Heliyon
December 1, 2022
Benjamin Kelmendi, Giuliana DePalmer, Gayle Maloney et al.
34 citations
A patient with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder received psilocybin and was followed for a year. His OCD symptoms markedly improved, with the YBOCS score dropping from 24 to between 0 and 2. Broader gains included better emotional connection, social and work functioning, and quality of life. This individual was an early participant in an ongoing controlled study. The results are preliminary but suggest that carefully monitored and supported psychedelic treatment may hold therapeutic potential for obsessions and compulsions.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 11, 2022
Terence H. W. Ching, Alan K. Davis, Yitong Xin et al.
34 citations
Among 92 Asian adults in North America who used psychedelics in response to racial discrimination, racial trauma symptoms improved moderately (d = 0.52) from 30 days before to 30 days after their most meaningful psychedelic experience. Higher-intensity insightful experiences were linked to stronger ethnic identity through reductions in trauma symptoms, while lower-intensity challenging experiences also contributed to symptom improvement and identity strengthening. The findings suggest that both insightful and challenging psychedelic experiences may help alleviate racial trauma and support ethnic identity in this population.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
April 25, 2023
Rachael Grazioplene, Calvin Bohner, Giuliana DePalmer et al.
27 citations
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial tests whether a single dose of psilocybin (0.25 mg/kg) is safe, tolerable, and effective for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. Thirty adults who have not responded to at least one standard treatment will receive either psilocybin or an active placebo (niacin). OCD symptoms are assessed by blinded raters at 48 hours post-dosing, with 12 weeks of follow-up. Resting-state neuroimaging explores neural mechanisms. The study aims to provide preliminary evidence for psilocybin's effects on OCD and pave the way for future research on neurobiological mechanisms.
Journal of humanistic psychology
February 10, 2022
Terence H. W. Ching, Monnica T. Williams, S. Reed et al.
10 citations
A mixed-methods case study examined whether a person of color with treatment-resistant PTSD would benefit from MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) as much as participants in earlier, less diverse trials. The participant showed quantitative improvement in PTSD symptoms. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of therapy session transcripts revealed recurrent themes related to psychological mechanisms of symptom change, reduced PTSD symptoms, and additional positive and negative effects beyond symptom reduction. The authors discuss these themes and offer recommendations for addressing culturally relevant material during MDMA-AT.
Psychedelic Medicine
January 20, 2025
Marianna Graziosi, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Mary P Cosimano et al.
9 citations
Psilocybin and other serotonergic psychedelics are used in research settings with safety measures including controlled environments, staff presence, screening, and psychoeducation. An analysis of study materials from psilocybin trials over the past two decades found that psychoeducation documents varied but commonly emphasized biological and physical safety, psychological safety and well-being, aspects of setting, and the potential for expectancies. The materials prioritized biological and psychological safety across all sites. The authors also identified elements unrelated to safety that may contribute to participant expectancies and suggest these extrapharmacological factors be studied systematically to maximize safety while minimizing extraneous expectancies.
March 17, 2023
Terence H. W. Ching, Rachael Grazioplene, Christopher Pittenger et al.
6 citations
preprint
A randomized, waitlist-controlled study will test whether repeated oral doses of psilocybin (25 mg, with a possible second dose of 25 or 30 mg) reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. Participants receive either immediate treatment (two doses one week apart) or delayed treatment seven weeks later. Non-directive psychological support accompanies preparation, dosing, and integration sessions; facilitators do not provide structured therapy. The adaptive dosing strategy adjusts the second dose based on response after the first. The manual describes facilitator activities and includes updated checklists for the two-dose protocol.
October 5, 2022
Terence H. W. Ching, Stephen A. Kichuk, Giuliana DePalmer et al.
5 citations
preprint
A single 0.25 mg/kg dose of psilocybin, given with non-directive psychological support in a controlled clinical setting, is being tested for safety and efficacy in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. Monitors accompany participants before, during, and after dosing to prepare them, ensure safety, and provide an unstructured context for processing the experience. Although no formal therapy is delivered, the supportive presence of monitors may be experienced as therapeutic. This manual outlines monitor activities across the three phases of the dosing session.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 15, 2025
Terence H. W. Ching, Benjamin Kelmendi
4 citations
A primer for culturally attuned psychedelic clinical trials narratively reviews psychological and pragmatic barriers to diversity—including stigma, medical mistrust, history of psychedelic-assisted conversion therapy, income disparities, schedule inflexibilities, and transportation inaccessibility—and proposes strategies for culturally attuned recruitment, assessment, and retention of Black, Indigenous, and Peoples of Color (BIPOC) and sexual- and gender-diverse populations. Strategies include diversifying the study team, debinarizing the therapist dyad, using culturally attuned language and flyers, community outreach, improving transportation access, diversifying room setup, and using culturally attuned assessments. The authors encourage research groups to adapt these recommendations to improve accessibility to innovative mental health treatments for diverse populations.
Int Rev Psychiatry
September 11, 2024
Mary E. Yaden, Terence H. W. Ching, Noam Goldway et al.
2 citations
A survey of US psychiatry residency training directors found that most (64%) favor adding more time for psychedelic education, yet many worry about a lack of educational materials (54%) and limited faculty to teach the content (46%). Almost all programs (94%) expressed some interest in a standardized curriculum in psychedelic medicine. Training directors recognize current offerings are limited and want more support to meet the coming demand for education in this emerging field.
SSRN Electronic Journal
January 1, 2026
Ben Kelemndi, Thomas Adams, Terence H. W. Ching et al.
1 citation
A single dose of psilocybin (0.25 mg/kg) produced rapid, clinically meaningful, and sustained reductions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms among adults with treatment-resistant OCD. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the psilocybin group showed a 9.76-point decrease on the A-YBOCS at 48 hours, compared to a 0.07-point increase in the niacin group. At one week, 69.2% of psilocybin participants achieved a response (≥35% symptom reduction) versus 0% of niacin participants. Benefits persisted through 12 weeks. One serious adverse event (suicidal ideation) occurred; no treatment-related deaths were reported.
February 11, 2026
Sarah Shnayder, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Troy Hubert et al.
preprint
In people with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), greater mystical-type experiences during psilocybin sessions—especially feelings of unity, sacredness, and transcendence—were linked to lower OCD symptom severity at 1-week and 12-week follow-ups, even after accounting for baseline severity and treatment condition. The Mystical subscale of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire showed the strongest and most consistent associations. The Space–Time subscale was related to lower OCD severity only at 12 weeks. Positive mood, ineffability, and challenging experiences were not significantly tied to post-treatment OCD severity. These results suggest that the quality of subjective experience during psilocybin sessions may help optimize treatment outcomes.
January 15, 2026
Benjamin Kelmendi, Thomas G. Adams, Terence H. W. Ching et al.
preprint
A single dose of psilocybin (0.25 mg/kg) produced rapid and sustained reductions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms among adults with treatment-resistant OCD. In a randomized, double-blind trial, 28 adults received either psilocybin or niacin (250 mg). At 48 hours, OCD severity scores dropped by about 10 points more in the psilocybin group than in the niacin group, a large effect. At one week, 69% of psilocybin participants achieved a clinically meaningful response, compared with none in the niacin group. Benefits lasted through 12 weeks. One serious adverse event occurred. Open-label psilocybin given later also reduced symptoms. The findings suggest psilocybin may offer a new treatment approach for treatment-resistant OCD, but larger confirmatory trials are needed.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
July 24, 2019
Terence H. W. Ching
Political and academic bias, along with cultural stigma, have hindered minority participation in research on MDMA for treatment-resistant PTSD. The author, an ethnic/racial and sexual/gender minority, describes his own experience receiving MDMA legally in a therapist training trial for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, aiming to destigmatize the treatment for marginalized populations. Themes include set and setting, cultural and LGBTQIA+ pride, acceptance of intersectionality, and strength in retrospection. The letter urges researchers to emphasize intersecting identities, improve minority participation in culturally attuned ways, and increase minority stakeholdership in the field.