Psychedelic drug psilocybin changes brain connectivity to treat body dysmorphic disorder

Columbia University researchers uncover how a single dose of "magic mushrooms" changes brain connectivity to alleviate symptoms of the devastating mental illness

Genomic Press

 

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Whole brain multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) reveals that seed brain regions including the thalamus [8 -6 8] (yellow), insula [-42 8 -6] (green), inferior parietal lobe (IPL) [-54 -38 38] (red), and ACC [16 34 24] (blue) predicted symptomatic improvement of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) at one week following a single dose of psilocybin. Using these clusters as seed regions, no further regions were identified. 

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Credit: Xi Zhu, Columbia University, New York, NY

New York, NY - Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a debilitating mental illness characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in one's physical appearance. Patients with BDD often have distorted self-image, intrusive thoughts, and compulsive behaviors that significantly impair daily functioning and quality of life. Current therapies have limited efficacy, leaving many sufferers without relief.

A new study led by researchers at Columbia University and published in Psychedelics (Genomic Press, New York, USA) provides hope by revealing how the psychedelic drug psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms," may rewirechange connectivity of brain circuitry, potentially aiding in the treatment of this debilitating disorder.

In the pilot trial, eight adults with moderate-to-severe BDD that had not responded to standard treatments received a single 25mg oral dose of psilocybin in a supportive setting. Using cutting-edge functional MRI technology, the scientists scanned the participants' brains one day before and one day after the psilocybin session. Sophisticated pattern analysis techniques were then applied to map changes in brain network connectivity and link them to subsequent clinical outcomes.

The results were striking: Just one day after psilocybin administration, the patients exhibited increased connectivity both within a network governing executive functions, and between this network and others involved in processing emotionally salient stimuli and self-referential thinking. Notably, those who showed the greatest strengthening of these neural connections also experienced the most improvement in BDD symptoms one week later.

While preliminary, the findings align with a growing body of evidence indicating that psychedelic compounds like psilocybin can promote mental health by enhancing the brain's capacity for flexibility and integration. By facilitating communication within and between brain networks that are often dysregulated in psychiatric disorders, psilocybin may help restore more adaptive cognitive and emotional functioning.

As the first study of psilocybin in a BDD population, the trial was small and lacked a placebo control. The researchers caution that larger, placebo-controlled studies are needed to verify the efficacy and durability of the treatment. Still, the robust brain-behavior relationships uncovered bode well for the ongoing development of psilocybin therapy.

The peer-reviewed study, "Single-Dose Psilocybin Alters Resting State Functional Networks in Patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder," will be published on September 24, 2024, in Psychedelics. It is freely available online at https://pp.genomicpress.com/aop/.

About Psychedelics – Psychedelics: The Journal of Psychedelic Pharmacology (ISSN: 2997-2671) is a peer-reviewed journal published by Genomic Press, New York. The journal is exclusively dedicated to the latest advancements in the realm of psychedelic substances and their potential therapeutic uses. Psychedelics embraces the full spectrum of research, from fundamental investigations to cutting-edge clinical studies and welcomes diverse perspectives and contributions, advancing the understanding of psychedelic compounds.

Contact: Chen Zhang, Columbia University: Chen.Zhang@nyspi.columbia.edu

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Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Single-Dose Psilocybin Alters Resting State Functional Networks in Patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Article Publication Date

24-Sep-2024

COI Statement

Dr. Schneier has received research support from Compass Pathways, Otsuka, Vistagen, and NIMH, royalties from UptoDate, Cambridge University Press, and Guilford Press, and served as consultant to Receptor Life and PureTech. Dr. Hellerstein has received research support from Compass Pathways, Relmada, Intracellular Therapies, Beckley Foundation, serves on the scientific advisory board for Reset Pharmaceuticals and has received royalties from Johns Hopkins University Press and Columbia University Press. Dr. Feusner receives research support from the NIMH, NIBIB, and the Klarman Family Foundation and serves as a consultant to NOCD, Inc. Drs. Wheaton, Zhu, and Ms. Chen and Ms. Gomez have no financial relationships to report. This research was supported by a grant from Compass Pathways PLC, United Kingdom. Compass supplied materials and participated in formulating the outline of the study but had no role in study selection or interpretation of the evidence.