Psilocybin in pharmacotherapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Maja Owe-Larsson, Katarzyna Kamińska, Barbara Buchalska, Dagmara Mirowska-Guzeł, Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska
Pharmacological Reports August 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00633-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | psilocybin |
| Topics | Addiction Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Pharmacotherapy Glutamatergic Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin appears as a valuable treatment for OCD when used in appropriate doses and under strict clinical control. |
Abstract
Abstract Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental disease that affects approximately 2% of the population. Obsessions and compulsions are troublesome for patients and may disturb their everyday activities. The pathogenesis of this disease is still not fully elucidated, but dysfunctions of serotonin-, dopamine- and glutamate-mediated neurotransmission together with early maladaptive schemas seem of importance. Pharmacological treatment includes drugs affecting the serotoninergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic systems, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Providing that up to 40% of patients with OCD are resistant to the currently available medications, there is a need for novel and effective therapies. Recent discoveries suggest that psilocybin, a non-physically addictive psychoactive substance, may ameliorate disease symptoms. When used in appropriate doses and under strict clinical control, psilocybin appears as a valuable treatment for OCD. This narrative article provides a thorough overview of OCD’s etiology, current treatment options, and the emerging evidence supporting psilocybin’s efficacy in managing OCD symptoms.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychedelic Drugs in Biomedicine | 2017 | Review | |
| DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin | 2018 | Review | |
| Psilocybin for treating substance use disorders? | 2016 | Narrative review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Psychoanalytically informed MDMA-assisted therapy for pathological narcissism: a novel theoretical approach. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025
- Management of obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults BMJ February 16, 2026
- Case Report: Repeated low doses of psilocybin reduce perceived symptom severity but fail to restore cognitive flexibility in a case of severe obsessive-compulsive disorder: an observational case study of identical twins. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2026
- Psilocybin's effects on obsessive-compulsive behaviors: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence Psychedelics October 28, 2025
- Classic psychedelics in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a circuit-based framework Nature Mental Health April 1, 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 55
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
- Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry November 15, 2006
- Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation American Journal of Psychiatry March 17, 2021
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future. Neuropsychopharmacology April 26, 2017
- Global Street Food: la cocina de la calle Diseño interior 2009
and 50 more in the library