Therapeutic potential of psilocybin in the pharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a scoping review protocol.
Raul Edison Luna Lazo, Nicole Milagritos Cardoso Azorza, Jatziri Yanina Vilca Yanac, Ahmad Kassem El Zein, Omar Abraham Ramírez Paucar, Luana Mota Ferreira, Roberto Pontarolo
Open Science Framework July 9, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.17605/osf.io/guqxr via OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin shows potential as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), especially for patients who do not respond to traditional therapies. This scoping review will evaluate existing scientific evidence on psilocybin's therapeutic effects, including preclinical and clinical studies, while identifying knowledge gaps and guiding future research. The review will follow established protocols and include studies from various databases without restrictions on language or publication date.
Study at a glance
| Design | scoping review |
|---|---|
| Population | preclinical and clinical studies evaluating psilocybin or psilocin for OCD |
| Key finding | Psilocybin may offer a therapeutic strategy for OCD, particularly for treatment-resistant cases. |
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic neuropsychiatric condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that cause distress and functional impairment worldwide. Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive behavioral therapy are first-line treatments, a considerable proportion of patients show an insufficient response, supporting the need for alternative pharmacological strategies. Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic metabolized into psilocin, has sparked interest for its activity in serotonergic pathways, especially 5-HT2A receptors, and its potential effects on neuroplasticity and brain network modulation. This scoping review aims to identify, characterize, and synthesize the available scientific evidence on the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in the pharmacological treatment of OCD, including preclinical findings, proposed mechanisms of action, and clinical evidence. The review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI recommendations and the data will be reported using the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, with no language or publication date restrictions. Eligible studies will include preclinical and clinical research evaluating psilocybin or psilocin for OCD. The findings are expected to map current evidence, identify knowledge gaps, and guide future research on psilocybin as a potential therapeutic strategy for OCD, especially in patients with treatment-resistant symptoms and persistent impairment despite available standard interventions.