Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction.

Abstract

Despite suggestive early findings on the therapeutic use of hallucinogens in the treatment of substance use disorders, rigorous follow-up has not been conducted. To determine the safety and feasibility of psilocybin as an adjunct to tobacco smoking cessation treatment we conducted an open-label pilot study administering moderate (20 mg/70 kg) and high (30 mg/70 kg) doses of psilocybin within a structured 15-week smoking cessation treatment protocol. Participants were 15 psychiatrically healthy nicotine-dependent smokers (10 males; mean age of 51 years), with a mean of six previous lifetime quit attempts, and smoking a mean of 19 cigarettes per day for a mean of 31 years at intake. Biomarkers assessing smoking status, and self-report measures of smoking behavior demonstrated that 12 of 15 participants (80%) showed seven-day point prevalence abstinence at 6-month follow-up. The observed smoking cessation rate substantially exceeds rates commonly reported for other behavioral and/or pharmacological therapies (typically <35%). Although the open-label design does not allow for definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of psilocybin, these findings suggest psilocybin may be a potentially efficacious adjunct to current smoking cessation treatment models. The present study illustrates a framework for future research on the efficacy and mechanisms of hallucinogen-facilitated treatment of addiction.

• Authors: Matthew W Johnson, Albert Garcia-Romeu, Mary P Cosimano, Roland R Griffiths
• Journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (J Psychopharmacol) Vol. 28 Issue 11 Pg. 983-92 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 1461-7285 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25213996 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2014.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Nicotinic Agonists
• Serotonin Receptor Agonists
• Psilocybin
• Carbon Monoxide
• Cotinine

Topics

• Attitude
• Behavior, Addictive (drug therapy)
• Biomarkers (metabolism, urine)
• Carbon Monoxide (metabolism)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Combined Modality Therapy (adverse effects)
• Cotinine (urine)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nicotinic Agonists (therapeutic use)
• Pilot Projects
• Psilocybin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Serotonin Receptor Agonists (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Smoking Cessation (methods)
• Tobacco Use Disorder (drug therapy, psychology, therapy)
• Treatment Outcome