Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual-feedback (MVF)
Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, Chaipat Chunharas, Zeve Marcus, Timothy Furnish, Albert Y.-M. Lin
Neurocase March 4, 2018 DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2018.1468469 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Person with leg amputation and phantom-limb pain |
| Interventions | Mirror-visual-feedback phantom massage psilocybin artificial flames |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Imaging phantom Phantom limb Phantom pain Illusion Forehead Nail fastener |
| Citations | 63 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin paired with mirror-visual-feedback completely eliminated phantom-limb pain. |
Abstract
AL's leg was amputated resulting in phantom-limb pain (PLP). (1) When a volunteer placed her foot on or near the phantom - touching it evoked organized sensations in corresponding locations on AL's phantom. (2) Mirror-visual-feedback (MVF) relieved PLP, as did, "phantom massage". (3) Psilocybin-MVF pairing produced synergistic effects, complete elimination of PLP, and reduction in paroxysmal episodes. (4) Touching the volunteer's leg where AL previously had external fixators, evoked sensation of nails boring through the leg. Using a "telescoping" nail, we created the illusion of a nail being removed with corresponding pain relief. (5) Artificial flames produced warmth in the phantom.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin Mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata) Intoxication with Myocardial Infarction 18-year-old man | 1998 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Microdosing psilocybin for chronic pain: a case series Individuals with chronic neuropathic pain | 2022 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Psilocybin and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Individual with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | 2014 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Abuse of Indigenous Psilocybin Mushrooms: A New Fashion and Some Psychiatric Complications Patients presenting to medical or psychiatric emergency clinics after using Psilocybe... | 1978 | Case series | n = 3 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 46
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin Molecules May 15, 2021
- Chronic pain and psychedelics: a review and proposed mechanism of action Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine May 4, 2020
- Does Psychedelic Therapy Have a Transdiagnostic Action and Prophylactic Potential? Frontiers in Psychiatry July 19, 2021
- Psychedelic-Induced Neural Plasticity: A Comprehensive Review and a Discussion of Clinical Implications. Brain Sciences January 25, 2025
- Microdosing psilocybin for chronic pain: a case series Pain September 5, 2022
and 41 more in the library