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Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.

Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies Psilocybin

3 papers

Psilocybin

Based on 45 papers

Researchers are actively testing psilocybin (the active part of “magic mushrooms”) as a possible treatment for several mental health problems. Early clinical trials—usually done under medical supervision with therapy before and after the drug session—have found quick improvements in some people with major depression, anxiety linked to serious illness, and other hard-to-treat conditions (but the studies are still small). (15135,15063,15056) Scientists propose several ways psilocybin might help, such as changing how brain networks communicate, boosting the brain’s ability to form new connections, and lowering brain inflammation. However, the exact reasons are not settled. Safety in careful clinical settings looks acceptable so far, but harms may be underreported, and unsupervised use can carry real risks. More and larger trials are needed, and many groups (for example people of color) were not well represented in early studies. (15132,15050,15135,15061,15095,15056)

Key findings

  • Psilocybin is being tested for major depression, anxiety (including cancer‑related anxiety), substance use problems, and other mental health conditions. 15135 15063 15056
  • In research studies, psilocybin is usually given as one or a few full (hallucinogenic) doses together with hours of preparation and follow‑up psychotherapy. 15063 15065 15056
  • Some clinical trials report rapid and sometimes lasting reductions in depression and anxiety after only one or a few psilocybin sessions. 15132 15063 15049
  • Trials done with people who have serious illnesses (for example advanced cancer) often show lower anxiety, less depression, and reduced fear of dying after psychedelic‑assisted therapy. 15055 15063
  • Clinical studies run in controlled settings have generally reported acceptable safety and mostly short‑lived side effects, but reviews warn that studies often do not track or report harms in a consistent way. 15135 15055 15061
  • In community or illegal settings, psychedelic use (including psilocybin) has been linked to increases in psychotic or manic symptoms for some users, and users in unregulated settings report more negative experiences than people in clinical trials. 15133 15072 15080
  • Scientists do not agree on one single reason psilocybin might help. Evidence points to changes in brain networks, increased neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections), and lower inflammation as possible mechanisms. 15132 15135 15050
  • Many studies so far are small, have limited long‑term follow‑up, and underrepresent people of color, so we do not yet know how well results generalize to all groups or how long benefits and harms last. 15056 15095 15064

Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences

Theresa M. Carbonaro, Matthew P. Bradstreet, Frederick S. Barrett, Katherine A. MacLean, Robert L. Jesse, Matthew W. Johnson, et al.
Journal of Psychopharmacology Summary & key facts 2016 526 citations

Psychedelic "bad trips" can be intense and sometimes last past the session. Surveys and studies report that a minority of users have serious short- or long-term problems, while other people later say the experience was meaningful or helpful. Risk and duration vary by dose, setting, and support, and studies give…

Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Psilocybin therapy for females with anorexia nervosa: a phase 1, open-label feasibility study

Stéphanie Knatz Peck, Samantha Shao, Tessa Gruen, Kevin H. Yang, Alexandra Babakanian, Julie Trim, et al.
Nature Medicine Summary & key facts 2023 130 citations

This was a small, phase 1 open-label study of 10 adult females with anorexia nervosa or partial remission who each received a single 25 mg dose of synthetic psilocybin plus psychological support. The main goal was to check safety and whether the treatment was tolerable and feasible. No serious adverse…

Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies Psychedelics and Drug Studies Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology

Study Protocol for “Psilocybin as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study”

Spriggs, Meg J., Douglass, Hannah M., Park, Rebecca J., et al.
www.frontiersin.org Summary & key facts 2021 74 citations

This paper describes a pilot study protocol that will test psilocybin-assisted therapy in 20 adult females with anorexia nervosa. Participants will get up to three oral doses (up to 25 mg) over a 6-week period, with psychological preparation, support people involved, and remote follow-up for 12 months. The study aims…

Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies Digital Mental Health Interventions Psychedelics and Drug Studies
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