Psychedelic mushrooms ease symptoms of OCD

A psychiatrist with the University of Arizona says a preliminary study of the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms has found the ingredient to be effective in relieving the symptoms of people suffering from severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Dr. Francisco Moreno led the first FDA-approved study of psilocybin since it was outlawed in 1970. Moreno said the study’s aim was only to test the safety of giving psilocybin to patients, and its effectiveness is still in question until a larger controlled study can be conducted.

In each of the study’s nine subjects, psilocybin completely removed symptoms of the disorder for a period of time from 4 to 24 hours, with some remaining symptom-free for days, according to Moreno.

“What we saw acutely was a drastic decrease in symptoms. The obsessions would really dissolve or reduce drastically for a period of time,” Moreno explained.

Known popularly as “magic mushrooms” in drug lingo, the hallucinogenic fungus remains a popular illicit drug. Banned in 1970 by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, research into medicinal uses is allowed.

The new research does not reflect any governmental policy changes, according to DEA spokeswoman Rogene Waite.

Moreno said there is currently no faster treatment for the symptoms of OCD as psilocybin. Other drugs take weeks to show any effect, but psilocybin was nearly immediate in its effect.

The drug is not one that could be administered daily, according to Moreno, and many questions remain about its use, including if it would be addictive or if patients would develop a tolerance to the drug.

Moreno said he hopes to conduct an expanded study that could offer more convincing evidence of its effectiveness.

“We’re very cautious about making too much of the early results. I don’t want to characterize it as psychedelics are the way to go. Although it seemed to be safe, this was done in the context of supervision by trained professionals in a medical setting. This is not ready to be used by the public just because nine people tolerated it.”

Symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder typically develop in the teen years and can make it difficult hard for patients to lead normal, day-to-day lives.

The nine study participants had a range of compulsions, including fear of being contaminated, elaborate cleaning rituals, tapping or touching rituals and mental rituals. One patient wouldn’t touch the floor with anything but the soles of his shoes. Other subjects would shower for hours or put on pants over and over again until they felt right.

“They know it’s senseless. They know it doesn’t do anything for them, but if they don’t do it they become very distraught and very uncomfortable and have a very difficult time functioning,” Moreno concluded.

The results appear in the latest edition of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

SOURCES: Moreno F, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. Waite R, Drug Enforcement Administration.

© Copyright 2007 Insight Journal Online Magazine.

Join the Discussion:

Discuss and ask questions in our community forums

Recommended Links:

Sign up for our FREE Health and Wellness Newsletter
What does OCD feel like? [thehealthcenter.info]
Treatment for OCD [thehealthcenter.info]
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Information [NIMH.gov]
Hallucinogens and OCD [American Journal of Psychiatry]
Types of Anxiety Disorders [Insight Journal]


View More Articles In Category: Anxiety News