Journal of Psychopharmacology
December 14, 2022
Emma Morton, Kimberly Sakai, Amir Ashtari et al.
75 citations
A web-based survey of 541 people with bipolar disorder who had used psilocybin found that one-third reported new or worsening symptoms afterward, especially manic symptoms, insomnia, and anxiety. No difference in adverse event rates emerged between bipolar I and bipolar II. Emergency medical care was rare (3.3%). Despite adverse effects, respondents rated psilocybin use as more helpful than harmful. The findings suggest psilocybin may offer subjective mental health benefits for some people with bipolar disorder, but clinical trials should closely monitor symptoms because they may emerge or intensify.
PLoS ONE
December 14, 2022
Meghan DellaCrosse, Mollie Pleet, Emma Morton et al.
28 citations
Adults with bipolar disorder who used psilocybin-containing mushrooms reported both benefits and risks. Benefits included reduced depression severity, improved emotion processing, new perspectives, and better relaxation and sleep. Risks included changes in sleep, increased mania severity, hospitalization, and distressing sensory experiences. Contextual factors such as poly-substance use, psilocybin dose, solo versus social use, and pre-use sleep deprivation influenced outcomes. The findings highlight the need for carefully designed clinical trials to assess safety and preliminary efficacy of psilocybin therapy in this population.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
April 9, 2025
Ellen R Bradley, Kimberly Sakai, Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold et al.
23 citations
In an open-label pilot trial, 12 people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease plus depression or anxiety received psilocybin (10 mg then 25 mg) with psychotherapy. No serious adverse events occurred, and no worsening of Parkinson's symptoms was observed. Non-motor and motor symptoms improved, and gains in some cognitive domains were sustained one month later. Depression and anxiety scores improved to a clinically meaningful degree and remained improved three months after dosing. These first results in any neurodegenerative disease suggest psilocybin therapy for Parkinson's disease warrants further study.
Psychopharmacology
August 1, 2024
Kimberly Sakai, Ellen R Bradley, Joseph A Zamaria et al.
10 citations
People who take SSRIs and use psilocybin mushrooms together often report a less intense psychedelic experience, though many report no change in intensity. About 8% of Reddit posts describing coadministration mention negative physical or psychological effects, including a small number of reports that may indicate serotonin toxicity and one possible psychotic or manic episode. The interactions appear complex and likely depend on multiple factors. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether psilocybin treatments are safe and effective for people using SSRIs.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
July 1, 2023
Emma Morton, Kimberly Sakai, Amir Ashtari et al.
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