Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual-feedback (MVF)
Chunharas, C., Furnish, T., Lin, A., Marcus, Z., Ramachandran, V.
This case study (n=1) investigates the combination of psilocybin (0.2 -; 3 g dried mushrooms) and mirror visual-feedback (MVF) to provide relief from intractable phantom pain. The study found that the Psilocybin-MVF pairing demonstrated synergistic effects in eliminating acute and long-term phantom-limb pain (PLP) and decreased the recurrence of its episodes.
Abstract
AL’s leg was amputated resulting in phantom-limb pain (PLP). (1) When a volunteer placed her foot on or near the phantom - touching it evoked organized sensations in corresponding locations on AL’s phantom. (2) Mirror-visual-feedback (MVF) relieved PLP, as did, “phantom massage”. (3) Psilocybin-MVF pairing produced synergistic effects, complete elimination of PLP, and reduction in paroxysmal episodes. (4) Touching the volunteer’s leg where AL previously had external fixators, evoked sensation of nails boring through the leg. Using a “telescoping” nail, we created the illusion of a nail being removed with corresponding pain relief. (5) Artificial flames produced warmth in the phantom.