Research

The MIND Foundation is directly affiliated with or supports the following scientific studies. Helping researchers to gather data is extremely valuable and a great help for the psychedelic field in general. See below for featured studies or surveys that you can participate in.

DiMension Trial

Dimension - Phase 3 clinical trial

The Dimension Study is a planned clinical phase III trial, set to commence in Europe in 2025. This extensive study, led by a consortium comprising MIND, SPRIN-D (the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation), Usona, and the Central Institute for Mental Health (ZI Mannheim), will be the largest psychedelic trial ever conducted, with over 700 patients receiving a combination treatment of psilocybin and psychotherapy over a span of 32 weeks. The trial is currently in the preparation phase and will be funded equally by public sources and philanthropic contributions.

The core of the Dimension Study is its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and approval study, which aims to evaluate the efficacy of psilocybin plus psychotherapy (PAP) compared to the standard treatment of antidepressants plus psychotherapy. By doing so, the study seeks to bring psilocybin into the public reimbursement system, potentially revolutionizing mental health treatment by providing a novel therapeutic option.

Join us in this pioneering effort to transform the landscape of mental health care.

Help us fund this study - get in touch! To become a study center, please contact us.

EPIsoDE Trial

EPIsoDE Study - phase 2b clinical trial

The EPIsoDE study, in which the MIND Foundation participated as a junior partner, has recently been completed. This phase-2b clinical study, led by the Central Institute for Mental Health (ZI) Mannheim and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, investigated the efficacy and safety of psilocybin in treatment-resistant unipolar depression. During the study, 144 patients received either a high/therapeutic dose, a low dose, or a control substance to evaluate the antidepressant effects of psilocybin. EPIsoDE is the largest publicly funded and clinical trial with psilocybin to date.

The main goal of the EPIsoDE study was to determine whether psilocybin has a better antidepressant effect than a placebo and to identify the most effective dosage. Initial results from other studies suggest that psilocybin, when used in a psychotherapeutic context, could be promising, particularly for patients for whom other treatments have failed. 

The MIND Foundation is proud to have been part of this significant step in psychedelic research and remains committed to contributing to the exploration and application of innovative therapies.

Travel Crossroad Direction Board Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comtravel-crossroad-direction-board Visit the German EPIsoDE website

Acceptance Study

Acceptance Study - psychedelic-assisted therapies in the German mental health system

From February to December 2023, this research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) explored the knowledge and attitudes towards psychedelic therapies among various stakeholders, including medical professionals, patients, health insurers, politicians, and the public. As the approval of psilocybin and MDMA for therapeutic use within the healthcare system is anticipated in the coming years, this study gathered insights to shape the societal implementation of these treatments, maximizing their potential while minimizing risks.

The study employed two main research methods: an anonymized online questionnaire and focus group interviews. The online survey invited participants to share their views on psilocybin as a new treatment in medicine and psychotherapy. Additionally, focus group interviews were conducted both at the MIND Foundation and online, providing a platform for in-depth discussions about existing opinions, concerns, and potential obstacles to the implementation of psilocybin-assisted therapy.

Acceptance Study poster (presented at ICPR 2024)

Partner studies at OVID Clinic Berlin

The OVID Clinic Berlin stands out as the only non-university institution in Germany serving as a study center for clinical trials involving psychedelic substances on the path to drug approval. Under the leadership of Dr. med. Andrea Jungaberle and Dr. med. Marc Bos, the clinic is participating in two groundbreaking clinical studies focused on the efficacy of psychedelic substances in treating depression (5-MeO-DMT) and generalized anxiety disorder (LSD derivative). These studies have received approval from the BfArM and relevant ethics committees.

Travel Crossroad Direction Board Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comtravel-crossroad-direction-board Visit OVID Clinc Berlin

Survey Studies

Current, Past, and Featured Surveys

Discover ongoing MIND surveys, an overview of completed survey studies, and surveys currently being conducted by our global partners. Here is an overview of completed surveys, links to ongoing, as well as featured partner surveys.

Participate!

We encourage you to take part in our surveys and share them within your networks to help us recruit more respondents. Your participation is invaluable in advancing psychedelic research.

Past MIND Surveys

Psychedelic Experience Survey Psychedelic Experiences and Stressful Life Events Breathwork Study Acceptance Study (Quantitative Part)

Study on traumatic experiences related to psychedelics

Have you ever had an experience with psychedelics that you found particularly challenging or traumatic? If so, we would be delighted if you would take part in the following online survey, which is being conducted at the Institute of Psychology at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Participate in the survey

Papers & Books

The following academic articles and books linked to the MIND Foundation’s topics have been authored or co-authored by our employees and shareholders since MIND was established in 2016.

2024

  • Brand, M., Faerber, L. V., Kaertner, L., Mertens, L. J., Scharf, D., Schmitz, C. N., Spangemacher, M., & Gründer, G. (2024). Psychotherapeutisches Setting und Integration bei psychedelikaassistierter Therapie [Psychotherapeutic setting and integration in psychedelic-assisted therapy]. Nervenheilkunde, 43(05), 244–250. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2282-5311
     
  • Evens, R., & Wolff, M. (2024). Die Rolle der Psychotherapie in klinischen Studien mit Psychedelika [The role of psychotherapy in clinical studies with psychedelics]. Die Psychotherapie, 69, 85–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00278-024-00715-8
     
  • Gründer, G. (2024). Psychopharmaka absetzen: Warum, wann und wie? [Stopping psychotropic medication: Why, when, and how?] (2nd ed.). Urban & Fischer/Elsevier.
     
  • Gründer, G., Brand, M., Färber, L. V., Kärtner, L., Kunz, L., Rohrmoser, B., Scharf, D., Schmitz, C., Spangemacher, M., & Mertens, L. J. (2024). Pharmakotherapie, Psychotherapie oder „Superplacebos“? Wirkmechanismen der Therapie mit Psychedelika [Pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy or “superplacebos”? Mechanisms of action of therapy with psychedelics]. Die Psychotherapie, 69(2), 92–97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00278-024-00709-6
     
  • Gründer, G., Brand, M., Mertens, L. J., Jungaberle, H., Kärtner, L., Scharf, D. J., Spangemacher, M., & Wolff, M. (2024). Treatment with psychedelics is psychotherapy: Beyond reductionism. The Lancet Psychiatry, 11(3), 231–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00363-2
     
  • Hartter, N., Däumichen, M., Jungaberle, A., Schmidt, C., Wolff, M., Gründer, G., & Jungaberle, H. (2024). Einstellungen zur Einführung der psychedelischen Therapie: Qualitative Fokusgruppen-Studie mit Ärzten, Psychotherapeuten und Patienten [Attitudes towards the introduction of psychedelic therapy: A qualitative focus group study with physicians, psychotherapists and patients]. Nervenheilkunde, 43(06), 357–365. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2283-0238
     
  • McCulloch, D. E.-W., Liechti, M. E., Kuypers, K. P. C., Nutt, D., Lundberg, J., Stenbæk, D. S., Goodwin, G. M., Gründer, G., Butlen-Ducuing, F., Haberkamp, M., Thirstrup, S., & Knudsen, G. M. (2024). Knowledge gaps in psychedelic medicalisation: Clinical studies and regulatory aspects. Neuroscience Applied, 3, 103938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nsa.2024.103938 [OPEN ACCESS]
     
  • Wolff, M., Evens, R., Mertens, L. J., Schmidt, C., Beck, J., Rutrecht, H., Cherniak, A. D., Gründer, G., & Jungaberle, H. (2024). Measuring psychotherapeutic processes in the context of psychedelic experiences: Validation of the General Change Mechanisms Questionnaire (GCMQ). Journal of Psychopharmacology, 38(5), 432–457. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241249698 [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Schmidt, C., Wolff, M., Gründer, G., & Jungaberle, H. (2023). Einstellungen von Expertinnen und Experten für psychische Gesundheit gegenüber Psilocybin [Attitudes of mental health experts towards psilocybin]. Fortschritte Der Neurologie· Psychiatrie, 91(03), 80–87. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1846-1161
     
  • Spangemacher, M., Färber, L. V., Kärtner, L., Brand, M., Mertens, L. J., Scharf, D., Schmitz, C., & Gründer, G. (2023). Psychedelika in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie—Trend oder Therapie? Zwischen wirksamer Selbsterfahrung und möglicher Destabilisierung [Psychedelics in psychiatry and psychotherapy—trend or therapy? Between effective self-experience and potential destabilization]. DNP – Die Neurologie & Psychiatrie, 24(6), 30–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s15202-023-5803-5

  • Herwig, U., Mertens, L., Rosal, S. P., Koller, G., Jungaberle, A., Borgwardt, S., & Gründer, G. (2023). Psychedelika in der Psychiatrie – Entwicklungen und die Stellung in Deutschland [Psychedelics in psychiatry - developments and status in Germany]. Fortschritte der Neurologie · Psychiatrie, 91(07/08), 311–318. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1981-3152
     
  • Gründer, G., Brand, M., Kärtner, L., Scharf, D., Schmitz, C., Spangemacher, M., & Mertens, L. J. (2022). Sind Psychedelika schnell wirksame Antidepressiva? [Are psychedelics rapid-acting antidepressants?] Der Nervenarzt, 93(3), 254–262. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00115-021-01255-1
     
  • Jungaberle, A. (2022). Yoga, Tee, LSD: Bewusstseinsveränderung in Wissenschaft und Alltag [Yoga, tea, LSD: Altered consciousness in science and everyday life]. Schattauer.
     
  • Mertens, L. J., Koslowski, M., Betzler, F., Evens, R., Gilles, M., Jungaberle, A., Jungaberle, H., Majić, T., Ströhle, A., Wolff, M., Wellek, S., & Gründer, G. (2022). Methodological challenges in psychedelic drug trials: Efficacy and safety of psilocybin in treatment-resistant major depression (EPIsoDE) – Rationale and study design. Neuroscience Applied, 1, 100104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nsa.2022.100104 [OPEN ACCESS]
     
  • Wolff, M., Mertens, L. J., Walter, M., Enge, S., & Evens, R. (2022). The Acceptance/Avoidance-Promoting Experiences Questionnaire (APEQ): A theory-based approach to psychedelic drugs’ effects on psychological flexibility. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 36(3), 387– 408. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211073758 [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Koslowski, M., Betzler, F., Gründer, G., Jungaberle, H., & Wolff, M. (2020). Therapie mit Psychedelika—Die Rolle der Psychotherapie [Therapy with psychedelics—The role of psychotherapy]. NeuroTransmitter, 31(11), 33–37.
     
  • Lea, T., Amada, N., & Jungaberle, H. (2020). Psychedelic microdosing: A subreddit analysis. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 52(2), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1683260
     
  • Lea, T., Amada, N., Jungaberle, H., Schecke, H., & Klein, M. (2020). Microdosing psychedelics: Motivations, subjective effects and harm reduction. International Journal of Drug Policy, 75, 102600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.11.008 [OPEN ACCESS]
     
  • Lea, T., Amada, N., Jungaberle, H., Schecke, H., Scherbaum, N., & Klein, M. (2020). Perceived outcomes of psychedelic microdosing as self-managed therapies for mental and substance use disorders. Psychopharmacology, 237(5), 1521–1532. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-020-05477-0
     
  • Wolff, M., Evens, R., Mertens, L. J., Koslowski, M., Betzler, F., Gründer, G., & Jungaberle, H. (2020). Learning to let go: A cognitive-behavioral model of how psychedelic therapy promotes acceptance. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00005 [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Rougemont-Bücking, A., Jungaberle, H., Scheidegger, M., Merlo, M. C. G., Grazioli, V. S., Daeppen, J.-B., Gmel, G., & Studer, J. (2019).Comparing mental health across distinct groups of users of psychedelics, MDMA, psychostimulants, and cannabis. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51(3), 236–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1571258
     
  • Thal, S. B., Daniels, J. K., & Jungaberle, H. (2019). The link between childhood trauma and dissociation in frequent users of classic psychedelics and dissociatives. Journal of Substance Use, 24(5), 524–531. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2019.1614234 [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Jungaberle, H., Thal, S., Zeuch, A., Rougemont-Bücking, A., von Heyden, M., Aicher, H., & Scheidegger, M. (2018). Positive psychology in the investigation of psychedelics and entactogens: A critical review. Neuropharmacology, 142, 179–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.06.034
     
  • Reiche, S., Hermle, L., Gutwinski, S., Jungaberle, H., Gasser, P., & Majić, T. (2018). Serotonergic hallucinogens in the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients suffering from a life-threatening disease: A systematic review. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 81, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.09.012
     
  • von Heyden, M., Jungaberle, H., & Majić, T. (2018). Handbuch Psychoaktive Substanzen [Handbook psychoactive substances]. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55125-3

  • Majić, T., Jungaberle, H., Schmidt, T., Zeuch, A., Hermle, L., & Gallinat, J. (2017). Psychotherapie mit adjuvanter Gabe von serotonergen psychoaktiven Substanzen – Möglichkeiten und Hindernisse [Psychotherapy with adjuvant administration of serotonergic psychoactive substances - possibilities and obstacles]. Fortschritte der Neurologie · Psychiatrie, 85(07), 383–392. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-103085

Research Instruments

Acceptance/Avoidance-Promoting Experiences Questionnaire

The Acceptance/Avoidance-Promoting Experiences Questionnaire (APEQ) is a psychometric self-report tool for measuring aspects of the acute psychedelic experience that are associated with longer-term changes in psychological flexibility.

English and German versions of the 32-item APEQ and the 12-item short form APEQ-S were validated with the data collected in the Psychedelic Experience Survey. 

A Spanish translation of the APEQ is currently being validated.

Find the publication and questionnaire below:

The Acceptance/Avoidance-Promoting Experiences Questionnaire (APEQ): A theory-based approach to psychedelic drugs' effects on psychological flexibility Download paper-and-pencil version (EN/DE)

General Change Mechanisms Questionnaire

The General Change Mechanisms Questionnaire (GCMQ) is a tool to study mechanisms of change in psychedelic therapy.

Please find the publication of the validated GCMQ below:

Measuring psychotherapeutic processes in the context of psychedelic experiences: Validation of the General Change Mechanisms Questionnaire (GCMQ)

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