Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can trap people in cycles of intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Current treatments help many people, but not everyone. As a result, researchers have begun to explore whether psilocybin might offer a new approach. This article explains what is known about psilocybin for OCD, from the first small study to current research, and why the evidence is still very early.
This article is for general information only. It is not medical advice. If OCD affects your life, please speak to a doctor or mental health professional. Effective treatments are available.
What Is OCD?
OCD involves obsessions, which are unwanted and distressing thoughts, and compulsions, which are repetitive actions or mental rituals that people feel driven to perform. Common examples include fears of contamination with repeated hand-washing, or worries about harm with repeated checking.
The main treatments are cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention, and certain antidepressants. However, a significant group of people only partly improve.
Why Study Psilocybin for OCD?
OCD is often described as a disorder of rigid, "stuck" thinking. Psilocybin appears to temporarily loosen fixed patterns of thought and brain activity [1]. Researchers therefore wonder whether it might help people break out of obsessive loops, at least for a while. Our guide to psilocybin and the brain explains how psilocybin changes brain network activity.
The First Study of Psilocybin for OCD
In 2006, researchers at the University of Arizona published the first modern study of psilocybin for OCD [2]. Nine people with OCD who had not responded well to other treatments received different doses of psilocybin in separate sessions, under close medical supervision.
All participants showed reductions in OCD symptoms at some point after their sessions. The effects usually lasted from hours to about a day. Interestingly, participants improved across different doses, including lower ones. Psilocybin was generally well tolerated, although one participant had a temporary rise in blood pressure.
What This Study Can and Cannot Tell Us
The results were encouraging, but the study was tiny and had no proper placebo group. In addition, the benefits were short-lived, so it is unclear how psilocybin could be used as a lasting treatment. Since then, researchers have started new trials to test psilocybin for OCD more rigorously. Until results are available, nobody should consider psilocybin a treatment for OCD.
Risks for People With OCD
Psilocybin can cause intense anxiety and confusion, which may be especially distressing for people who already struggle with intrusive thoughts. Some people also take antidepressants for OCD, which can weaken or interact with psilocybin. Never stop or change medication without medical advice. In addition, psilocybin is not suitable for people with a personal or family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder. Read our guide to bad trips to learn more about the psychological risks.
Psilocybin for OCD and Related Research
Research on psilocybin for OCD is part of a wider effort to understand how psychedelics affect rigid thinking. Similar ideas are being tested for depression, addiction and anorexia. For an overview of how supervised sessions work, read our guide to psilocybin therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is psilocybin approved for OCD?
No. Psilocybin for OCD is only available in research studies.
Does microdosing help OCD?
There is no reliable evidence that it does. The 2006 study used supervised single doses, not microdoses.
What are the best current treatments for OCD?
Cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention, and certain antidepressants, are the main evidence-based treatments. A doctor can help you find the right approach.
Conclusion: Psilocybin for OCD Is Still Experimental
A small early study suggested that psilocybin for OCD might reduce symptoms, at least briefly. However, the evidence is very limited, and larger controlled trials are needed. If you live with OCD, proven treatments remain the best place to start, and new research may offer more options in the future.
Sources
- Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM. The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: past, present, and future. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.84
- Moreno FA, et al. Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of psilocybin in 9 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2006. doi:10.4088/JCP.v67n1110
