The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects study is to determine whether other psychoactive substances can produce experiences akin to those seen with classic psychedelics. Screening involves a medical and psychiatric examination, including blood draw, history and physical, interviews, and questionnaires. Eligible participants will then be asked to complete up to 6 experimental drug administration session during which the participants will potentially receive and report on the subjective effects of 6 different psychoactive substances or inactive placebo. Drug assignment for some sessions will be randomized (like flipping a count or rolling a pair of dice), and both participants and study staff will be blind to the drug condition on any given day. Participants will also complete 2 preparation sessions (4 hours total) before the first experimental session, and follow-up visits after each session to discuss and debrief on the participants subjective experience.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
50
inactive substance
active comparator for psychedelic effects
psychoactive substance
psychoactive substance
psychoactive substance
psychoactive substance
psychoactive substance
Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
RECRUITINGMystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30)
The MEQ is a 30-item self-report instrument intended to assess psychedelic-specific acute subjective effects of psychoactive drugs. At the end of each experimental session, participants will be instructed to rate each of the items of the MEQ relative to the experiences that the participant encountered during the course of the drug administration session. The total score on all items is then calculated as the primary outcome measure for each experimental session. Scores range from 0 to 150 on this measure with higher scores reflecting more mystical experience
Time frame: Week 2, Week 7
Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ)
The DEQ is a self-report instrument intended to assess a range of psychoactive drug effects. Individual items include ratings of abuse-related drug effects (e.g. drug effect, good effect, bad effect, liking) and behavioral/mood states often associated with drug intoxication. The DEQ will be rated at baseline prior to the first session, and then at the end of each experimental session. The the primary outcomes for each session will be DEQ score change from baseline. Scores range from 0 to 200 on this measure where 0 is the least impactful effect.
Time frame: Week 2, Week 7
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