Psilocybin-assisted therapy and HIV-related shame
Jennifer Mitchell, Nicky J. Mehtani, Mallory O. Johnson, Peter S. Hendricks, B. Anderson
Scientific Reports August 2, 2024 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68908-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot clinical trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 12 |
| Population | People with HIV |
| Intervention | Psilocybin-assisted group therapy |
| Duration | 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Shame Clinical psychology Mental health Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin-assisted group therapy was associated with a large decrease in HIV-related shame, but two participants experienced worsened sexual abuse-related shame. |
Abstract
Abstract As a proposed mediator between stigma-related stressors and negative mental health outcomes, HIV-related shame has been predictive of increased rates of substance use and difficulties adhering to antiretroviral treatment among people with HIV. These downstream manifestations have ultimately impeded progress toward national goals to End the HIV Epidemic , in part due to limited success of conventional psychotherapies in addressing HIV-related shame. In a pilot clinical trial (N = 12), receipt of psilocybin-assisted group therapy was associated with a large pre-post decrease in HIV-related shame as measured by the HIV and Abuse Related Shame Inventory, with a median (IQR) change of − 5.5 (− 6.5, − 3.5) points from baseline to 3-months follow-up ( Z = − 2.6, p = 0.009, r = − 0.75). A paradoxical exacerbation of sexual abuse-related shame experienced by two participants following receipt of psilocybin raises critical questions regarding the use of psilocybin therapy among patients with trauma. These preliminary findings carry potential significance for the future of HIV care.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. Patients with moderate-to-severe, unipolar, treatment-resistant major depression | 2016 | Open-label feasibility trial | n = 12 |
| Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Patients with severe, unipolar, treatment-resistant major depression | 2017 | Open-label trial | n = 20 |
| Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Psychiatrically healthy nicotine-dependent smokers | 2014 | Open-label pilot study | n = 15 |
| Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Patients with treatment-resistant depression | 2018 | Clinical trial | n = 20 |
| Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) | 2006 | Controlled clinical trial |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- The Emergence of Psilocybin in Psychiatry and Neuroscience Pharmaceuticals April 9, 2025
- Shame, Guilt and Psychedelic Experience: Results from a Prospective, Longitudinal Survey of Real-World Psilocybin Use Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 7, 2025
- Naturalistic psychedelic experiences and gender-based self-acceptance in transgender and gender-expansive people International Journal of Transgender Health March 19, 2025
- The emotional architecture of the psychedelic brain Trends in Cognitive Sciences August 18, 2025
- Changes in neuroticism and values after naturalistic use of psychedelics and MDMA: a prospective survey study Journal of Affective Disorders Reports July 1, 2026
and 4 more in the library
Cites 8
- MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Nature Medicine October 1, 2023
- Therapeutic effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review of modern‐era clinical studies Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica October 30, 2020
- Psilocybin-assisted group therapy for demoralized older long-term AIDS survivor men: An open-label safety and feasibility pilot study EClinicalMedicine September 24, 2020
- MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Severe PTSD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study. FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry July 1, 2023
- Psychedelic therapies reconsidered: compounds, clinical indications, and cautious optimism. Neuropsychopharmacology July 21, 2023
and 3 more in the library