In this episode, Sorcha O'Connor, PhD(c) joins to discuss the research into the use of psilocybin to address obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Sorcha is completing her neuroscience PhD at Imperial College London, specialising in mental health research. She led PsilOCD, a pioneering study investigating low-dose psilocybin as a treatment for both the clinical symptoms and cognitive features of OCD.

In this conversation, Sorcha introduces obsessive-compulsive disorder and discusses the ways medical professionals are currently thinking about this and other related conditions. She mentions that current therapies for OCD often only minimally improve symptoms, emphasizing the need for better treatment options. This led to studies exploring psilocybin as a treatment for OCD - and Sorcha emphasizes that the early trials have shown positive results, often with significant decreases in OCD symptoms. In conclusion, Sorcha discusses the protocol for the PsilOCD study at Imperial College London, with results from this study soon to be published.  

In this episode you'll hear:

• The features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) 
• The history and development of treatments for OCD
• The theory behind the hypothesis that psilocybin may be effective for OCD
• Trials exploring the efficacy of psychedelic treatments for OCD
• Why psilocybin has come to the fore more than LSD or ketamine for prospective OCD studies
• How patients are evaluated for OCD

Quotes:

“[OCD] is this complex behavioral pattern and certain medications moderately help and nothing seems to be highly effective yet and that definitely points to the need for novel pharmacotherapy.”  [12:46]

“[By utilizing lower doses of psilocybin], people who maybe fixate on their health and on their mental health and sensations and things can benefit from psilocybin without having to overcome that barrier.” [18:25]

Links:

Sorcha on LinkedIn

PsilOCD Study details on the Imperial College London website

Dr. Michael J. Greenberg’s website

Psychedelic Medicine Association

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