Psilocybin’s Effects on Headache Frequency are Not Related to Acute Psychedelic Effects or Measures of Mental Health: Secondary Analysis of Clinical Trials in Migraine and Cluster Headache (P7-12.001)
Emmanuelle A. D. Schindler, Christopher Gottschalk, Deepak Cyril D’souza
Neurology April 7, 2025 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000210945 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn clinical trials of psilocybin for migraine and cluster headache, the strength of acute psychedelic effects did not predict reductions in headache frequency. Improvements in mental health measures were also not consistently linked to headache relief. The findings suggest that the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin on headache disorders may operate through mechanisms separate from its psychedelic or mood-altering properties.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational analysis of clinical trial data Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with migraine or cluster headache in clinical trials of psilocybin |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Migraine Cluster headache Psychiatry Clinical trial |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | Acute psychedelic effects and mental health improvements were not associated with reduced headache frequency in psilocybin trials for migraine and cluster headache. |
Abstract
To examine the relationship of acute psychedelic effects and measures of mental health with headache frequency in clinical trials of psilocybin in migraine and cluster headache.