- Email: [email protected]
Validation of the revised mystical experiences questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin
e16
CPDD 77th Annual Meeting Abstracts (2015) / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 156 (2015) e2–e101
Validation of the revised mystical experiences questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin Frederick S. Barrett 2,∗ , Matthew W. Johnson 2 , Roland R. Griffiths 2,1 1 Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States 2 Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
Aims: The Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ) was previously developed to evaluate discrete mystical-type experiences occasioned by the classic hallucinogen psilocybin. The 30-item revised MEQ (MEQ30) was previously psychometrically validated through factor analysis of retrospective accounts of profound experiences with psilocybin-containing mushrooms. We psychometrically validated the MEQ30 using data from experimental laboratory studies with controlled doses of psilocybin. Methods: We applied confirmatory factor analysis to MEQ30 responses provided immediately after moderate/high oral psilocybin dose (≥20 mg/70 kg) sessions (n = 184) from five laboratory experiments. We used structural equation modeling to regress MEQ30 factor scores on the rated intensity of drug effects and ratings provided 3–8 weeks post-session of persisting effects attributed to the moderate to high dose psilocybin session. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses support the reliability and internal validity of the MEQ30. Structural equation models demonstrate the external and convergent validity of the MEQ30 by showing that latent variable scores on the MEQ30 positively predict persisting change in attitudes, behavior, and well-being attributed to experiences with psilocybin while controlling for the contribution of the participant-rated intensity of drug effects. Conclusions: Validation of the MEQ30 in experimental data constitutes an important step in developing this questionnaire instrument for use in pharmacological studies of mysticaltype experiences. Further experimental work should validate the MEQ30 in studies of mystical-type experiences encountered through other means. On the basis of our findings, we recommend use of the MEQ30 for future investigations of individual episodes of mystical-type experiences. Financial support: NIH T32DA007209, R01DA003889, the Heffter Research Institute, and the Council on Spiritual Practices. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.961 Alcohol and drug use among patients of HIV services in Hanoi, Vietnam Gavin Bart 2,∗ , Giang M. Le 1 , Hang Nguyen 1 , Hoa Tran 1 , Traci R. Rieckmann 3 , Sang Nguyen 1 , Kendall Darfler 4 , R. Rawson 4 1
Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States 3 Public Health, OHSU, Portland, OR, United States 4 UCLA ISAP, Los Angeles, CA, United States 2
Aims: In countries where the HIV epidemic is driven by drug use, early screening of drug use among patients of HIV services may be a useful first step in intervening to improve HIV clinical outcomes. This study describes prevalence of alcohol and substance use among patients of HIV services who were screened with ASSIST, the instrument developed by WHO.
Methods: 592 patients (62.3% males, 37.7% females) of one voluntary testing center (VCT, n = 200) and two HIV outpatient clinics (OPC, n = 392) were recruited. The study translated and used the instrument Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) to ask about their alcohol and substance use during their lifetime and 30 days before the screening. Patients recorded their responses on PC tablets that were specifically programmed for this study. Results: Use of alcohol, amphetamine type stimulant (ATS), and opioid during past 30 days among VCT patients (66.8%, 13.1%, and 17.1%, respectively) was higher compared to OPC patients (60.4%, 5.33%, 6.85%). Higher percentage of VCT patients reportedly used alcohol at hazardous levels (36.7%) as compared to OPC patients (24.11%). This difference also applied to ATS, but not to opioid. Multivariate analysis showed that during past 30 days men had higher risk of using alcohol (aOR: 2.77; 95%CI: 1.73–4.43), ATS (aOR: 2.32; 95%CI: 1.12–4.81), and opioid (aOR: 3.87; 95%CI: 2.1–7.14) than women. Unemployment and experiences with compulsory drug rehabilitation were factors that increase use of opioid (aOR: 5.79; 95%CI: 3.42–9.81) and amphetamine (aOR: 2.66; 95%CI: 1.42–4.99). Conclusions: Alcohol and substance use are major issues at both HIV testing and HIV care settings in Vietnam. It is essential for doctors and health care professionals to provide routine assessment of drug and alcohol use among patients, and provide effective intervention to address these problems. Financial support: This study was supported by a supplement to NIDA Grant DA032733. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.962 Psychosocial syndemic affecting women living with and at-risk for HIV Abigail Batchelder 1,∗ , Adam W. Carrico 1 , Anton Palma 2 , Ellie Schoenbaum 3 , Jeffrey Gonzalez 3 1
University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States 2 Columbia University, New York, NY, United States 3 Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, United States Aims: Women in the U.S. continue to be affected by HIV, particularly through heterosexual contact. High-risk sexual behaviors are hypothesized to be associated with syndemic, or mutually reinforcing, problems including childhood sexual abuse, emotional distress, illicit substance use, violence and financial hardship. We evaluate relationships between the aforementioned syndemic problems and the number of self-reported sexual risk behaviors (e.g., unprotected and transactional sex) over the past 6 months and interactions between problems. We hypothesized that violence would interact with substance use to predict rate of endorsed risk behaviors. Methods: Using baseline data from a cohort of women with and at-risk for HIV (n = 620; 52% HIV+), we conducted Poisson regression to assess the associations of syndemic problems with rate of risk behaviors and interactions between significant predictors, controlling for age and HIV-status. Results: Endorsing illicit substance use in the past 6 months (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR] = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.4–1.6), reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse (IRR = 1.1; 95%CI: 1.0–1.2), and history of physical violence as an adult (IRR = 1.1; 95%CI: 1.0–1.2) were associated with greater rates of risk behaviors. Endorsement of both recent substance use and violence was associated with a 27% elevated rate of risk behaviors over the past 6 months (IRR = 1.3; 95%CI: 1.1–1.5). HIV-status did not moderate this relationship. Conclusions: The co-occurrence of substance use and trauma are important drivers of risk behavior among women. Together
CPDD 77th Annual Meeting Abstracts (2015) / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 156 (2015) e2–e101
Validation of the revised mystical experiences questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin Frederick S. Barrett 2,∗ , Matthew W. Johnson 2 , Roland R. Griffiths 2,1 1 Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States 2 Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
Aims: The Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ) was previously developed to evaluate discrete mystical-type experiences occasioned by the classic hallucinogen psilocybin. The 30-item revised MEQ (MEQ30) was previously psychometrically validated through factor analysis of retrospective accounts of profound experiences with psilocybin-containing mushrooms. We psychometrically validated the MEQ30 using data from experimental laboratory studies with controlled doses of psilocybin. Methods: We applied confirmatory factor analysis to MEQ30 responses provided immediately after moderate/high oral psilocybin dose (≥20 mg/70 kg) sessions (n = 184) from five laboratory experiments. We used structural equation modeling to regress MEQ30 factor scores on the rated intensity of drug effects and ratings provided 3–8 weeks post-session of persisting effects attributed to the moderate to high dose psilocybin session. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses support the reliability and internal validity of the MEQ30. Structural equation models demonstrate the external and convergent validity of the MEQ30 by showing that latent variable scores on the MEQ30 positively predict persisting change in attitudes, behavior, and well-being attributed to experiences with psilocybin while controlling for the contribution of the participant-rated intensity of drug effects. Conclusions: Validation of the MEQ30 in experimental data constitutes an important step in developing this questionnaire instrument for use in pharmacological studies of mysticaltype experiences. Further experimental work should validate the MEQ30 in studies of mystical-type experiences encountered through other means. On the basis of our findings, we recommend use of the MEQ30 for future investigations of individual episodes of mystical-type experiences. Financial support: NIH T32DA007209, R01DA003889, the Heffter Research Institute, and the Council on Spiritual Practices. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.961 Alcohol and drug use among patients of HIV services in Hanoi, Vietnam Gavin Bart 2,∗ , Giang M. Le 1 , Hang Nguyen 1 , Hoa Tran 1 , Traci R. Rieckmann 3 , Sang Nguyen 1 , Kendall Darfler 4 , R. Rawson 4 1
Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States 3 Public Health, OHSU, Portland, OR, United States 4 UCLA ISAP, Los Angeles, CA, United States 2
Aims: In countries where the HIV epidemic is driven by drug use, early screening of drug use among patients of HIV services may be a useful first step in intervening to improve HIV clinical outcomes. This study describes prevalence of alcohol and substance use among patients of HIV services who were screened with ASSIST, the instrument developed by WHO.
Methods: 592 patients (62.3% males, 37.7% females) of one voluntary testing center (VCT, n = 200) and two HIV outpatient clinics (OPC, n = 392) were recruited. The study translated and used the instrument Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) to ask about their alcohol and substance use during their lifetime and 30 days before the screening. Patients recorded their responses on PC tablets that were specifically programmed for this study. Results: Use of alcohol, amphetamine type stimulant (ATS), and opioid during past 30 days among VCT patients (66.8%, 13.1%, and 17.1%, respectively) was higher compared to OPC patients (60.4%, 5.33%, 6.85%). Higher percentage of VCT patients reportedly used alcohol at hazardous levels (36.7%) as compared to OPC patients (24.11%). This difference also applied to ATS, but not to opioid. Multivariate analysis showed that during past 30 days men had higher risk of using alcohol (aOR: 2.77; 95%CI: 1.73–4.43), ATS (aOR: 2.32; 95%CI: 1.12–4.81), and opioid (aOR: 3.87; 95%CI: 2.1–7.14) than women. Unemployment and experiences with compulsory drug rehabilitation were factors that increase use of opioid (aOR: 5.79; 95%CI: 3.42–9.81) and amphetamine (aOR: 2.66; 95%CI: 1.42–4.99). Conclusions: Alcohol and substance use are major issues at both HIV testing and HIV care settings in Vietnam. It is essential for doctors and health care professionals to provide routine assessment of drug and alcohol use among patients, and provide effective intervention to address these problems. Financial support: This study was supported by a supplement to NIDA Grant DA032733. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.962 Psychosocial syndemic affecting women living with and at-risk for HIV Abigail Batchelder 1,∗ , Adam W. Carrico 1 , Anton Palma 2 , Ellie Schoenbaum 3 , Jeffrey Gonzalez 3 1
University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States 2 Columbia University, New York, NY, United States 3 Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, United States Aims: Women in the U.S. continue to be affected by HIV, particularly through heterosexual contact. High-risk sexual behaviors are hypothesized to be associated with syndemic, or mutually reinforcing, problems including childhood sexual abuse, emotional distress, illicit substance use, violence and financial hardship. We evaluate relationships between the aforementioned syndemic problems and the number of self-reported sexual risk behaviors (e.g., unprotected and transactional sex) over the past 6 months and interactions between problems. We hypothesized that violence would interact with substance use to predict rate of endorsed risk behaviors. Methods: Using baseline data from a cohort of women with and at-risk for HIV (n = 620; 52% HIV+), we conducted Poisson regression to assess the associations of syndemic problems with rate of risk behaviors and interactions between significant predictors, controlling for age and HIV-status. Results: Endorsing illicit substance use in the past 6 months (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR] = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.4–1.6), reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse (IRR = 1.1; 95%CI: 1.0–1.2), and history of physical violence as an adult (IRR = 1.1; 95%CI: 1.0–1.2) were associated with greater rates of risk behaviors. Endorsement of both recent substance use and violence was associated with a 27% elevated rate of risk behaviors over the past 6 months (IRR = 1.3; 95%CI: 1.1–1.5). HIV-status did not moderate this relationship. Conclusions: The co-occurrence of substance use and trauma are important drivers of risk behavior among women. Together