Need for scientific rigor
Commenting on the research, Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD, professor and chair, department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, University of Texas at Austin, said while promising, psilocybin is “not for everyone” and patients need to be closely screened.
University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Charles B. Nemeroff
“We want to know their medical history and if they have a family history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. We don’t know whether these [psychedelic] medicines might trigger an episode.”
Dr. Nemeroff also noted there’s a risk of “troubling” side effects from the drug.
“My view is psilocybin clearly has therapeutic effects and we need to apply scientific rigor as we would any medicine in order to determine the risk/benefit ratio,” said Dr. Nemeroff, who was not associated with this psilocybin trial.
In addition, psilocybin is being tested in conditions other than BDD and major depression, including anorexia nervosa, postpartum depression, and alcohol use disorder, he added.
The study received funding from COMPASS Pathways PLC.
Dr. Nemeroff reports he has received research support from the NIH and Stanley Medical Research Institute; served as a consultant for Bracket (Clintara), Fortress Biotech, Intra-Cellular Therapies, Janssen Research and Development, Magstim, Navitor Pharmaceuticals, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Taisho Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, TC MSO, and Xhale; served on scientific advisory boards for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Bracket (Clintara), Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Skyland Trail, and Xhale; is a stockholder in AbbVie, Antares, BI Gen Holdings, Celgene, OPKO Health, Seattle Genetics, and Xhale; serves on the board of directors for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and Gratitude America; has received income or equity of $10,000 or more from American Psychiatric Publishing, Bracket (Clintara), Magstim, CME Outfitters, and Intra-Cellular Therapies; and holds patents on a method and devices for transdermal delivery of lithium and a method of assessing antidepressant drug therapy via transport inhibition of monoamine neurotransmitters by ex vivo assay.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.