Psilocybin for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders.
Katja Ehrmann, John J B Allen, Francisco Moreno
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences 2022 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_279 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Compulsions OCD Obsessions Obsessive-compulsive disorder Psychedelics |
| Key findings | Psilocybin may represent a safe and effective treatment for OCD, but further research is needed. |
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a highly prevalent and disabling condition for which currently available treatments are insufficiently effective and alternatives merit priority attention. Psilocybin may represent a safe and effective avenue for treatment of individuals affected by this condition. In this chapter we briefly introduce OCD symptoms, epidemiology, as well as relevant hypotheses on the mechanism of disease that may inform treatment interventions. We briefly describe currently available treatments, mechanisms of action, and efficacy limitations, as preamble to the potential use of psilocybin and perhaps similar compounds in the treatment of OCD and related conditions. Although much is reviewed throughout this book about the mechanisms of action of psychedelic agents, a focused discussion of psilocybin effects as they pertain to OCD is also included. Our experience with incidental observation, prospective research, and current explorations of psilocybin in OCD are also described.
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
Cited by 18
- Pattern breaking: a complex systems approach to psychedelic medicine Neuroscience of Consciousness 2023
- A Comprehensive Review of the Current Status of the Cellular Neurobiology of Psychedelics Biology October 28, 2023
- 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
- Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a potential treatment for eating disorders: a narrative review of preliminary evidence Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy May 1, 2023
and 13 more in the library
Cites 12
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
- Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry November 15, 2006
- 5-HT2AReceptor-Mediated Regulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor mRNA in the Hippocampus and the Neocortex Journal of Neuroscience April 15, 1997
- A single psilocybin dose is associated with long-term increased mindfulness, preceded by a proportional change in neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding European Neuropsychopharmacology March 4, 2020
- Modulatory effect of the 5-HT1A agonist buspirone and the mixed non-hallucinogenic 5-HT1A/2A agonist ergotamine on psilocybin-induced psychedelic experience European Neuropsychopharmacology January 22, 2016
and 7 more in the library