Use of Selective Alternative Therapies for Treatment of OCD.
Iman Khan, Taimoor Asif Jaura, Alaa Tukruna, Aabiya Arif, Sameer Saleem Tebha, Sameen Nasir, Dattatreya Mukherjee, Nadia Masroor, Abubakr Yosufi
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 2023 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s403997 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People with obsessive-compulsive disorder |
| Interventions | Psilocybin Cannabis Nicotine Morphine |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Compulsions Obsessions Psychoneurotic disorders Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder OCD Alternative medicine Mental health treatment Psychoactive substances |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin, cannabis, nicotine, and morphine showed potential to reduce OCD symptoms, with all psilocybin and morphine users and most nicotine and cannabis users reporting positive effects. |
Abstract
About 40% of the people with the obsessive-compulsive-disorder do not experience the desired outcome after the existing treatment, and its several side effects were reported. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of alternative drugs and assess the possibility of their use as treatment options for obsessive-compulsive-disorder. The Scientific databases PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Directory of Open Access Journals, MedRxiv and BioRxiv, were searched from inception to March 2022, using appropriate search strategies for each drug and following the Prisma guidelines 2020. Studies were selected according to the already set criteria and assessed for bias. Data were extracted, and descriptive and continuous data were analyzed and presented as frequency/percentage and mean. A total of 16 observational and interventional studies were included for data extraction. The studies focused on four drugs, Psilocybin (n=4), Cannabis (n=7), Nicotine (n=3), and Morphine (n=2), that were used to test out their effect on OCD symptoms. Overall, the majority of the studies showed promising results by documenting a reduction in Y-BOCS scores. However, few subjects, specifically those using nicotine or Cannabis, did not affect their condition or self-reported worsening symptoms. Few side effects were also noticed. This systematic review found that the drugs mostly showed a positive response. All Psilocybin and morphine users, 88.2% and 74.1% of the nicotine and Cannabis users, respectively, reported experiencing the positive effect of these drugs, indicating that these drugs have the potential to be used in the management of OCD. However, further research is required in this arena to thoroughly understand the mechanism of action by which these drugs produce their therapeutic effect. Policies to destigmatize and encourage clinical trials with these drugs are crucial for exploring the use of these drugs as a treatment option for OCD.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy | 2020 | Systematic review | |
| Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy—A Systematic Review of Associated Psychological Interventions | 2022 | Systematic review | |
| Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Participants in studies of psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms (Major... | 2023 | Systematic review with meta-analysis | n = 14 |
| Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Patients diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses or major depressive disorder | 2023 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | n = 686 |
| Treating posttraumatic stress disorder with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy: A preliminary meta-analysis and comparison to prolonged exposure therapy Patients with PTSD | 2016 | Meta-analysis |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Psychedelics for the Treatment of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Efficacy and Proposed Mechanisms The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology November 29, 2024
- Psilocybin in pharmacotherapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder Pharmacological Reports August 1, 2024
- BROAD SPECTRUM OF THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF PSILOCYBIN: A LITERATURE REVIEW Health Problems of Civilization February 20, 2025
Cites 10
- 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-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
- Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Journal of Psychopharmacology September 11, 2014
- Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry November 15, 2006
- Psilocybin modulates functional connectivity of the amygdala during emotional face discrimination European Neuropsychopharmacology April 25, 2018
and 5 more in the library