Research library / Clinical trial

Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance

Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, et al. Psychopharmacology 2006;187(3):268-83; discussion 284-92

In this double-blind study, thirty-six adults who had never used hallucinogens and were active in religious or spiritual practice took a high dose of psilocybin in one session and methylphenidate, a stimulant used as a comparison drug, in another, with the order hidden. Sessions were run one-to-one, and volunteers were encouraged to close their eyes and focus inward. Psilocybin produced perceptual changes, mood swings including anxiety, and experiences that scored high on standard mystical-experience scales. Two months later, volunteers rated the session as personally meaningful and spiritually significant, and community observers reported matching positive changes. The sample was chosen for spiritual interest and the outcomes are mostly self-reported, so the findings may not apply widely.