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.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
January 9, 2024
Terence H W Ching, Lucia Amoroso, Calvin Bohner et al.
9 citations
A randomized controlled trial will test whether two doses of psilocybin (25 mg followed by either 25 or 30 mg), given with non-directive support, reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms more than a single dose or a waitlist control. Thirty adults with treatment-refractory OCD will be enrolled. OCD symptoms will be measured with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale – Second Edition by a blinded rater at baseline and after the second dosing week. Participants will be followed for up to 12 months. The trial also aims to identify psychological mechanisms that may explain psilocybin's effects on OCD.
The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health
September 2, 2025
Khaleel Rajwani, Edward Jacobs, Lori Bruce et al.
6 citations
A scoping review of medical literature from 2000 to 2025 found no completed or published clinical trials testing psychedelic-assisted therapy in adolescents under 18, despite three trial registrations and one trial plan. The proposed studies would have investigated MDMA-assisted or psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder, autism with social anxiety, or self-harm. Ethical approval and recruitment details were inconsistently reported. This absence of data represents a major evidence gap that could hinder informed care. The authors argue for cautious, ethically grounded research starting with older adolescents who have the highest foreseeable benefit-risk ratio due to special circumstances.
Wellcome Open Research
July 8, 2025
Khaleel Rajwani, Melanie Almonte, F. Feroz et al.
2 citations
A protocol describes a planned scoping review to determine whether any controlled clinical research involving psychedelic drug administration to adolescents under 18 has been conducted since 2000. The review will follow established methodological guidelines, searching multiple databases and trial registers for interventional studies from 2000 to the present. Two independent raters will assess articles, with a third resolving disagreements. The protocol notes that while historical studies from 1959 to 1974 exist, they do not meet modern standards, and no recent controlled clinical research with adolescents is known.
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.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
February 16, 2024
Terence H W Ching, Lucia Amoroso, Calvin Bohner et al.
correction
A correction notice addresses an error in a previously published article on psilocybin therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The notice specifies that the original article's DOI is 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1278823 and provides the necessary correction. No findings, methods, or results are presented in this text.