Improvement in OCD symptoms associated with serotoninergic psychedelics: a retrospective online survey.
Anne Buot, Cecile Pallares, Alina Oganesyan, Charles Dauré, Valerie Bonnelle, Eric Burguière, Joao Flores Alves Dos Santos, Karim N’Diaye, Michael Ljuslin, Pauline Smith, Vincent Verroust, Benjamin Wyplosz, Margot Morgiève, Luc Mallet
Sci Rep August 17, 2023 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39812-0 via PubMed Central
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractClassic psychedelics were the only substances reported to reduce obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in a retrospective online survey of 174 people who used psychoactive drugs. Symptom reduction was linked to the intensity of acute effects, which correlated with dose. Therapeutic effects lasted from weeks to months, but no factor predicted their persistence. Frequency of subsequent use was predicted by the magnitude and persistence of the effect, though overall use was limited. The findings support the possibility that classic psychedelics can reduce OCD symptoms, but careful evaluation of effect persistence is still needed.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Retrospective online survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 174 |
| Population | General population using psychoactive drugs |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Mental health OCD Treatment Therapeutic research Hallucinogens |
| Citations | 28 |
| Key finding | Classic psychedelics were the only substances reported as effective at reducing OCD symptoms, with symptom reduction associated with the intensity of acute effects. |
Abstract
A renewed interest in the use of psychedelics for treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has emerged in the last 20 years. But pre-clinical and clinical evidence remain scarce, and little is known about the factor determining the magnitude and persistence of the therapeutic effect. We therefore designed a retrospective online survey to explore, in the general population using psychoactive drugs, their impact on OCD symptoms. We also assessed the attitude of the participants towards the substance in term of frequency of intakes. In a sample of 174 participants, classic psychedelics were reported as the only substances effective at reducing OCD symptoms. In classic psychedelics users, symptoms reduction was associated with the intensity of acute effects, itself correlated to the dose. Reports on the persistence of the therapeutic effect varied from weeks to months, but we could not find any predicting factor. Finally, the occurrence and frequency of subsequent intakes, which seemed to be limited in our sample, were predicted by the magnitude and persistence of the therapeutic effect, respectively. Our observations support the hypothesis of classic psychedelics efficacy in reducing OCD symptoms but a careful evaluation of the persistence of this effect is still needed.