Mechanisms of psilocybin on the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder
Charles Q. Choi, Danica E. Johnson, David C J Chen-Li, Joshua D. Rosenblat
Journal of Psychopharmacology October 3, 2024 DOI: 10.1177/02698811241286771 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Anxiety Psilocybin PTSD |
| Keywords | Posttraumatic stress Arousal Hallucinogen Mood Pharmacotherapy Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Cognition Exposure therapy |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin may be an underexplored treatment option for PTSD, though further research is required. |
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop after a traumatic event, causing distressing symptoms, including intrusive re-experiencing symptoms, alterations in mood and cognition, and changes in arousal and reactivity. Few treatment options exist for patients who find conventional psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy to be inaccessible, ineffective, or intolerable. We explore psilocybin as a potential treatment option for PTSD by examining the neurobiology of PTSD as well as psilocybin’s mechanism of action. Based on both pharmacodynamic and psychoanalytic principles, psilocybin may be an underexplored treatment option for patients with PTSD, though further research is required.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Argues that psilocybin may be an underexplored treatment option for PTSD based on its pharmacology and psychoanalytic principles, though further research is required.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin for PTSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. | 2016 | Review | |
| Registered clinical studies investigating psychedelic drugs for psychiatric disorders. Registered clinical trials on clinicaltrials.gov evaluating psychedelics for... | 2021 | Review | n = 70 |
| The Psychedelic Future of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment | 2024 | Comprehensive review | |
| Diverse therapeutic developments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) indicate common mechanisms of memory modulation. | 2022 | Review | |
| Is it now time to prepare psychiatry for a psychedelic future? | 2024 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Comprehensive analysis of 42 psilocybin-producing fungal strains reveals metabolite diversity and species-specific clusters. Scientific Reports April 22, 2025
- Contextual and experiential aspects of the psychedelic experience predicting improvement in subjective wellbeing: results from a Norwegian internet convenience sample. Frontiers in Pharmacology 2025
- Psychedelic research - Going global. Journal of Psychopharmacology December 1, 2025
- The New Mexico Medical Psilocybin Act and current trends in the United States psychedelic policy Psychedelics October 1, 2026
- Acute psilocybin or ethocybin leads to a sustained increase in Pavlovian aversion memory in male mice Frontiers in Pharmacology September 22, 2026
and 6 more in the library
Cites 21
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
- The safety and efficacy of {+/-}3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 19, 2010
and 16 more in the library