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Exploring psychedelic use in athletes and their attitudes toward psilocybin-assisted therapy in concussion recovery

Summary

This study surveyed athletes and sports staff in Canada and the United States about their views on using psilocybin-assisted therapy to treat concussion symptoms. Researchers found that about 36% of athletes had used psychedelics in the past year, with psilocybin being the most common. Most athletes (61%) and staff (71%) said they would be willing to try or support psilocybin therapy for concussion recovery if research showed it was beneficial. The main factor influencing willingness was knowledge about psilocybin and positive attitudes toward it.

Background

Sports-related concussions (SRC) are common injuries affecting 3.8 million athletes annually in the United States. Approximately 10-30% of athletes experience persisting post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) including cognitive and mood issues. Psilocybin has shown clinical benefits for depression and other conditions, suggesting potential therapeutic value for concussion recovery.

Objective

This study examined current psychedelic use rates among athletes and assessed willingness of athletes and sports staff to engage in or support psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) for concussion recovery and management of persisting post-concussion symptoms.

Results

Psychedelics were the third most used substance among athletes (35.8% past year use; 7.5% regular use). Attitudes toward psilocybin and knowledge of psilocybin were significant predictors of willingness for both groups. Athletes reported 61.2% likelihood of engaging in PAT while staff reported 71.1% willingness to support athletes using PAT.

Conclusion

The sports community appears receptive to psilocybin-assisted therapy for concussion recovery. Knowledge about psilocybin emerged as a crucial factor influencing willingness, indicating that improved science communication between researchers and the sports community is essential for future clinical trials examining PAT for post-concussion symptoms.
  • Published in:Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology,
  • Study Type:Survey Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39132012, DOI: 10.1177/20451253241264812
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