All posts tagged: ObsessiveCompulsive

Repeated doses of psilocybin show promise for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder

Repeated doses of psilocybin show promise for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder

A new clinical trial suggests that multiple doses of psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” could provide substantial relief for individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. The findings indicate that repeated weekly treatments are safe and tend to significantly reduce the severity of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. This research, published in the https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811261424214” target=”_blank”>Journal of Psychopharmacology, provides evidence for a new potential treatment avenue for those who have not found success with standard therapies. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a debilitating psychiatric condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. These symptoms consume a significant amount of time and can severely disrupt daily functioning. Current standard treatments typically include a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and daily medications like serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, these traditional approaches often fall short for many patients. People frequently experience delayed or incomplete symptom relief, and they sometimes struggle to adhere to the treatments due to unwanted side effects. Because of these challenges, scientists have sought alternative therapeutic approaches that might offer faster or more robust relief. Psilocybin has recently emerged …

The Drama of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The Drama of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

This may surprise you: Faith is a significant part of treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as humility. When we think of faith, we often think of religion, superstition, or even blind faith. We think of faith as a means of survival, a practical way to motivate ourselves to eat, sleep, and engage in life’s difficulties. Maybe somewhat shockingly, just continuing to live is a struggle for many. This is especially true for those diagnosed with OCD. OCD latches onto facts and extends them, logically stretching them to the farthest end of human suffering. In a nutshell, OCD brings potential suffering into the present; it breathes life into it in the way people believe God breathes life into each soul. And it makes something out of nothing, at least nothing so meaningful. The new film, The Drama, showcases obsessive tendencies in a way seldom seen on screen; we usually get depictions of people who can’t stop cleaning. The film asks: How well do we know anyone? And, more importantly: Can we live with epistemological …

The Obsessive-Compulsive Pursuit of Clarity Over Freedom

The Obsessive-Compulsive Pursuit of Clarity Over Freedom

We chalk up idealism to youth, but it’s fair to say that most of us, even if we consider ourselves to be adults, struggle with tolerating uncertainty. Personally, my obsessive-compulsive mind detests it. I want my life to appear as a clear narrative, where everything I do and everything that happens to me is part of some grander play, with me at its center, of course. A recent meta-analysis of meaning and depression (Ouyang et al. 2026) concluded that coherence—the ability to make sense of one’s experiences and fit them neatly into a worldview—had the strongest negative correlation with depression, as opposed to other forms of meaning. While this is a hopeful perspective, it hides the reality of rigidity. The caveat is that coherence must be possible for it to matter. So, what happens if it isn’t? What if the data don’t fit one’s worldview or challenge it altogether? Arguably, from the obsessive-compulsive perspective, where coherence is a necessity, its lack can and likely will be destabilizing. In treatment, a patient may tell us they …