Case series of psilocybin self-medication for spinal cord injury
Robin Sandell, Adele Lafrance, Olivia Gosseries, Robin Carhart-Harris
SSRN Electronic Journal preprint DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6718771 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative case series with semi-structured interviews Case report |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3 |
| Population | Individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries (C4–C5, T7, T12; American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grades B–D) who self-medicated with psilocybin |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Key findings | Psilocybin self-administration was associated with improved motor function, muscle activation, and psychological wellbeing in three individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury. |
Abstract
Current spinal cord injury treatments primarily manage symptoms rather than promote neurological recovery. Psilocybin enhances neuroplasticity through 5-HT2A agonism and brain-derived neurotrophic factor upregulation, suggesting therapeutic potential for spinal cord injury rehabilitation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with three individuals who had incomplete spinal cord injuries (C4–C5, T7, T12; American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grades B–D) and self-medicated with psilocybin. Case 1 reported improved motor function and gait automaticity. Case 2 reported activation of a previously non-responsive hamstring muscle. Case 3 reported rapid strength gains with enhanced proprioceptive awareness. All participants reported psychological benefits including increased wellbeing, enhanced motivation for recovery and improved adjustment to their post-injury reality, suggesting that psilocybin may serve dual therapeutic purposes. Benefits seemed greatest in partially innervated muscles. Subjects reported both acute and sustained maintenance effects, with gradual diminishment of benefits following cessation. Adverse effects included temporary spasticity. These observations suggest that psilocybin may enhance motor recovery and sensory integration in incomplete spinal cord injury through amplification of existing neural pathways and warrant controlled clinical trials.
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 |