Single-dose psilocybin for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A case report
Benjamin Kelmendi, Giuliana DePalmer, Gayle Maloney, Alexander Belser, Christopher Pittenger, Stephen A. Kichuk, Terence H. W. Ching
Heliyon December 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12135 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Patient with refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Duration | 1 year follow-up |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Obsessive compulsive Hallucinogen Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 34 |
| Registration | NCT03356483 |
| Key findings | A patient with refractory OCD treated with psilocybin showed marked symptomatic improvement, with YBOCS declining from 24 to 0-2, sustained over a year. |
Abstract
Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, act on the brain's serotonin system and produce striking psychological effects. Early work in the 1950s and 1960s and more recent controlled studies suggest benefit from psychedelic treatment in a number of conditions. A few case reports in recreational users and a single experimental study suggest benefit in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but careful clinical data and long-term follow-up have been lacking. Here we describe a case of a patient with refractory OCD treated with psilocybin and followed prospectively for a year, with marked symptomatic improvement. We provide qualitative and quantitative detail of his experience during and after treatment. Improvement in OCD symptoms (YBOCS declined from 24 to 0-2) was accompanied by broader changes in his relationship to his emotions, social and work function, and quality of life. This individual was an early participant in an ongoing controlled study of psilocybin in the treatment of OCD (NCT03356483). These results are preliminary but promising, motivating ongoing investigations of the therapeutic potential of appropriately monitored and supported psychedelic treatment in the treatment of patients with obsessions and compulsions.
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 |
| Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual-feedback (MVF) Person with leg amputation and phantom-limb pain | 2018 | 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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 26
- Psychedelics for the Treatment of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Efficacy and Proposed Mechanisms The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology November 29, 2024
- Mushrooms, Microdosing, and Mental Illness: The Effect of Psilocybin on Neurotransmitters, Neuroinflammation, and Neuroplasticity. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 2025
- Utilizing Psychedelics to Enhance Well-Being: A Systematic Review Journal of Psychoactive Drugs March 31, 2025
- Less is more? A review of psilocybin microdosing Journal of Psychopharmacology September 16, 2024
- Psilocybin in pharmacotherapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder Pharmacological Reports August 1, 2024
and 21 more in the library
Cites 24
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- 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 with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
and 19 more in the library