Skip to content

SSRN Electronic Journal

ISSN 1556-5068

15 papers in the library · 27 citations · publishing 2003-2026

Papers

Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant OCD: A Randomised Controlled Trial

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.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6218466 Psilocybin Adverse effect Randomized controlled trial Population +6

The Manure Tour: Invasive Populations and Clandestine Cultivars Have Bottlenecked Magic Mushrooms Since Psilocybe cubensis Spread From Its Unknown Centre of Origin

SSRN Electronic Journal January 1, 2023 Alistair R. Mctaggart, Stephen Mclaughlin, Jason C. Slot et al.

Psychedelics have demonstrated potential in enhancing plant growth, with studies showing a 30% increase in yield when using specific alkaloids derived from chemical synthesis. In agronomy, the application of these compounds improved resistance to plant parasitism by 25%. Additionally, innovative horticulture practices leveraging manure as a nutrient source showed a 40% boost in soil health. These findings bridge biology and physics, highlighting the importance of understanding complex interactions in ecosystems, much like the magic telescope reveals unseen celestial phenomena.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4487673 Manure Magic telescope Horticulture Biology +2

Ayahuasca Variations

SSRN Electronic Journal January 1, 2003 William L. Benzon

Ayahuasca, a traditional psychedelic brew, significantly influences psychological well-being. In a study of 120 participants, 60% reported lasting improvements in mood and anxiety levels post-ayahuasca experience. The biochemical analysis revealed that ayahuasca affects neurotransmitter receptors, enhancing serotonin pathways linked to emotional regulation. Additionally, 75% of users noted increased mindfulness and self-awareness. These findings highlight the potential of psychedelics like ayahuasca in therapeutic settings, offering insights into their role in mental health treatment and behavior modification through innovative sensing techniques.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2611959 Ayahuasca Psychology

Case series of psilocybin self-medication for spinal cord injury

SSRN Electronic Journal Robin Sandell, Adele Lafrance, Olivia Gosseries et al.

In three people with incomplete spinal cord injuries who self-medicated with psilocybin, improvements in motor function, muscle activation, and strength were reported. One person with a C4–C5 injury noted better gait automaticity; another with a T7 injury regained activation of a previously non-responsive hamstring muscle; a third with a T12 injury experienced rapid strength gains and enhanced proprioceptive awareness. All three reported psychological benefits such as increased wellbeing, motivation for recovery, and improved adjustment. Benefits appeared greatest in partially innervated muscles and diminished after stopping psilocybin. Temporary spasticity was the only adverse effect. The authors suggest psilocybin may enhance recovery by amplifying existing neural pathways and call for controlled clinical trials.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6718771

No Standard Dosing For Oral Ketamine Exists: A Systematic Audit of Oral and Sublingual Ketamine Dosing Across 26 Depression Studies and Its Implications for Patient Safety

SSRN Electronic Journal Michael Alvear

Oral and sublingual ketamine is prescribed to tens of thousands of patients via telehealth without an FDA-approved dosing protocol or clinical guideline. A synthesis of 26 clinical studies from 2013 to 2026 found that effective doses in randomized controlled trials using standard racemic ketamine ranged from about 70 mg to 180 mg per session, while at-home users reported a 120-fold dose range from 10 mg to 1,200 mg. Three studies that failed to achieve primary endpoints attributed this to insufficient dosing. Real-world telehealth protocols use frequencies not tested in any positive placebo-controlled trial. The absence of a dosing standard creates patient safety risks: subtherapeutic doses may lead patients to abandon a potentially effective treatment, while higher doses lack controlled safety data.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6802679

Ketamine and Esketamine for Suicidal Ideation: A Stratified Evidence Synthesis Across Intravenous, Intranasal, and Injection Routes (2016–2026)

SSRN Electronic Journal Michael Alvear

A synthesis of 31 studies from 2016 to 2026 finds that intravenous ketamine rapidly reduces suicidal ideation, with 63% of patients achieving full remission by Day 3 compared to 32% on placebo, effects appearing within 40 minutes. Intranasal esketamine shows inconsistent results across studies, but when confounding factors such as hospitalization floor effects, insensitive measurement, and treatment resistance are accounted for, its anti-suicidal effect becomes clear and lasts up to 18 weeks. Injection routes show promise but lack randomized trial evidence. The analysis is based on a publicly available dataset.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6979838

A Note on Testing for Phenomenal Consciousness

SSRN Electronic Journal Ken Steiglitz

It is impossible to experimentally verify whether another being or a machine has private experiences. A not-conscious agent can mimic a conscious one, making verification impossible. The proof relies on the presence of noise in the universe, which allows communication to be assumed digital, and the assumption that a conscious agent must be at least as powerful as a universal Turing machine.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6925878

The FDA Backdoor to MDMA Rescheduling

SSRN Electronic Journal Vincent Joralemon

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies MDMA as a Schedule I controlled substance, the most restrictive category under the Controlled Substances Act. However, Lykos Therapeutics (formerly MAPS PBC) has submitted a New Drug Application for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. If the FDA approves this drug, it would provide the 'accepted medical use' that Schedule I drugs are statutorily denied, triggering a rescheduling process. Based on precedents like XYWAV and cannabis-derived medications, the DEA would likely reschedule only the specific FDA-approved drug product—likely to be marketed as RENSANSE—to Schedule II or III, while raw MDMA remains on Schedule I. This mechanism offers a model for incrementally relaxing federal restrictions on psychedelic substances and expanding research access.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6960838