Recent Research withHallucinogens and

Entactogens in Germany

Torsten Passie M.D., Ph.D.Dept. of Clinical Psychiatry and PsychotherapyHannover Medical School (Germany)

Research in Germany

Mescaline:

Louis Lewin A. Heffter Spaeth

Botany chemistry ethnography

Kurt Beringer + others

Psychopathology biochemistry

Mescaline-research

Kurt Beringer 1887-1957Peyote plants

Research in Germany

LSD:

Leuner, Derbolowski, Mattussek

Psychopathology biochemistry

Psychotherapy

Creativity + art

LSD-research

Hanscarl Leuner 1920-96Original LSD preparations

Recent research in Germany

Recent research

Mescaline MDE S-MDE

Psilocybin DMT Ketamine

Hermle, Gouzoulis, Spitzer, Passie

Psychopathology Neurometabolism

Neurocognition Therapy

Mescaline

Psychopathology + cognitive testing

SPECT

Results: hyperfrontality

right hemisphere activated

MDE

Psychopathology + cognitive testing

Physiological changes

State of consciousness

Subjective Experience

PET + sleep neurophysiology

MDE findings

Affective activation

No hallucinatory effects

Intact cognition + self-control

Reduction of anxiety + defenses

Heightened empathy + self acceptance

n=12, n=12

MDE findings

Physiologically well tolerated

Entactogenic psychic effects

PET: hypofrontal hypocortical

deactivation of the left amygdala

S-MDE: lesser side effects

Ketamine

Neuropsychology

State of consciousness

Subjective experience

Comparing R/S- to S-ketamine

Ketamine findings

Low neuropsychological deficits

Linear dose-dependence

Substantial subjective alterations

R/S- versus S-ketamine:

No significant difference

n=12, n=30

Psilocybin

Psycholytic therapy

Comparing face expressions

Semantic associations

Neuropsychology

Neurometabolism

Psycholytic therapy

Dream-like state

Intensification of:

Emotions

Memories

Unconsciousconflicts

Psycholytic session (Prof. Leuner in the center)

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Therapy: Publications

1967 Source: Passie 1997

Psilocybin

Dr. Hermle at Tübingen University

Psilocybin findings

Dream-like absorption

Affective stimulation

Reduction of self-control

Enhanced imagery

Synesthesias

Psilocybin findings

Accessing treatment-resistant patients

Widening of associations

Face expressions

De-conceptualization of perception

Complex visuals + synesthesias

Comparing substances

Psilocybin MDE MethamphetaminePsychopathology + Neurometabolism

Results: specific psychopathology

Specific neurometabolic patterns

Hallucinogens Entactogens Stimulants

Gouzoulis et al. 1999

Experiential patterns

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OSEAIAVUS

Experiments

Psilocybin experiment

12 male physicans

Double blind (0,2 mg/kg p.o.)

Experiment: part quiet, part active

Neuropsychology + synesthesias

Subjective Experience

Hollow mask ?

Sensory data

Conceptualization

Plausibility-controlCensor

Top-Down

Bottom-Up

3-component modelof perception

Top-Down-Illusions

Hollow-mask experiment

Neuropsychological laboratory

Hollow-mask experiment

Experiment 1: Cannabis

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CannabisTHC-LevelControls

Experiment 2: Schizophrenics

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SchizophrBPRSControls

Project with Entactogens

Entactogens: MDMA + MDE

New substances

Unique psychopharmacology

Less psychopathology

Psychotherapeutic uses

No toxicity with therapeutic doses

Alterations of experience

Affective activation

Intact cognition + self control

Reduction of anxiety + defenses

Enhanced communication

Heightened empathy + self acceptance

Recent MDE-project

Triple blind

18 couples

Chronically disturbed relationships

Strict inclusion criteria

Treatment: MDE versus ephedrine

Why couples?

WHO: Health problem

Strongest marker forquality of lifeDivorces > 40%

Treatment depends on communication, empathy + acceptance

Experimental procedure

Examination Inclusion

Conv. treatm. 1. Entactogen Conv. treatm.

2. Entactogen Conv. treatm. End F.-up

Safety measures

Inclusion criteria

Medium dosage

Controlled environment

RR + pulse

Physican always present

Measures

Psychopathology

Quality of life + relationship

Subjective treatment effects

Altered states of consciousness

Video analysis

Literature

Passie T et al. The Pharmacology of Psilocybin.Addiction Biology 7 (2002): 357-364

Passie T et al. What are entactogens?Suchtmedizin 7 (2005): 235-245

Passie T. Psycholytic and Psychedelic TherapyResearch 1931-1995. Hannover 1997

Contact: dr.passie@gmx.de