Could LSD cure your OCD?

(Could 'shrooms' make you less afraid of death?)








When a person is diagnosed with terminal cancer it can result in a drastic change in their behavior as well their outlook on life. Often times the fear of death will overwhelm a patient and they will suffer from chronic depression and anxiety. In 2001 the National Cancer Policy Board of the Institute of Medicine released a search for “novel” approaches to palliative treatment. Palliative treatment is the search for a type of medical care that alleviates or reduces a patient’s emotional and psychological suffering as a result of their terminal illness. Dr. Charles Griffiths, of John Hopkins University responded to this search. He suggested an exploration of the hallucinogenic drug Psilocybin. His hope was that the experience on this drug would reduce a person’s anxiety about their impending death as well as minimize their desire for pain medication. Although the drug will not lessen the physical pain caused by the illness, Girffiths suspects that the patient’s attitude and outlook will change dramatically as a result of the experience, ensuing in a changed perception of their pain.


PSILOCYBIN AND ITS EFFECT ON THE BRAIN:

Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic drug found in psilocybin mushrooms (commonly called ‘magic mushrooms’ or ‘shrooms’). Hallucinogens are generally divided into two groups of alkaloids, tryptamines: including drugs such as Psilocybin, DMT and LSD and phenthylamines: such as mescaline. Tryptamines are a type of alkaloid, generally found in plants, animals and fungi. Hallucinogens, such as Psilocybin have been present in religious ceremonies for hundreds of years. Generally these drugs are restricted by indigenous cultures for highly ritualized sacramental and healing ceremonies.


Psilocybin has the ability to profoundly change one’s state of consciousness. Effects of consumption may include a distorted perception resulting in somatic, visual, olfactory, gustatory and auditory hallucinations. Consumption may also produce a synthesis of random sensory experiences such as ‘tasting colours’. The effects listed are common in serotonergically mediated hallucinogens. These are those receptors that exert their influence on the same receptors that respond to serotonin. The brain receptor that is affected by Psilocybin is called 5-HT2A which is widely dispersed throughout the central nervous system, specifically in serotonin rich areas such as the prefrontal, parietal and somatosensory cortex. Hallucinogens such as LSD and Psilocybin act as full/partial agonists at this receptor, causing an increase in this receptors activity.

Fig.1 The distribution of Serotonin in the brain.

Psilocybin and other hallucinogens are proven to stimulate specific areas of the brain. PET scans show the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala are affected by Psilocybin. The effect on the amygdala explains the heightened emotions one experiences on a Psilocybin 'trip', the prefrontal cortex is responsible for our executive functions and this explains effects on our personality and on our ability to organize thoughts and actions.
There is a great deal of speculation that the thalamus is intensely affected by hallucinogens. The thalamus is a relay station for the previously mentioned 2HT serotonin receptors. It is also responsible for receiving auditory, somatosensory and visual sensory signs. It then sends these sensory signals to the cerebral cortex. If the thalamus were overwhelmed, it may no longer be able to filter through the sensory information properly. This would mean that the prefrontal cortex would be inundated with sensory information. This avalanche of sensory data may be what leads to changes in our behaviour and perception.

Fig. 2 Shows the activation sequence for motor activity and demonstrates the thalamus and its role with the aspects of the prefrontal cortex.

THE STUDY:

Griffiths’s desire was to research whether profound activation of the serotonin receptor could result in what is considered a primary mystical experience. He also wanted to study whether this experience could have lasting effects on a patient’s attitude toward their illness and their fate. Griffiths organized a double blind study comparing the effects of orally administrated Psilocybin and Methylphenidate (often referred to as Ritalin, a psycho-stimulant prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy that has a similar onset and duration as Psilocybin).

The study involved two or three 8 hour drug sessions conducted at 2 month intervals. Thirty-six volunteers aged between twenty-four and sixty-four years were involved. Volunteers were all physically and psychologically healthy, had no previous experience with hallucinogens and were affiliated with some sort of religion/spirituality. Participants were required to have religious/spiritual connections because Griffiths felt it would, “better equip volunteers to understand and consolidate any mystical-type experiences they might have in the study.” Thirty of the thirty-six participants were divided into two groups. On their first drug session the group received a dose of either Methylphenidate or Psilocybin, the alternative drug was administrated to them during their second session. The 8hr drug sessions were conducted in a room designed to replicate a living room.

http://www.blogsforcompanies.com/TTimages/psilocybin_research_study.jpg

Fig.3 The location used for the experiment, a room made to look like a living room.

This comfortable space was to ensure physical safety and a relaxing environment that would not seem threatening in case of hallucinations/perceptual changes. During each drug session the participant was accompanied by two monitors. Sessions were videotaped and participants were encouraged to listen to music, lie down on a couch and wear an eye-mask. In order to decrease the effects of this “expectancy” both the monitor and the subject were “blinded” to what drug was being consumed. Not only that, but a ‘red herring’ group of 6 participants who only received a placebo, but were informed that they had consumed Psilocybin on their third drug session, were a part of the study.

RESULTS:

The study was designed so that measures were taken, during the drug session, 7 hours after ingestion, two months after ingestion and finally, 14 months after their first Psilocybin trip. The 2 month and 14 month follow up survey assessed altered states of mind, sensitivity to hallucinogen, the scale of one’s mystical experience, changes in attitude and behaviour, spiritual transcendence and personality factors such as neuroticism and openness. Finally, three adults who had been submitted by the participant answered a questionnaire on the participant’s behavior since the experiment.

The most striking result from the survey done 7 hours after drug ingestion, was from the measure of mystical experience questionnaire. This showed that 22 of the 36 volunteers fulfilled the criteria for a ‘complete mystical experience’ as defined by Pahnke and Richards. Findings from the questionnaire 2-months after the drug was ingested express that Psilocybin significantly increased ratings of mood, behaviour, positive attitude and social effect. Sixty seven percent of the participants went on to list their experience on Psilocybin to be one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives or among the top five most meaningful experiences they have ever had.

http://csp.org/psilocybin/Hopkins-CSP-Psilocybin2008.pdf

Fig. 4 Graphs demonstrating results from the 2 month survey and the 14 month survey, comparing the Psilocybin experience and effects with the Methylphenidate experience and effect.

The 14 month follow up survey showed that 64% of the patients indicated the experience as increasing their life satisfaction and well being moderately or very much. Furthermore, 61% described the experience as being associated with significant or extreme, positive changes in behaviour and attitude, since the first session. Since the Psilocybin experience, the volunteers rated low on neuroticism and negative affect and high on extroversion, openness, agreeableness and measure of actualization potential, this rating is based on adult norms. Quotes from the verbatim study that was taken included:

• The experience expanded my conscious awareness permanently...I accept 'what is', more easily.
  


• That in every horrible or frightening experience, if you stay with it, enter into it, you will find God...It has become a guiding principal in my life.



• I experienced the utter joy of letting go-without anxiety-without direction-beyond ego.
  

WHAT THIS MEANS:

These results certify that under the correct conditions, Psilocybin is able to be administered safely and that it will successfully produce occurrences similar to spontaneous mystical experiences. The information also confirms that these experiences have a proven long-term positive effect on the lives of participants. Griffith’s hope is to continue his research as this study is only at its preliminary stages. Already, the search for terminal cancer patients, suffering from depression and anxiety and willing to try Psilocybin has begun. He is also hopeful that this drug may aid in treating drug dependency. This is partially inspired by a Canadian study, from the 60’s, that attempted (with some success) to cure alcoholism with Mescaline and LSD.

Griffiths also wishes to investigate the importance of using volunteers with some sort of religious/spiritual connection in order to successfully achieve a ‘mystical experience’ that has long-term effects. Not only does this experiment aid Dr. Griffiths’ own research but it also is helping to re-open the exploration of psychedelic drugs and their potential for the medical world. Studies of these drugs have been off limits for the last few decades, due to their role in the 60’s counter culture, but with the success of experiments like this one, other more radical experiments are being approved, such as a study at UCLA researching LSD and if it could help people with extreme cases of OCD.