How psilocybin may change the brain to help with alcohol use disorder
Neural mechanisms of psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder.
Looking at whether psilocybin changes brain activity linked to craving and emotions and helps people with alcohol use disorder drink less.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176881 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research will give people with alcohol use disorder psilocybin along with psychological support and use brain scans (fMRI) before and after treatment to see how the brain's responses to alcohol cues and negative emotions change. Researchers will compare those brain changes with measures of drinking, craving, and mood over time to find links between brain effects and clinical benefits. The project builds on prior randomized trials showing large, lasting reductions in drinking and pilot fMRI data suggesting normalization of cue and emotional responses after psilocybin. The goal is to identify brain markers that predict who is most likely to benefit from psilocybin-assisted treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who are willing to undergo psilocybin sessions, psychotherapy, and MRI scans would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with a history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, unstable medical or psychiatric conditions, those on incompatible medications, or those unable to undergo MRI may not be eligible or benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help tailor psilocybin-assisted therapy to reduce drinking by identifying brain changes tied to better outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous randomized trials of psilocybin for alcohol use disorder and for major depression have shown large, lasting improvements, and small fMRI pilot work suggests related brain-response changes.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bogenschutz, Michael Parks — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Bogenschutz, Michael Parks
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.