Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Chronic Somatoform Pain Disorder: A Case Report
M Mercier, Cédric Mabilais, Vasileios Chytas, Leonice Furtado, Federico Seragnoli, Albert Buchard, Tatiana Aboulafia Brakha, Gabriel Thorens, Daniele Zullino, Louise Penzenstadler
Psychoactives September 1, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/psychoactives4030030 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Patient with persistent somatoform pain disorder and recurrent depressive disorder |
| Intervention | Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy |
| Duration | Four sessions |
| Topics | Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Chronic pain Psychotherapist |
| Key findings | Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy was associated with reduced negative impact of pain, increased pain acceptance, improved quality of life, and reduced depressive symptoms in a patient with chronic pain. |
Abstract
Psychedelic substances have experienced a resurgence of clinical interest in recent years, particularly for their promising effects in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. While evidence regarding their role in chronic pain management remains limited, emerging studies suggest potential therapeutic benefits. This case report describes a patient with persistent somatoform pain disorder and recurrent depressive disorder who underwent four sessions of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. The intervention was associated with a reduction in the negative impact of pain on daily life, increased pain acceptance, improved quality of life, and reduction in depressive symptoms. These findings contribute to the growing body of literature suggesting that psychedelics, when combined with psychotherapy, may offer a novel and holistic approach to the treatment of chronic pain. Further controlled studies are needed to explore the safety, efficacy, and underlying mechanisms.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prolonged adverse effects from repeated psilocybin use in an underground psychedelic therapy training program: a case report | 2025 | Case study | |
| Suicide of a patient shortly after psilocybin-assisted psychedelic therapy: A case report 60-year-old man with recurrent depression and history of delusions | 2025 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Refractory CRPS pain treated with psilocybin: A case report A patient with refractory complex regional pain syndrome | 2024 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Underground small-group therapy of treatment-resistant depression and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) with psilocybin—A retrospective case study A woman in her early forties with early complex trauma and treatment-resistant depression | 2023 | Case report | n = 1 |
| Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine dependence: a case report involving daily methamphetamine use A 36-year-old transwoman who was a daily methamphetamine user | 2024 | Case study | n = 1 |