The compound in magic mushrooms helped diminish symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder in a small research study. Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, continues to enjoy a moment in the sun in clinical research. Previous studies have already suggested that the substance may help combat depression and post-traumatic stress disorder .
Now, novel research suggests it might help with yet another common psychological disorder. A new paper published today in the journal Psychedelics demonstrates how psilocybin can effectively treat body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) , a mental health condition in which someone’s preoccupation with their physical appearance may be so overwhelming that it infringes on their ability to function. Conducted by researchers in the U.
S., Canada, and Sweden, this study further reinforces how psilocybin can be useful in treating mental health disorders. This is the first study to report changes in the brain after psilocybin administration in patients with BDD.
This research was also supported by a grant from Compass Pathways PLC , a U.K.-based biotechnology company that also provided the psilocybin capsules for this study.
The study was small, with just eight participants between the ages of 18 and 55. All of them had a history of diagnosed BDD as well as nonresponse or intolerance to various standards of treatment like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors for at least two months. Each rece.