Psychedelics for the Treatment of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Efficacy and Proposed Mechanisms
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – November 29, 2024
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows promise for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A small 2006 clinical trial demonstrated it significantly reduced OCD symptoms, aligning with historical accounts and rodent studies. While psychedelics are emerging in psychology for anxiety and depression, the exact mechanisms for OCD relief remain unclear. Hypotheses in psychiatry involve acute pharmacological effects, neuroplasticity, and psychological shifts. Current drug studies are evaluating this neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior to inform future psychotherapist approaches, potentially transforming clinical mental health care.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics are emerging as potential treatments for a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, treatment-resistant depression, and substance use disorders. Recent studies have also suggested that the psychedelic psilocybin may be able to treat obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Since the 1960s, case studies have reported improvements to obsessive and compulsive behaviors in patients taking psychedelics recreationally. The effects of psilocybin were then systematically assessed in a small, open-label trial in 2006, which found that psilocybin significantly reduced the symptoms of OCD. Reduced compulsive behaviors have also been seen in rodent models of OCD after administration of psilocybin. Nonetheless, the mechanisms underlying the effects of psychedelics for OCD are unclear, with hypotheses including their acute pharmacological effects, changes in neuroplasticity and resting state neural networks, and their psychological effects. This review will evaluate the evidence supporting the theory that psychedelics can be used for the treatment of OCD, as well as the data regarding claims about their mechanisms. It will also discuss issues with the current evidence and the ongoing trials of psilocybin that aim to address these knowledge gaps.