation, or communication of findings from present study.
EDAT- 2023/08/23 00:42
MHDA- 2023/08/24 06:43
PMCR- 2023/08/22
CRDT- 2023/08/22 23:42
PHST- 2023/05/18 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2023/08/17 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2023/08/24 06:43 [medline]
PHST- 2023/08/23 00:42 [pubmed]
PHST- 2023/08/22 23:42 [entrez]
PHST- 2023/08/22 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - 10.1038/s41598-023-40856-5 [pii]
AID - 40856 [pii]
AID - 10.1038/s41598-023-40856-5 [doi]
PST - epublish
SO  - Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 22;13(1):13645. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40856-5.