Body mass index (BMI) does not predict responses to psilocybin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Psilocybin is a serotonin type 2A (5-HT_2A) receptor agonist and naturally occurring psychedelic. 5-HT_2A receptor density is known to be associated with body mass index (BMI), however, the impact of this on psilocybin therapy has not been explored. While body weight-adjusted dosing is widely used, this imposes a practical and financial strain on the scalability of psychedelic therapy. This gap between evidence and practice is caused by the absence of studies clarifying the relationship between BMI, the acute psychedelic experience and long-term psychological outcomes.

Method

Data were pooled across three studies using a fixed 25 mg dose of psilocybin delivered in a therapeutic context to assess whether BMI predicts characteristics of the acute

SUBMITTER: Spriggs MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9834321 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature