Psilocybin in pharmacotherapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Pharmacological Reports August 1, 2024 Maja Owe-Larsson, Katarzyna Kamińska, Barbara Buchalska et al. 11 citations
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects about 2% of the population and involves troubling obsessions and compulsions that disrupt daily life. Its causes are not fully understood, but dysfunctions in serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate neurotransmission, along with early maladaptive schemas, appear important. Current treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), yet up to 40% of patients do not respond. Psilocybin, a non-physically addictive psychoactive substance, may help manage symptoms when used in appropriate doses under strict clinical control. This narrative article reviews OCD's etiology, current treatments, and emerging evidence for psilocybin's efficacy.