Psilocybin in pharmacotherapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects about 2% of the population and involves troubling obsessions and compulsions that disrupt daily life. Its causes are not fully understood, but dysfunctions in serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate neurotransmission, along with early maladaptive schemas, appear important. Current treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), yet up to 40% of patients do not respond. Psilocybin, a non-physically addictive psychoactive substance, may help manage symptoms when used in appropriate doses under strict clinical control. This narrative article reviews OCD's etiology, current treatments, and emerging evidence for psilocybin's efficacy.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental disease that affects approximately 2% of the population. Obsessions and compulsions are troublesome for patients and may disturb their everyday activities. The pathogenesis of this disease is still not fully elucidated, but dysfunctions of serotonin-, dopamine- and glutamate-mediated neurotransmission together with early maladaptive schemas seem of importance. Pharmacological treatment includes drugs affecting the serotoninergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic systems, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Providing that up to 40% of patients with OCD are resistant to the currently available medications, there is a need for novel and effective therapies. Recent discoveries suggest that psilocybin, a non-physically addictive psychoactive substance, may ameliorate disease symptoms. When used in appropriate doses and under strict clinical control, psilocybin appears as a valuable treatment for OCD. This narrative article provides a thorough overview of OCD’s etiology, current treatment options, and the emerging evidence supporting psilocybin’s efficacy in managing OCD symptoms.