Causes of HPPD?

Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) is a rare condition thought to be influenced by certain neurological susceptibilities rather than being a direct, predictable effect of hallucinogen use. Dr. Matthew Johnson highlighted several factors that might contribute to HPPD:

1. Neurological Susceptibility: A very rare neurological predisposition might make certain individuals more vulnerable to HPPD. Evidence suggests that some individuals diagnosed with HPPD had never used psychedelics, indicating other potential triggers like alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabis, and even tobacco (1).

2. Illicit Drug Use Context: The occurrence of HPPD seems to be mostly reported under illicit drug use conditions rather than in controlled, clinical settings. This raises questions about the purity and dosage of the substances used, as well as potential interactions with other drugs (1).

It's important to note that HPPD remains a mysterious and comparatively rare condition despite the growing use of psychedelics both in clinical trials and recreationally. Its exact causes are still not fully understood, and further research is needed to determine the mechanisms that contribute to this disorder.