Use of psilocybin for chronic pain: a scoping review with current evidence and prospection of literature and technology for future applications
André Leão Dantas, Lara Moreira Jalles Milani, Saulo Gabriel Moreira Falci, João Américo Da Silveira, Cristina Pereira Isolan, Lia Dietrich
Caderno Pedagógico October 31, 2025 DOI: 10.54033/cadpedv22n12-345 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Dose | 5 to 25 mg |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Mood Chronic pain Clinical trial Hallucinogen Analgesic Pain assessment Dosing Pharmacology Neuropathic pain Protocol science |
| Key findings | Psilocybin reduced pain intensity and improved mood and quality of life in chronic pain management, though animal model results were heterogeneous and robust clinical trials are needed. |
Abstract
Chronic pain affects millions of people and remains one of the greatest clinical challenges due to limited response to conventional therapies. Psilocybin, a psychedelic found in mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus, has sparked interest due to its potential to modulate serotonergic receptors and promote neuroplasticity, suggesting analgesic and psychotherapeutic effects. The objective of this scoping review was to map and synthesize the available evidence on the use of psilocybin in the management of chronic pain. The protocol was registered on the OSF platform (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/MQ36X) and gathered evidence from seven databases and gray literature, including clinical and preclinical studies, and patents. Twenty studies were included: nine published, eleven ongoing clinical trials, and five filed patents. Doses ranged from 5 to 25 mg, administered in single or multiple sessions, with or without associated psychotherapy, and showed reduced pain intensity and improved mood and quality of life. In animal models, the results were heterogeneous, ranging from significant analgesia to no effect. The analyzed patents indicate industrial interest in microdosing protocols and controlled-release formulations aimed at fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and phantom pain. Taken together, the evidence pointed to psilocybin as a promising alternative for chronic pain management, although robust and standardized clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin, 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 | |
| The pharmacology of psilocybin | 2002 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness | 2018 | Review | |
| The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 21
- Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2019
- 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
- Structure–Activity Relationships for Psilocybin, Baeocystin, Aeruginascin, and Related Analogues to Produce Pharmacological Effects in Mice ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science November 2, 2022
- Dose–response relationships of psilocybin-induced subjective experiences in humans Journal of Psychopharmacology March 4, 2021
and 16 more in the library