A group of well-educated middle-aged test subjects reported mostly positive changes in attitudes and behavior after consuming controlled doses of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compounds found in "magic" mushrooms, the Wall Street Journal reported July 11.

Johns Hopkins researchers said that the drug generated feelings of joy, peace and harmony -- as well as distance from reality -- among the 36 participants, two-thirds of whom called the experience one of the top five in their lives. Positive effects lasted up to two months.

On the other hand, 30 percent of the 36 volunteers experienced darker "trips" full of fear and paranoia. Trained monitors helped the test subjects through these experiences, but noted that such episodes could be dangerous in a less-controlled environment.

Psilocybin mushrooms have been used in many cultures as part of religious ceremonies, and former National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) head Charles Schuster said the research "renews interest in a fascinating and potentially useful class of psychotropic agents." NIDA cosponsored the study but also warned against the dangers of eating psilocybin mushrooms, noting the potential for psychosis, paranoia, and anxiety.

Roland Griffiths, who headed the research team, also warned against interpreting the results as a green light for consuming the mushrooms.  "We don't know all their dark sides," he said.  "I wouldn't in any way want to underestimate the potential risks."

The study was one of the first conducted on hallucinogenic mushrooms since the early 1960s.

The findings were published in the journal Psychopharmacology.