Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental health condition where people experience unwanted, repeated thoughts and feel the need to do certain actions over and over.
It often needs long-term treatment, but many people don’t respond well to the usual treatments.
OCD is believed to be linked to problems with brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate. The main treatments today include special antidepressants called SSRIs and a type of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Still, up to 60% of people do not get enough help from these methods, which is why scientists are looking for new treatment options.
Recently, researchers from McMaster University reviewed past studies to see if psilocybin (the active chemical in magic mushrooms) or cannabis could help people with OCD, especially those who don’t respond to regular treatments. Their review was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
The researchers looked at many types of studies, including scientific papers and real-life reports. They included information on psilocybin and other psychedelic substances like LSD, DMT, and MDMA, as well as different types of cannabis products.
Some people with OCD have tried cannabis to manage their symptoms. In one large report, 87 people used cannabis during 1,810 sessions over 31 months. Most of them said it helped reduce intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and anxiety.
However, some also said their symptoms got worse, and overall, the effects were mixed. Another study in Italy found that only a small number of people with OCD used cannabis to treat their symptoms. Many said it didn’t help and some even said it made their symptoms worse.
On the other hand, psilocybin seemed to offer stronger and more positive effects. One international survey included 174 people with OCD who had used psychedelics at least once.
Many reported clear improvements in their symptoms after using psilocybin or LSD. Some felt better for more than three months, while others said the effects lasted less than a week. People who had stronger and more positive experiences during the trip reported greater improvements.
Several case studies and small clinical trials also showed hopeful results. In one case, a man with severe OCD who hadn’t responded to other treatments took 19.4 mg of psilocybin. His symptoms dropped sharply within two days and stayed very low for a whole year.
In another small study, nine people with treatment-resistant OCD all showed improvements in their symptoms within 24 hours of taking psilocybin. Some had a 50% to 100% drop in symptoms. Another study tested a 10 mg dose in 18 adults and saw the biggest benefits after one week.
There was also a report on LSD used in therapy. One person improved after several doses, but another did not. Still, there are very few large, controlled studies on this topic, so scientists say it’s too early to draw final conclusions.
Right now, the evidence for cannabis helping OCD is weak. Some people feel better, but others feel worse, especially if they already have high anxiety. Psilocybin appears more promising, especially for people whose OCD hasn’t improved with other treatments.
However, researchers warn that more studies with more people and longer follow-up are needed to know if psilocybin is truly safe and helpful in the long term.
Because similar effects have been seen with psilocybin in treating PTSD, depression, and anxiety, it may be worth studying further. OCD could be added to the list of mental health conditions that might benefit from this unusual but powerful natural compound.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health.
For more mental health information, please see recent studies about top foods to tame your stress, and Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
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