Psychedelics for the Treatment of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Efficacy and Proposed Mechanisms
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology November 29, 2024 Helen M Collins 18 citations
Psychedelics are being investigated as treatments for several mental health conditions, including obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Since the 1960s, case studies have reported improvements in obsessive and compulsive behaviors after recreational psychedelic use. A small 2006 open-label trial found that psilocybin significantly reduced OCD symptoms, and rodent models show reduced compulsive behaviors after psilocybin. However, the mechanisms remain unclear, with hypotheses involving acute pharmacological effects, neuroplasticity changes, and altered resting state neural networks. This review evaluates evidence for psychedelics in OCD treatment, discusses mechanisms, and notes ongoing trials addressing current knowledge gaps.