Psilocybin-induced reduction in chronic cluster headache attack frequency correlates with changes in hypothalamic functional connectivity
medRxiv July 10, 2022 M. Madsen, Anja Sofie Petersen, Dea Siggaard Stenbæk et al. 5 citations preprint
In a small open-label clinical trial, three low-to-moderate doses of psilocybin reduced attack frequency by an average of 30% from baseline to follow-up in patients with chronic cluster headache. One patient experienced 21 weeks of complete remission. The treatment was well-tolerated with no serious adverse reactions. Changes in hypothalamic-diencephalic functional connectivity correlated negatively with the relative reduction in attack frequency, suggesting this neural pathway is involved in treatment response. Further studies are needed to confirm safety and prophylactic efficacy.