ArticleCephalalgia : an international journal of headache2019
Increased use of illicit drugs in a Dutch cluster headache population.
Article in Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05477459 (Efficacy and Safety of Minidosing Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), which is not on this map. Cited by 17 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Efficacy and Safety of Minidosing Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) for Chronic Cluster Headache: a Randomized Placebo-controlled Study
Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 47 citations in OpenAlex.
- Cluster headache suicidality: a systematic review with a meta-analysis.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Pooled it
- Deep brain stimulation of the hypothalamic region: a systematic review.Acta neurochirurgica · 2025Pooled it
- Self-Reported Efficacy of Treatments in Cluster Headache: a Systematic Review of Survey Studies.Current pain and headache reports · 2022Pooled it
- Self-medication with psychedelics: a scoping review and narrative synthesis of review-level evidence.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2026Review
- Risk and reward seeking behaviour in episodic cluster headache - a psychometric and behavioural study.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026Article
- Hallmarks of primary headache: part 3 - cluster headache.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Review
- Evaluation of Personality Profiles in Cluster Headache Patients: A Comparative Analysis with Migraine Patients Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Psychedelics and Headache Disorders: an Update.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2025Review
- Classic Psychedelics in Pain Modulation: Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence, and Future Perspectives.ACS chemical neuroscience · 2025Review
- Use of Prescribed and Non-Prescribed Treatments for Cluster Headache in a Swedish Cohort.Brain sciences · 2024Article
- Studying classic psychedelics for the management of headache disorders: Considerations for Veterans.Journal of military, veteran and family health · 2023Article
- Current treatment options for cluster headache: limitations and the unmet need for better and specific treatments-a consensus article.The journal of headache and pain · 2023Review
- Multimorbidity and Sickness Absence/Disability Pension in Patients With Cluster Headache and Matched References: A Swedish Register-Based Study.Neurology · 2023Article
- Challenges and complexities in designing cluster headache prevention clinical trials: A narrative review.Headache · 2022Review
- Pharmacotherapy for Cluster Headache.CNS drugs · 2020Review
- Chronobiology and Sleep in Cluster Headache.Headache · 2019Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionMany patients with cluster headache report use of illicit drugs. We systematically assessed the use of illicit drugs and their effects in a well-defined Dutch cluster headache population.
methodsIn this cross-sectional explorative study, 756 people with cluster headache received a questionnaire on lifetime use and perceived effects of illicit drugs. Results were compared with age and sex-matched official data from the Dutch general population.
resultsCompared to the data from the general population, there were more illicit drug users in the cluster headache group (31.7% vs. 23.8%; p < 0.01). Reduction in attack frequency was reported by 56% (n = 22) of psilocybin mushroom, 60% (n = 3) of lysergic acid diethylamide and 50% (n = 2) of heroin users, and a decreased attack duration was reported by 46% (n = 18) of PSI, 50% (n = 2) of heroin and 36% (n = 8) of amphetamine users.
conclusionIn the Netherlands, people with cluster headache use illicit drugs more often than the general population. The question remains whether this is due to an actual alleviatory effect, placebo response, conviction, or common pathophysiological background between cluster headache and addictive behaviours such as drug use.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.