Psilocybin and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 20, 2014 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2014.963754 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Individual with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Duration | Several years |
| Topics | Anxiety Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Obsessive compulsive Hallucinogen Refractory planetary science Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders |
| Citations | 55 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin was used successfully to reduce core symptoms of OCD for several years in one individual. |
Abstract
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder with considerable morbidity and mortality. This condition disables many individuals and is often refractory to treatment. Research suggests that serotonin plays a role in OCD symptom reduction. We present a case of an individual who successfully used psilocybin, a serotonergic agent, to reduce the core symptoms of OCD for several years. Although not endorsing this form of treatment, we feel that the successful use of this agent highlights the role of serotonergic factors in OCD and the need for further, legitimate research into the value of psilocybin in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on psilocybin for anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poisoning by hallucinogenic mushroom Hikageshibiretake (Psilocybe argentipes K. Yokoyama) indigenous to Japan. Individuals poisoned by Psilocybe argentipes mushrooms | 1986 | Case series | n = 5 |
| A suicide attempt following psilocybin ingestion in a patient with no prior psychiatric history 30-year-old male with no psychiatric history | 2023 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Self-treatment of depression and complex post-traumatic stress disorder with psilocybin and LSD—A retrospective case study Young man with early-onset complex trauma, anxiety, and depression | 2023 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Serotoninergic antidepressants combination in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy: a case report Adult patient with difficult-to-treat depression | 2024 | Case report | n = 1 |
| Self-treatment of parental neglect-induced mixed anxiety and depressive disorder with psilocybin – A retrospective case study Young woman in her mid-twenties with a history of depression since childhood | 2023 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 40
- Antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): a systematic review of clinical trials published in the last 25 years Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology March 18, 2016
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin Molecules May 15, 2021
- Antidepressive and anxiolytic effects of ayahuasca: a systematic literature review of animal and human studies Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry March 1, 2016
- Validation of the Psychological Insight Scale: A new scale to assess psychological insight following a psychedelic experience. Journal of Psychopharmacology January 5, 2022
- Clinical potential of psilocybin as a treatment for mental health conditions Mental Health Clinician 2017
and 35 more in the library
Cites 4
- Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry November 15, 2006
- LSD treatment in a severe case of compulsive neurosis Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica February 1, 1977
- Serotonin and hallucinogens. Neuropsychopharmacology August 1999
- Hallucinogens, serotonin and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 1998