The Potential Role of Psilocybin in Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery: A Narrative Review
Charles Palmer, Ally T Ferber, Brian D Greenwald
Brain Sciences May 26, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci15060572 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Addiction Neuroplasticity Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Medical psilocybin Traumatic brain injury Psilocybin therapy Therapeutic psilocybin Psychedelic medicine Tbi recovery Brain injury healing Neurological repair Neurological healing Brain repair Brain recovery Addiction treatment Substance abuse therapy Dependency recovery |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin-assisted therapy may reduce inflammation, promote neuroplasticity and neuroregeneration, and alleviate mood disorders in patients with traumatic brain injury. |
Abstract
Background: This narrative review explores psilocybin’s potential use as a therapeutic agent in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Methods: We engaged in a search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane’s databases for information on the effects of psilocybin. We also reviewed articles where psilocybin was used in patients with TBI. Articles from 2000–2025 were included.
Results: A total of 29 articles met our initial inclusion criteria. Additionally, 13 articles were obtained from reference lists and 3 more articles on the legality of psilocybin from public websites.
Conclusions: Assisted psilocybin use may have benefits in TBI by reducing inflammation, promoting neuroplasticity and neuroregeneration, and alleviating associated mood disorders. Positive findings in related fields, like treatment for depression and addiction, highlight the necessity for more extensive clinical trials on psilocybin’s role in TBI recovery.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin for addiction, 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 | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychedelic Drugs in Biomedicine | 2017 | Review | |
| DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin | 2018 | Review | |
| Psilocybin for treating substance use disorders? | 2016 | Narrative review |