Psilocybin for Schizophrenia

22 papers and 1 clinical trial exploring psilocybin as a treatment for schizophrenia.

CompoundClassic Psychedelic

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine psychedelic that acts as a prodrug to psilocin, a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. It is the furthest advanced psychedelic in clinical development, with two positive Phase III trials in treatment-resistant depression and expanding regulated access in Australia, Germany, and US states.

Full Psilocybin profile
IndicationApproximately 24 million people worldwide are affected by schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterised by disruptions in thought processes and perception. Recent research into psychedelics has opened new avenues for understanding its neurobiology and exploring potential therapeutic mechanisms, particularly in addressing treatment-resistant symptoms.

Full Schizophrenia profile

Academic Research

22 papers
Open Accessindividual

Acute and post-dosing effects of single-dose psilocybin for obsessive-compulsive disorder in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Qualitative interviews with 12 participants from a randomized, placebo‑controlled single‑dose psilocybin trial for treatment‑refractory OCD showed that set and setting strongly shaped acute (often partial) perceptual, emotional and metacognitive experiences, which were followed by post‑dosing changes in OCD symptoms, perceptions and behavioural/metacognitive processes. These changes mapped onto putative mechanisms of ERP and ACT, suggesting hypotheses for further study and potential value in integrating psilocybin with structured psychotherapy for OCD.

Published
Journal
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Authors
Ching, T. H. W., Stahnke, B., Shnayder, S., Agin-Liebes, G., Adams, T. G., Amoroso, L., Baiz, O., Belser, A., Bohner, C., Burke, M., D’Amico, E., DePalmer, G., Eilbott, J., Fram, G., Grazioplene, R., Hokanson, J., Jankovsky, A., Kichuk, S. A., Martins, B., Purohit, P., Schaer, H., Sierra, Y. P., Witherow, C., Pittenger, C., Kelmendi, B.
Open Accessindividual

A multi-institutional investigation of psilocybin's effects on mouse behavior

In a coordinated five‑laboratory study of ~200 mice, psilocybin (2 mg/kg IP) produced robust, replicable acute behavioural effects — increased anxiety- and avoidance-related behaviour and reduced fear expression — but did not reproducibly produce persistent (24 h) anxiolytic, antidepressant, fear‑extinction or pro‑social effects. The multi‑institutional design therefore both delineates the reliable acute actions of psilocybin and provides a model for improving reproducibility in psychedelic research.

Published
Journal
Biorxiv
Authors
Cameron, L. P., Casey, A. B., Gallagher, A., Gomez, A. M., Green, N., Heifets, B. D., Kheirbek, M. A., Klein, A. S., Lammel, S., Li, A., Li, R., Liu, C., Lu, O. D., Malenka, R. C., Pomrenze, M. B., Raymond, K., Shindy, L., Sohal, V., Vaillancourt, S., Wallquist, K., White, K., Zou, M.
Open Accessindividual

Major life changes following psychedelic use: A retrospective survey among people using psychedelics naturalistically

This survey (n=581) evaluates the Psychedelic-related Major Life Changes Questionnaire (P-MLCQ) in people reporting naturalistic psychedelic use. It finds that 82.96% of participants reported major life changes in at least one domain, including goals (53.7%), values (53.53%), and spirituality (49.05%), with changes rated highly positively (M = 4.64/5). Frequency of use correlated with more changes (r = 0.34), while education level was negatively associated with the number of changes (β = -0.137).

Published
Journal
Preprints
Authors
Aday, J. S., Baker, A., Barron, J., Boehnke, K. F., Glynos, N., Herberholz, M., Kruger, D. J., Pouyan, N., Woolley, J. D.
Open Accessindividual

Co-administration of midazolam and psilocybin: Differential effects on subjective quality versus memory of the psychedelic experience

This open-label study (n=8) co-administered psilocybin (25mg) with the amnestic benzodiazepine midazolam to assess the role of memory in the therapeutic effects of psilocybin. It finds that midazolam partially impaired memory while allowing a conscious psychedelic experience, with memory impairment inversely associated with salience, insight, and well-being induced by psilocybin, suggesting a role for memory in its therapeutic effects.

Published
Journal
Translational Psychiatry
Authors
Banks, M. I., Dunne, J. D., Hutson, P. R., Krause, B. M., Lennertz, R. L., Nicholas, C. R., Raison, C. L., Riedner, B. A., Roseman, L., Sauder, C. J., Smith, R. F., Wenthur, C. J.
Open Accessindividual

Assessment of the acute effects of 2C-B vs psilocybin on subjective experience, mood and cognition

In a within‑subjects, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study of 22 psychedelic‑experienced volunteers, 20 mg 2C‑B produced acute psychedelic alterations of moderate experiential depth but elicited less dysphoria, subjective impairment, auditory changes and ego‑dissolution than 15 mg psilocybin. Both drugs produced comparable psychomotor slowing, spatial memory impairments and transient pressor effects, while 2C‑B’s subjective effects were shorter in duration (largely resolving within ~6 hours).

Published
Journal
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Authors
Kuypers, K. P. C., Mallaroni, P., Mason, N. L., Paci, R., Ramaekers, J. G., Reckweg, J., Theunissen, E. L., Toennes, S. W.

Clinical Trials

1 trial

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