Psilocybin induces mystical and spiritual experiences: study
{{date|July 12, 2006}}

A study published by researchers at {{w|John Hopkins University}} ([[Baltimore, Maryland|Balitmore]], [[Maryland]]) concluded that [[psilocybin]], a hallucinogenic drug, causes experiences of "substantial personal meaning and spiritual significance" in users. A majority of the participants felt a better sense of well-being, even months after consuming the drug. Researchers expect that the results can be used for further investigation of psychoactive substances and cognition.

The experiment, led by Roland R Griffiths, assessed the degree of mystical experience and attitudinal effects of the psilocybin experience; this report was published in the journal ''Psychopharmacology''.

Thirty volunteers without prior experience with hallucinogens were given psilocybin and {{w|methylphenidate}} (Ritalin) in separate sessions. The Ritalin sessions served as the control group who used that drug as a {{w|placebo}}. The tests were {{w|double-blind}}, with neither the subject nor the administrator knowing which drug was being administered.

The degree of mystical experience was measured using a questionnaire on mystical experience developed by Ralph W Hood; 61% of subjects reported a "complete mystical experience" after their psilocybin session, while only 13% reported such an outcome after their experience with Ritalin. Two months after taking psilocybin, 79% of the participants reported moderately to greatly increased life satisfaction and sense of well-being.

About 36% of participants also had a strong to extreme “experience of fear” or {{w|dysphoria}} (eg, a "{{w|bad trip}}") at some point during the psilocybin session (which was not reported by any subject during the methylphenidate session), with about one-third of these (13% of the total) reporting that this dysphoria dominated the entire session. These negative effects were reported to be easily managed by the researchers and did not have a lasting negative effect on the subject’s sense of well-being.
{{Haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/GriffithsPsilocybin.pdf
|title=Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance
|author=Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, Jesse R.
|pub=Psychopharmacology (Online Edition)
|date=July 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/GriffithsCommentaries.pdf
|title=Commentaries and Editorial on Article by Griffiths et al.
|author=Schuster C; Kleber H; Snyder S; Nichols D; de Wit H.
|pub=Psychopharmacology (online edition)
|date=July 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/07_11_06.html
|title=Hopkins Scientists Show Hallucinogen in Mushrooms Creates Universal 'Mystical' Experience
|author=
|pub=Johns Hopkins Medicine news release
|date=July 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/GriffithspsilocybinQ
|title=Q&A is with Roland Griffiths, the study’s lead researcher
|author=
|pub=Johns Hopkins Medicine news release
|date=July 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/GeneralPsychiatry/tb/3721
|title=Psilocybin Viewed as Therapy or Research Tool
|author=Michael Smith
|pub=Medpagetoday.com
|date=July 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9522-magic-mushrooms-really-cause-spiritual-experiences.html
|title=Magic mushrooms really cause 'spiritual' experiences
|author=Roxanne Khamsi
|pub=New Scientist
|date=July 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/10/AR2006071001304.html
|title=Drug's Mystical Properties Confirmed
|author=David Brown
|pub=Washington Post
|date=July 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Psychedelic-Research.html
|title=Mushroom Drug Produces Mystical Experience
|author=
|pub=Associated Press
|date=July 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-mystical11jul11,0,3028620.story?coll=la-home-headlines
|title=Counterculture Drug Provides Spiritual Boost
|author=Denise Gellene
|pub=Los Angeles Times
|date=July 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2174998&page=1
|title=Tripping Out: Scientists Study Mystical Effects of Mushrooms
|author=Joy Victory, Bharathi Radhakrishnan, and Andrea Carter
|pub=ABC News
|date=July 11, 2006}}

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[[Category:Psilocybin]]
A study published by researchers at  (Balitmore, Maryland) concluded that psilocybin, a hallucinogenic drug, causes experiences of "substantial personal meaning and spiritual significance" in users. A majority of the participants felt a better sense of well-being, even months after consuming the drug. Researchers expect that the results can be used for further investigation of psychoactive substances and cognition.

The experiment, led by Roland R Griffiths, assessed the degree of mystical experience and attitudinal effects of the psilocybin experience; this report was published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Thirty volunteers without prior experience with hallucinogens were given psilocybin and placebo. The tests were , with neither the subject nor the administrator knowing which drug was being administered.

The degree of mystical experience was measured using a questionnaire on mystical experience developed by Ralph W Hood; 61% of subjects reported a "complete mystical experience" after their psilocybin session, while only 13% reported such an outcome after their experience with Ritalin. Two months after taking psilocybin, 79% of the participants reported moderately to greatly increased life satisfaction and sense of well-being.

About 36% of participants also had a strong to extreme “experience of fear” or bad trip") at some point during the psilocybin session (which was not reported by any subject during the methylphenidate session), with about one-third of these (13% of the total) reporting that this dysphoria dominated the entire session. These negative effects were reported to be easily managed by the researchers and did not have a lasting negative effect on the subject’s sense of well-being.
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