Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a class of substances known for their ability to alter perception, cognition, and emotions. Despite their profound effects on the mind, these drugs are non-addictive, setting them apart from many other abused substances. The mechanism of action of these drugs lies in their impact on the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. Upon activation, this receptor couples to Gq-type G proteins, triggering a cascade that releases intracellular calcium. This...

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

Hallucinogens are psychoactive substances that profoundly alter perceptual experiences, generating unreal visual and sensory images. Often referred to as psychedelic drugs — a term derived from the Greek words "psyche" (mind) and "delos" (revealing) — these substances include marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), among others. These drugs vary in intensity and effects.
Marijuana, derived from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, contains...

Traumatic Memory

Traumatic Memory

Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders represent complex psychological conditions characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. These disruptions cause individuals to experience a disconnection from their thoughts, emotions, and memories. The phenomenon is not merely an occasional lapse in attention but a profound alteration in mental functioning that can severely impact daily life.
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne·2026

Same author

The use of THC cutoff levels in blood and oral fluid for detecting impairment in frequent cannabis users who smoked cannabis the "evening before".

Psychopharmacology·2026

Same author

Dose-response associations of total pulse dose and intersession interval with clinical outcomes in accelerated rTMS for major depressive episodes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Brain stimulation·2026

Same author

Cannabis Legalization Outcomes in Canada: Trading Off Increased Health Problem for Reduced Crime Burdens Is Not Good Enough.

Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie·2026

Same author

Sex-based effectiveness in buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone treatment for opioid use disorder: Findings from the OPTIMA trial.

Drug and alcohol dependence·2026

Same author

PET imaging of FAAH in chronic Cannabis users: longitudinal assessment during short-term abstinence.

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure

Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure

Published on: January 18, 2021

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After a Psychedelic Experience, a Case Report.

Dafna Sara Rubin-Kahana¹, Ahmed Nabeel Hassan, Bernard Le Foll

¹Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada (ASR-K, ANH, BLF); Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada (ASR-K, ANH, BLF); Department of Psychiatry, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (ANH); Departments of Family and Community Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (ANH, BLF); Department of Psychiatry, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH, Toronto, Canada (BLF); Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (BLF).

Journal of Addiction Medicine

|September 14, 2020

Summary

This case report details a young man who developed posttraumatic stress disorder after a psychedelic experience with Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) and N, N Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). This highlights potential risks outside of therapeutic settings for individuals with trauma histories.

More Related Videos

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure

Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure

Published on: January 18, 2021

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

Area of Science:

Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Psychedelic Research
Trauma Studies

Background:

Psychedelic compounds are being investigated for treating psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is the standard therapeutic model.
Limited data exists on psychedelic effects outside of therapeutic settings, especially for individuals with trauma or mental health conditions.

Observation:

A case report of a young man experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a psychedelic experience.
The psychedelic experience involved Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) and N, N Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
A repressed memory of childhood sexual abuse was recovered during the psychedelic experience.

Findings:

This is the first reported case of posttraumatic stress disorder onset following a psychedelic experience.
The individual developed PTSD after ingesting LSD and DMT.
Recovery of repressed childhood sexual abuse memories occurred during the psychedelic experience.

Implications:

This case underscores the potential for adverse psychiatric outcomes, such as PTSD, from psychedelic use outside of supervised therapeutic contexts.
Medical professionals treating substance use disorder or trauma should be aware of atypical presentations following psychedelic use.
Further research is needed to understand the risks and management of psychedelic-induced PTSD, particularly in vulnerable populations.