Psilocybin and Motor Function: A Triple-Blind, Dose-Finding Study in Healthy Participants

Chiranth Bhagavan; Richard Kanaan; Olivia Carter; Glenn Nielsen; David Berlowitz; Sara Issak; Sabine Braat; Sophie Zaloumis; Zachary Attard; Georgina Oliver; Deanne Mayne; David McKernon; Greg Roebuck; James Rucker; Matthew Butler; Alexander Bryson

doi:10.1176/appi.prcp.20240047

Psilocybin and Motor Function: A Triple-Blind, Dose-Finding Study in Healthy Participants

Chiranth Bhagavan
, Richard Kanaan
, Olivia Carter
, Glenn Nielsen
, David Berlowitz
, Sara Issak
, Sabine Braat
, Sophie Zaloumis
, Zachary Attard
, Georgina Oliver
, Deanne Mayne
, David McKernon
, Greg Roebuck
, James Rucker
, Matthew Butler
, Alexander Bryson

University of Melbourne
University of Auckland
Neurosciences and Cell Biology Research Institute St George's University of London London UK.
Institute for Breathing and Sleep Austin Health Heidelberg Victoria Australia
FND Hope International Salmon Idaho USA.
Department of Psychiatry Mildura Base Public Hospital Mildura Victoria Australia
Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, UK.
Department of Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, England2MRC Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King???s College London, London, England
Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Beckenham, UK

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There has been a resurgence of research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for neuropsychiatric disorders. Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, exert complex effects on higher cognitive functions such as perception and awareness, but their impact on motor function remains unexplored. Moreover, there is a theoretical rationale for using psychedelics to promote motor retraining in certain neuropsychiatric conditions associated with motor dysfunction. This protocol paper outlines the first study to investigate the feasibility and safety of performing movement tasks during the acute effects of psilocybin in healthy participants. The findings from this study will further our understanding of the impact of psychedelics on motor function, and inform future studies that combine classic psychedelics with motor retraining in clinical populations.

METHODS: 12 healthy participants will each receive three doses of psilocybin (between 5 and 20 mg) in a randomized order, with each dose administered at least 1 week apart. Participants, the trial physiotherapists, and statisticians will remain blinded to the psilocybin dose. A battery of measures assessing motor function will be completed during the acute drug effects. In addition, measures of safety, pre- and post-dose resting-state brain activity via functional magnetic resonance imaging, and participants' subjective experience will be assessed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	164-174
Number of pages	11
Journal	Psychiatric research and clinical practice
Volume	6
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.prcp.20240047
Publication status	Published - 2024

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10.1176/appi.prcp.20240047

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Bhagavan, C., Kanaan, R., Carter, O., Nielsen, G., Berlowitz, D., Issak, S., Braat, S., Zaloumis, S., Attard, Z., Oliver, G., Mayne, D., McKernon, D., Roebuck, G., Rucker, J., Butler, M., & Bryson, A. (2024). Psilocybin and Motor Function: A Triple-Blind, Dose-Finding Study in Healthy Participants. Psychiatric research and clinical practice, 6(4), 164-174. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.prcp.20240047

@article{caec2276e432424590515380c6fc727e,

title = "Psilocybin and Motor Function: A Triple-Blind, Dose-Finding Study in Healthy Participants",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: There has been a resurgence of research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for neuropsychiatric disorders. Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, exert complex effects on higher cognitive functions such as perception and awareness, but their impact on motor function remains unexplored. Moreover, there is a theoretical rationale for using psychedelics to promote motor retraining in certain neuropsychiatric conditions associated with motor dysfunction. This protocol paper outlines the first study to investigate the feasibility and safety of performing movement tasks during the acute effects of psilocybin in healthy participants. The findings from this study will further our understanding of the impact of psychedelics on motor function, and inform future studies that combine classic psychedelics with motor retraining in clinical populations.METHODS: 12 healthy participants will each receive three doses of psilocybin (between 5 and 20 mg) in a randomized order, with each dose administered at least 1 week apart. Participants, the trial physiotherapists, and statisticians will remain blinded to the psilocybin dose. A battery of measures assessing motor function will be completed during the acute drug effects. In addition, measures of safety, pre- and post-dose resting-state brain activity via functional magnetic resonance imaging, and participants' subjective experience will be assessed.",

author = "Chiranth Bhagavan and Richard Kanaan and Olivia Carter and Glenn Nielsen and David Berlowitz and Sara Issak and Sabine Braat and Sophie Zaloumis and Zachary Attard and Georgina Oliver and Deanne Mayne and David McKernon and Greg Roebuck and James Rucker and Matthew Butler and Alexander Bryson",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2024 The Author(s). Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Psychiatric Association.",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.1176/appi.prcp.20240047",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

pages = "164--174",

journal = "Psychiatric research and clinical practice",

issn = "2575-5609",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Inc.",

number = "4",

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Bhagavan, C, Kanaan, R, Carter, O, Nielsen, G, Berlowitz, D, Issak, S, Braat, S, Zaloumis, S, Attard, Z, Oliver, G, Mayne, D, McKernon, D, Roebuck, G, Rucker, J , Butler, M & Bryson, A 2024, 'Psilocybin and Motor Function: A Triple-Blind, Dose-Finding Study in Healthy Participants', Psychiatric research and clinical practice, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 164-174. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.prcp.20240047

TY - JOUR

T1 - Psilocybin and Motor Function

T2 - A Triple-Blind, Dose-Finding Study in Healthy Participants

AU - Bhagavan, Chiranth

AU - Kanaan, Richard

AU - Carter, Olivia

AU - Nielsen, Glenn

AU - Berlowitz, David

AU - Issak, Sara

AU - Braat, Sabine

AU - Zaloumis, Sophie

AU - Attard, Zachary

AU - Oliver, Georgina

AU - Mayne, Deanne

AU - McKernon, David

AU - Roebuck, Greg

AU - Rucker, James

AU - Butler, Matthew

AU - Bryson, Alexander

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - BACKGROUND: There has been a resurgence of research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for neuropsychiatric disorders. Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, exert complex effects on higher cognitive functions such as perception and awareness, but their impact on motor function remains unexplored. Moreover, there is a theoretical rationale for using psychedelics to promote motor retraining in certain neuropsychiatric conditions associated with motor dysfunction. This protocol paper outlines the first study to investigate the feasibility and safety of performing movement tasks during the acute effects of psilocybin in healthy participants. The findings from this study will further our understanding of the impact of psychedelics on motor function, and inform future studies that combine classic psychedelics with motor retraining in clinical populations.METHODS: 12 healthy participants will each receive three doses of psilocybin (between 5 and 20 mg) in a randomized order, with each dose administered at least 1 week apart. Participants, the trial physiotherapists, and statisticians will remain blinded to the psilocybin dose. A battery of measures assessing motor function will be completed during the acute drug effects. In addition, measures of safety, pre- and post-dose resting-state brain activity via functional magnetic resonance imaging, and participants' subjective experience will be assessed.

AB - BACKGROUND: There has been a resurgence of research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for neuropsychiatric disorders. Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, exert complex effects on higher cognitive functions such as perception and awareness, but their impact on motor function remains unexplored. Moreover, there is a theoretical rationale for using psychedelics to promote motor retraining in certain neuropsychiatric conditions associated with motor dysfunction. This protocol paper outlines the first study to investigate the feasibility and safety of performing movement tasks during the acute effects of psilocybin in healthy participants. The findings from this study will further our understanding of the impact of psychedelics on motor function, and inform future studies that combine classic psychedelics with motor retraining in clinical populations.METHODS: 12 healthy participants will each receive three doses of psilocybin (between 5 and 20 mg) in a randomized order, with each dose administered at least 1 week apart. Participants, the trial physiotherapists, and statisticians will remain blinded to the psilocybin dose. A battery of measures assessing motor function will be completed during the acute drug effects. In addition, measures of safety, pre- and post-dose resting-state brain activity via functional magnetic resonance imaging, and participants' subjective experience will be assessed.

U2 - 10.1176/appi.prcp.20240047

DO - 10.1176/appi.prcp.20240047

M3 - Article

C2 - 39669539

SN - 2575-5609

VL - 6

SP - 164

EP - 174

JO - Psychiatric research and clinical practice

JF - Psychiatric research and clinical practice

IS - 4

ER -

Psilocybin and Motor Function: A Triple-Blind, Dose-Finding Study in Healthy Participants

Abstract

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