Worsening suicidal ideation and prolonged adverse event following psilocybin administration in a clinical setting: case report and thematic analysis of one participant's experience
BJPsych Open November 1, 2024 Mourad Wahba, Caroline Hayes, Maartje Kletter et al. 6 citations
A participant in a phase 2b clinical trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression experienced increased suicidal ideation and a prolonged period of severely restricted eating after administration, leading to destabilization and need for support. Despite limited improvement on depression rating scales, the participant found the experience helpful and made beneficial life changes. The case suggests psilocybin can temporarily worsen suicidal ideation and cause prolonged adverse events beyond acute effects, while paradoxically improving functional outcomes not captured by standard scales. Qualitative exploration of serious adverse events and participant accounts is needed to better understand psilocybin's varied outcomes.