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Study: Psilocybin Relieves OCD Symptoms

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Dec 20, 7:41 PM (ET)

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A preliminary study of the active ingredient in

psychedelic mushrooms has found it is effective in relieving the symptoms of

people suffering from severe obsessive compulsive disorder, a University of

Arizona psychiatrist reports.

Dr. Francisco A. Moreno led the first FDA-approved clinical study of

psilocybin since it was outlawed in 1970. The results of the small-scale

study are published in the latest edition of the Journal of Clinical

Psychiatry.

Moreno said the study's intent was only to test the safety of administering

psilocybin to patients, and its effectiveness is still in doubt until a

larger controlled study can be conducted.

But in each of the nine patients in the study, psilocybin completely removed

symptoms of the disorder for a period of about four to 24 hours, with some

remaining symptom-free for days, Moreno said.

" What we saw acutely was a drastic decrease in symptoms, " Moreno said. " The

obsessions would really dissolve or reduce drastically for a period of

time. "

Best known among the drug culture as magic mushrooms, the hallucinogenic

fungus remains a popular illicit drug. Although banned by Comprehensive Drug

Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, research into medical uses is

allowed.

The new research does not reflect any change in government policy, said

Rogene Waite, a spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Currently, there is no treatment that eases symptoms of the disorder as fast

as psilocybin appears to, Moreno said. Other drugs take several weeks to

show an effect, but the psilocybin was almost immediate.

The drug is not one that could be taken daily, Moreno said, and many

questions remain about its use, including if it would be addictive or if

patients would develop a tolerance to the drug.

Moreno 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, " Moreno

said. " 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 patients in the study 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. Others 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 said.

---

[Guest guest]

Now they tell me. If I had known, I would have taken more psilo " back in

the day " .

RB, Whose most adventurous ingestion nowadays is green tea

  Posted by: " szukidavis@... " szukidavis@... sheldavis  

Date: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:32 am ((PST))

Study: Psilocybin Relieves OCD Symptoms

Email this Story

Dec 20, 7:41 PM (ET)

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A preliminary study of the active ingredient in

psychedelic mushrooms has found it is effective in relieving the

symptoms of people suffering from severe obsessive compulsive disorder,

a University of Arizona psychiatrist reports.

Dr. Francisco A. Moreno led the first FDA-approved clinical study of

psilocybin since it was outlawed in 1970. The results of the small-scale

study are published in the latest edition of the Journal of Clinical

Psychiatry.

Moreno said the study's intent was only to test the safety of

administering psilocybin to patients, and its effectiveness is still in

doubt until a larger controlled study can be conducted.

But in each of the nine patients in the study, psilocybin completely

removed symptoms of the disorder for a period of about four to 24 hours,

with some remaining symptom-free for days, Moreno said.

" What we saw acutely was a drastic decrease in symptoms, " Moreno said.

" The obsessions would really dissolve or reduce drastically for a period

of time. "

Best known among the drug culture as magic mushrooms, the hallucinogenic

fungus remains a popular illicit drug. Although banned by Comprehensive

Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, research into medical

uses is allowed.

The new research does not reflect any change in government policy, said

Rogene Waite, a spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Currently, there is no treatment that eases symptoms of the disorder as

fast as psilocybin appears to, Moreno said. Other drugs take several

weeks to show an effect, but the psilocybin was almost immediate.

The drug is not one that could be taken daily, Moreno said, and many

questions remain about its use, including if it would be addictive or if

patients would develop a tolerance to the drug.

Moreno 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, " Moreno

said. " 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 patients in the study 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. Others 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 said.