Academic Publications

Agin-Liebes, G., Haas, T.F., Lancelotta, R., Uthaug, M.V., Ramaekers, J.G., & Davis, A.K. (2021). Naturalistic use of mescaline is associated with self-reported psychiatric improvements and enduring positive life changes. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science. Published Online. March 23, 2021.

Aday, J.S., Davis, A.K., Mitzkovitz, C.M., Bloesch, E.M., & Davoli, C.C. (2021). Predicting reactions to psychedelic drugs: a systematic review of states and traits related to acute drug effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science. Published Online. March 5, 2021.

Garcia-Romeu, A., Barrett, F.S., Carbonaro, T.M., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2021). Optimal dosing for psilocybin pharmacotherapy: Considering weight-adjusted and fixed dosing approaches. Journal of Psychopharmacology. Published Online. February 20, 2021.

Lawrence, D.W., Sharma, B., Griffiths, R.R., Carhart-Harris, R. (2021). Trends in the Top-Cited Articles on Classic Psychedelics. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. Published Online. February 03, 2021.

Gukasyan, N. & Nayak, S. (2021). Psychedelics, placebo effects, and set and setting: insights from common factors theory of psychotherapy. Transcultural Psychiatry. Accepted manuscript in press.

Davis, A.K., Barrett, F.S., So, S., Gukasyan, N., Swift, T.C., & Griffiths, R.R. (2021). Development of the Psychological Insight Questionnaire among a sample of people who have consumed psilocybin or LSD. Journal of Psychopharmacology. Published Online. January 9, 2021.

Strickland, J.C., Garcia-Romeu, A., & Johnson, M.W. (2020). Set and setting: a randomized study of different musical genres in supporting psychedelic therapy. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science. Published Online December 29, 2020.

Johnson, M.W. (2020). Consciousness, religion, and gurus: pitfalls of psychedelic medicine. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science. Published Online December 16, 2020.

Yaden, D.B., & Griffiths, R.R. (2020). The subjective effects of psychedelics are necessary for their enduring therapeutic effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science. Published Online December 10, 2020.

Williams, M.T., Davis, A.K., Xin, Y., Sepeda, N.D., Grigas, P.C., Sinnott, S., & Haeny, A.M. (2020). People of color in North America report improvements in racial trauma and mental health symptoms following psychedelic experiences. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. Published Online December 10, 2020.

Nayak, S., & Johnson, M.W. (2020). Psychedelics and psychotherapy. Pharmacopsychiatry. Published Online December 07, 2020.

Yaden, D.B., Yaden, M., & Griffiths, R.R. (2020). Psychedelics in Psychiatry—Keeping the Renaissance From Going Off the Rails. JAMA Psychiatry. Published Online December 02, 2020.

Davis, A.K., Barrett, F.S., May, D.G., Cosimano, M.P., Sepeda, N.D., Johnson, M.W., Finan, P.H., & Griffiths, R.R. (2020). Effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. Published Online November 04, 2020.

Doss, M.K., May, D.G., Johnson, M.W., Clifton, J.M., Hedrick, S.L., Prisinzano, T.E., Griffiths, R.R., & Barrett, F.S. (2020). The acute effects of the atypical dissociative hallucinogen Salvinorin A on functional connectivity in the human brain. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 16392.

Barrett, F.S., Krimmel, S.R., Griffiths, R.R., Seminowicz, D.A., & Mathur, B.N. (2020). Psilocybin acutely alters the functional connectivity of the claustrum with brain networks that support perception, memory, and attention. NeuroImage, 218:116980.

Davis, A.K., Averill, L.A., Sepeda, N.D., Barsuglia, J.P., & Amoroso, T. (2020). Psychedelic treatment for trauma-related psychological and cognitive impairment among US Special Operations Forces Veterans. Chronic Stress, 4, 1-11.

Luoma, J. B., Chwyl, C., Bathje, G. J., Davis, A. K., & Lancelotta, R. (published online 2020, print edition in press). A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 52(4), 289-299.

Müller, F., Johnson, M. W., & Borgwardt, S. (2020). Editorial: Hallucinogens and Entactogens: Establishing a New Class of Psychotherapeutic Drugs? Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, Article 497.

Davis, A.K., Clifton, J.M., Weaver, E.G., Hurwitz, E.H., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2020). Survey of entity encounter experiences occasioned by inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT): Phenomenology, interpretation, and enduring effects. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 34(9), 1008-1020.

Carbonaro, T.M., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2020). Subjective features of the psilocybin experience that may account for its self-administration by humans: a double-blind comparison of psilocybin and dextromethorphan. Psychopharmacology, 237, 2293–2304.

Dolan, S.B., & Johnson, M.W. (2020). The drug purity discounting task: Ecstasy use likelihood is reduced by probabilistic impurity according to harmfulness of adulterants. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 208, 107772.

Aday, J.S., Mitzkovitz, C.M., Bloesch, E.K., Davoli, C.C, & Davis, A.K. (2020). Long-term effect of psychedelic drugs: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 113, 179-189

Lancelotta, R & Davis, A.K. (2020). Use of benefit enhancement strategies among 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) users: associations with mystical, challenging, and enduring effects. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 52(3), 273-281.

Barrett, FS, Doss, MK, Sepeda ND, Pekar JJ, & Griffiths RR (2020). Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 2214.

Uthaug, M.V., Lancelotta, R., Szabo, A., Davis, A.K., Riba, J., Ramaekers, J.G. (2020). Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment. Psychopharmacology, 237(3), 773-785.

Garcia-Romeu, A., Davis, A.K., Erowid, E., Erowid, F., Griffiths, R.R., & Johnson, M.W. (2020). Persisting reductions in cannabis, opioid, and stimulant misuse after naturalistic psychedelic use: An online survey. Frontiers Psychiatry, 10, 955.

Uthaug, M.V., Lancelotta, R., Ortiz Bernal, A.M., Davis, A.K., & Ramaekers, J.G. (2020). A comparison of reactivation experiences following vaporization and intramuscular injection (IM) of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in a natural setting. Journal of Psychedelic Studies.

Sepeda, N.D., Clifton, J.M., Doyle, L.Y., Lancelotta, R., Griffiths, R.R., & Davis, A.K. (2019). Inhaled 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine: Supportive context associated with positive acute and enduring effects. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 4(2), 114-122.

Davis, A.K., Barrett, F.S., & Griffiths, R.R. (2020). Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 15, 39-45.

Garcia-Romeu, A. Davis, A.K., Erowid, F., Erowid, E., Griffiths, R.R., & Johnson, M.W. (2019). Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 33(9), 1088-1101.

Griffiths, R.R., Hurwitz, E.S., Davis, A.K., Johnson, M.W., & Jesse, R. (2019). Survey of subjective “God encounter experiences”: Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT. PLoS ONE, 14(4), e0214377.

Davis, A.K., So, S., Lancelotta, R., Barsuglia, J.P., & Griffiths, R.R. (2019). 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 1-16.

Barsuglia, J., Davis, A.K., Palmer, R., Lancelotta, R., Windham-Herman, A.M., Peterson, K., Polanco, M., Grant, R., & Griffiths, R.R. (2018). Intensity of mystical experiences occasioned by 5-MeO-DMT and comparison with a prior psilocybin study. Frontiers Psychology, 9, 2459.

Johnson, M.W., Hendricks, P.S., Barrett, F.S., Griffiths, R.R. (2018). Classic Psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, mystical experience, brain network function, and therapeutics. Journal of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 197, 83-102.

Johnson, M.W. (2018). Psychiatry might need some psychedelic therapy. International Review of Psychiatry. International Review of Psychiatry, 30(4), 285-290.

Garcia-Romeu, A.G., & Richards, W.A. (2018). Current perspectives on psychedelic therapy: use of serotonergic hallucinogens in clinical interventions. International Review of Psychiatry, 30(4), 291-316.

Barrett, F.S., Preller, K.H., & Kaelen, M. (2018). Psychedelics and music: neuroscience and therapeutic implications. International Review of Psychiatry, 30(4), 350-362.

Barrett, F.S., Carbonaro, T.M., Hurwitz, E., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2018). Double-blind comparison of the two hallucinogens psilocybin and dextromethorphan: effects of cognition. Psychopharmacology, 235(10), 2915-2927.

Davis, A.K., Renn, E., Windham-Herman, A.M., Polanco, M., & Barsuglia, J.P. (2018). A mixed-method analysis of persisting effects associated with positive outcomes following ibogaine detoxification. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 50(4), 287-297.

Noorani, T., Garcia-Romeu, A., Swift, T.C., Griffiths, R.R., & Johnson, M.W. (2018). Psychedelic therapy for smoking cessation: Qualitative analysis of participant accounts. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 32(7), 756-769.

Davis, A.K., Barsulglia, J.P., Lancelotta, R., Grant, R.M., & Renn, E. (2018). The epidemiology of 5-methyoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) use: Benefits, consequences, patterns of use, subjective uses, and reasons for consumption. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 32(7), 779-792.

Johnson, M.W., Griffiths, R.R., Hendricks, P.S., Henningfield, J.E. (2018). The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act. Neuropharmacology, 1-24.

Barrett, F.S., Schlienz, J.N., Lembeck, N., Waqas, M., Vandrey, R. (2018). "Hallucinations" Following Acute Cannabis Dosing: A Case Report and Comparison to Other Hallucinogenic Drugs. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 3(1), 85-93.

Carbonaro, T.M., Johnson, M.W., Hurwitz, E., & Griffiths, R.R. (2018). Double-blind comparison of the two hallucinogens psilocybin and dextromethorphan: similarities and difference in subjective experiences. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 235(2), 521-534.

Griffiths, R.R., Johnson, M.W., Richards, W.A., Richards, B.D., Jesse, R., MacLean, K.A., Barrett, F.S., Cosimano, M.P., & Klinedinst, M.A. (2018). Psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience in combination with meditation and other spiritual practices produces enduring positive changes in psychological functioning and in trait measures of prosocial attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 32(1), 49-69.

Johnson, M.J., Garcia-Romeu, A., Johnson, P.S. & Griffiths, R.R. (2017). An online survey of tobacco smoking cessation associated with naturalistic psychedelic use. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 31(7), 841-850.

Garcia-Romeu, A., Griffiths, R.R., & , Johnson, M.W. (2017). Psychedelic-associated addiction remission: An online survey. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 171, e69.

Davis, A.K., Barsuglia, J.P., Windham-Herman, A., Lynch, M., & Polanco, M. (2017). Subjective effectiveness of ibogaine treatment for problematic opioid consumption: Short- and long-term outcomes and current psychological functioning. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 1(2), 65-73.

Saleemi, S., Pennybacker, S.J. Wooldridge, M., & Johnson, M.W. (2017). Who is ‘Molly’? MDMA adulterants by product name and the impact of harm-reduction services at raves. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 31(8), 1056-1060.

Barrett, F.S., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2017). Neuroticism is associated with challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms. Personality and Individual Differences, 117, 155-160.

Barrett, F.S, Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2017). Psilocybin in long-term meditators: Effects on default mode network functional connectivity and retrospective ratings of quality experience. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 171, e15-e16.

Barrett, F.S., Robbin, H., Smooke, D., Brown, J.L., & Griffiths, R.R. (2017). Qualitative and Quantitative Features of Music Reported to Support Peak Mystical Experiences during Psychedelic Therapy Sessions. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1-12.

Barrett, F.S., Preller, K.H., Herdener, M., Janata, P., & Vollenweider, F.X. (2017). Serotonin 2A receptor signaling underlies LSD-induced alteration of the neural response to dynamic changes in music. Cerebral Cortex, 1-12.

Barrett F.S. & Griffiths, R.R. (2017). Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenology and Neural Correlates in AL Halberstadt, FX Vollenweider, and DE Nichols (Eds.) Behavioral Neurobiology of Psychedelic Drugs, Curr Top Behav Neurosci. Epub Ahead of Print: 2017 Mar 26. DOI: 10.1007/7854_2017_474

Johnson, M.W. & Griffiths, R.R. (2017). Potential therapeutic effects of psilocybin. Neurotherapeutics, 14(3), 734-740.

Johnson, M.W., Garcia-Romeu, A., & Griffiths, R.R. (2017). Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 43(1), 55-60.

Nichols, D.E., Johnson, M.W., Nichols, C.D. (2017). Psychedelics as medicines: An emerging new paradigm. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 101(2), 209-219.

Griffiths, R.R., Johnson, M.W., Carducci, M.A., Umbricht, A., Richards, W.A., Richards, B.D., Cosimano, M.P., & Klinedinst, M.A. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1181-1197.

Garcia-Romeu, A., Kersgaard, B., & Addy, P.H. (2016) Clinical applications of hallucinogens: A review. Experimental Clinical Psychopharmacology, 24(4), 229-268.

Barrett, F.S., Bradstreet, M.P., Leoutsakos, J-M.S., Johnson, M.W. & Griffiths, R.R. (2016). The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1279-1295.

Carbonaro, T.M., Bradstreet, M.P., Barrett, F.S., MacLean, K.A., Jesse, R., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2016). Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12). 1268-1278.

Bogenschutz, M.P & Johnson, M.W. (2016). Classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 64, 250-258.

Maqueda, A.E., Valle, M., Addy, P.H., Antonijoan, R.M., Puntes, M., Coimbra, J., Ballester, M.R., Garrido, M., González, M., Claramunt, J., Barker, S., Lomnicka, I., Waguespack, M., Johnson, M.W., Griffiths, R.R., & Riba, J. (2016). Naltrexone but not ketanserin antagonizes the subjective, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine effects of salvinorin-A in humans. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 19(7), 1-13.

Johnson, M.W., MacLean, K.A., Caspers, M.J., Prisinzano, Griffiths, R.R. (2016). Time course of pharmacokinetic and hormonal effects of inhaled high-dose salvinorin A in humans. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(4), 323-329.

Barrett, F.S., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2015). Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental session with psilocybin. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 29(11), 1182-1190.

Kaelen, M., Barrett, F.S., Roseman, R., Lorenz, R., Bolstridge, M., Curran, H.V., Feilding, A., Nutt, D.J, & Carhart-Harris, R.L. (2015). LSD enhances the emotional response to music. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 232(19), 3607-3614.

Sessa, B. & Johnson, M.W. (2015). Can psychedelic compounds play a part in drug dependence therapy? The British Journal of Psychiatry, 206(1), 1-3.

Barrett, F.S., Bradstreet, M.P., Leoutsakos, J.S., Johnson, M.W., MacLean, K.A., Jess, R., & Griffiths, R.R. (2015). The challenging experience questionnaire: Characterization of acute adverse reactions to psilocybin. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 146, e218.

Carbonaro, T., Barrett, F., Bradstreet, M. P., Johnson, M.W., MacLean, K.A., Jess, R., & Griffiths, R.R. (2015). Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Demographics and phenomenology. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 146, e239-e240.

Hendricks, P.S., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2015). Psilocybin, psychological distress, and suicidality. Journal of Psychopharmacology 29(9), 1041-1043.

Hendricks, P.S., Thorne, C.B., Clark, C.B., Coombs, D.W., &, Johnson, M.W. (2015) Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 29(3), 280-288.

Sessa B, Johnson MW. From addiction to recovery using altered states of consciousness. In: Dickins R., ed. Psychedelic Press UK Volume 1; Cornwall, UK: Psychedelic Press; 2015;71-80.

Garcia-Romeu, A., Griffiths, R. R., & Johnson, M. W. (2015). Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences in the treatment of tobacco addiction. Current Drug Abuse Reviews, 7(3), 157-164.

Tupper, K., Wood, E, Yensen, R., Johnson, M.W. (2015). Psychedelic medicine: a re-emerging therapeutic paradigm. Canadian Medical Journal, 187(14), 1054-1059.

MacLean, K.A., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2015). Hallucinogens and club drugs., In:, M. Galanter, H.D. Kleber, & K Brady (Eds.). The American Psychiatric Press Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment (Fifth Edition) (pp 209-222),The American Psychiatric Press, Arlington, VA.

Hendricks, P., Clark, C., Johnson, M.W. (2014) Hallucinogen use predicts reduced recidivism among substance-involved offenders under community corrections supervision. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 28(1), 62-66.

Jesse, R. and Griffiths, R.R. (2014) Psilocybin research at Johns Hopkins: A 2014 report. In: J.H. Ellens (Ed.). Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances (Volume 2) (pp 29-43). Praeger, Santa Barbara, CA

Johnson, M.W., Garcia-Romeu, A., Cosimano, M.P., & Griffiths, R.R. (2014). Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 11, 983-992.

Caspers, M.J., Williams, T.D., Lovell, K.M. Lozama, A, Butelman, E.R., Kreek, M.J., Johnson, M.  Griffiths, R., MacLean, K., & Prisinzano, T.E. (2013). LC-MS/MS quantification of salvinorin A from biological fluids. Analytical Methods, 5, 7042-7048.

MacLean, K.A., Johnson, M.W., Reissig, C.J., Prisinzano, T.E., & Griffiths, R.R. (2013). Dose-related effects of salvinorin A in humans: Dissociative, hallucinogenic and memory effects. Psychopharmacology, 226, 381-392.

Grob, C.S., Bossis, A.P. & Griffiths, R.R. (2013). Use of the Classic Hallucinogen Psilocybin for Treatment of Existential Distress Associated with Cancer. In B.I. Carr and J.L.Steel (Eds), Psychological Aspects of Cancer, (pp. 291-308) Springer Science and Business Media LLC, New York.

MacLean, K.A., Leoutsakos, J-M.S., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R. (2012) Factor analysis of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire: A study of experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 51(4), 721-737.

Johnson MW. Hallucinogens. In: Rippe JM, ed. Encyclopedia of Lifestyle Medicine and Health. vol 1. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 2012;529-30.

Reissig, C.J., Carter, L.P., Johnson, M.W., Mintzer, M.Z., Klinedinst, M.A. & Griffiths, R.R. (2012). High doses of dextromethorphan, an NMDA antagonist, produces effects similar to classic hallucinogens. Psychopharmacology, 223(1), 1-15. 

Johnson, M.W., Sewell, R.A, & Griffiths, R.R. (2012). Psilocybin dose-dependently causes delayed, transient headaches in healthy volunteers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 123, 132-140. 

MacLean, K.A., Johnson, M.W., & Griffiths, R.R.  (2011). Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25(11), 1453-1461. 

Griffiths, R.R., Johnson, M.W., Richards, W.A., Richards, B.D., McCann, U., & Jesse, R. (2011). Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: Immediate and persisting dose-related effects.  Psychopharmacology, 218(4), 649-665. 

Johnson, M.W. MacLean, K.A., Reissig, C.J., Prisinzano, T.E. & Griffiths, R.R. (2011). Human psychopharmacology and dose-effects of salvinorin A, a kappa opioid agonist hallucinogen present in the plant Salvia divinorum. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 115, 150-155.

Johnson MW. Salvia divinorum. In: Kleiman M, Hawdon J, Golson JG, eds. Encyclopedia of Drug Policy. vol 2. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 2011;709-11.

Griffiths, R.R. & Grob, C.S. (2010). Hallucinogens as medicine. Scientific American, 303, 77-79.

Johnson, M.W., Richards, W.A., & Griffiths, R.R. (2008).  Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 22(6), 603-620.

Griffiths, R.R., Johnson, M.W., Richards, W.A., McCann, U., & Richards, B.D. (2008).  Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 22(6), 621-632.

Griffiths, R.R., Richards, W.A., McCann, U., & Jesse, R.  (2006). Psilocybin can occasion mystical experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance.  Psychopharmacology, 187, 268-283.