Unlocking the healing power of psilocybin: an overview of the role of psilocybin therapy in major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use disorder
Sandra Szafoni, Piotr Gręblowski, Klaudia Grabowska, Gniewko Więckiewicz
Frontiers in Psychiatry June 11, 2024 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1406888 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Depression Psilocybin Addiction |
| Keywords | Obsessive compulsive Psychotherapist Clinical trial Hallucinogen Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 12 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin is being investigated as an alternative treatment for treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions, with clinical trials examining its efficacy and safety. |
Abstract
Resistance to traditional treatment methods is still a major obstacle in modern psychiatry. As a result, several studies are currently being conducted to find effective alternatives to traditional therapies. One of these alternatives is psilocybin, a psychedelic substance that has been tested in clinical trials as an adjunct to psychotherapy. These studies focus on patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and substance use disorder (SUD), particularly alcohol and nicotine dependence. This article looks at the current understanding of psilocybin, including data from clinical trials conducted, psilocybin’s mechanism of action, its safety and the level of risk associated with it.
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 10
- Single-dose (10 mg) psilocybin reduces symptoms in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A pharmacological challenge study. Comprehensive Psychiatry July 1, 2025
- Efficacy and safety of psilocybin for the treatment of substance use disorders: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews June 1, 2025
- Advancing treatment paradigms: the role of psilocybin in managing major depressive disorder. Annals of Medicine and Surgery 2026
- Expanding the Therapeutic Horizons of Psilocybin in Mental Health ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters October 15, 2024
- Psilocybin as a Transdiagnostic Treatment for Eating Disorders and Comorbid Psychopathology: Implications for Clinical Nosology and Research Directions International Journal of Eating Disorders July 2, 2026
and 5 more in the library
Cites 68
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2014
and 63 more in the library