Pilot study of single-dose psilocybin for serotonin reuptake inhibitor-resistant body dysmorphic disorder

Summary & key facts

Twelve adults with moderate-to-severe body dysmorphic disorder who had not improved on standard antidepressant-type medications took a single supervised 25 mg dose of psilocybin while getting psychological support. Their appearance-related symptoms and related distress fell noticeably within a week and stayed lower for up to 12 weeks for many people. About half showed a clear clinical response by week 12. The study was small, had no comparison group, and excluded people with severe depression or psychotic or bipolar illness, so the results are only preliminary and need testing in larger controlled trials.

Key facts:

• Twelve adults with body dysmorphic disorder that had not improved after at least one prior trial of standard serotonin-targeting medication took part in the study.
• Each person received a single oral dose of 25 mg of psilocybin in a controlled setting with two therapists present and with preparatory and follow-up sessions.
• Clinicians measured symptom severity before dosing and repeatedly for 12 weeks after dosing.
• Overall symptom scores decreased significantly across the 12 weeks, with noticeable improvement already by one week after dosing.
• At 12 weeks, seven people, about 60 percent, met the study definition of a response, meaning their symptom scores fell by at least 30 percent.
• Secondary measures like strength of belief in appearance defects, negative mood, and day-to-day disability also showed significant improvement.
• No serious adverse events were reported and all participants completed the dosing session and follow-up visits.
• This was an open-label pilot study with no placebo or comparison group, and it excluded people with recent serious suicidal thoughts, psychosis, bipolar disorder, or active substance use problems, so the findings are preliminary and apply only to a limited group of people.

Topics

Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies Psychedelics and Drug Studies Tattoo and Body Piercing Complications

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Body dysmorphic disorder Fluoxetine Hallucinogen Internal medicine Medicine Pharmacology Psilocybin Psychiatry Psychology Receptor Reuptake inhibitor Serotonin Serotonin reuptake inhibitor Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors

Substances

Psilocybin

Conditions & symptoms

Depression Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Anxiety or worry Feeling disconnected from others Sadness or low mood