Research Topic: psilocybin-assisted therapy

Preliminary safety and effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy in adults with fibromyalgia: an open-label pilot clinical trial

Researchers conducted a small pilot study examining whether psilocybin (the active compound in certain mushrooms) combined with therapy could help treat fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition. Five participants received two doses of psilocybin along with supportive therapy sessions. The treatment was well-tolerated with only minor side effects, and participants reported significant improvements in pain, sleep quality, and overall functioning. These promising preliminary results suggest larger studies should be conducted to further test this innovative treatment approach.

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A sense of the bigger picture: A qualitative analysis of follow-up interviews with people with bipolar disorder who self-reported psilocybin use

This research explored how 15 people with bipolar disorder who used psilocybin mushrooms experienced the effects. Many reported benefits like reduced depression and improved outlook on life, but some experienced negative effects including sleep problems and increased manic episodes. The study identified important factors that influenced outcomes, such as whether people used other drugs simultaneously, whether they used psilocybin alone or with others, and how much sleep they had before use. The researchers concluded that while psilocybin shows promise for bipolar depression, more careful clinical research is needed to ensure safety.

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Negative affective bias in depression following treatment with psilocybin or escitalopram – a secondary analysis from a randomized trial

This research compared how psilocybin mushrooms and escitalopram (a common antidepressant) affect the way depressed people perceive emotions. Both treatments helped patients become better at recognizing positive facial expressions and less likely to misinterpret neutral or positive faces as negative. Interestingly, while both treatments improved emotional processing similarly, the improvements were connected to later mood improvement in different ways for each drug, suggesting they may work through somewhat different mechanisms in the brain.

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PsilOCD: A Pharmacological Challenge Study Evaluating the Effects of the 5-HT2A Agonist Psilocybin on the Neurocognitive and Clinical Correlates of Compulsivity

This study is investigating whether psilocybin (an active compound in magic mushrooms) can help people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by improving their mental flexibility and brain plasticity. Participants will receive two doses of psilocybin—a low test dose and a slightly higher therapeutic dose—four weeks apart, while receiving professional psychological support. Researchers will measure changes in cognitive abilities and brain activity to understand how psilocybin might help reduce OCD symptoms like intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

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Safety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings

This clinical trial is investigating whether psilocybin (a psychoactive compound found in certain mushrooms) combined with supportive counseling can help people with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. Researchers will give participants two doses of psilocybin while providing non-directive psychological support to help them process their experiences. The study aims to determine whether this approach is safe, tolerable, and effective at reducing OCD symptoms, and to understand the psychological mechanisms that might explain how it works.

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