#qualityoflifeboost — Public Fediverse posts

DATE: October 3, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Psilocybin shows early promise for lingering Lyme disease symptoms

URL: https://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-shows-early-promise-for-lingering-lyme-disease-symptoms/

A small pilot study of 20 people with post-treatment Lyme disease found that, 6 months after two psilocybin sessions with psychological support, their overall symptom burden was 40% lower than at the start of the study, and their health-related quality of life had improved. Mood, fatigue, sleep quality, and pain also showed significant and sustained improvements, although the study did not include a control group. The paper was published in Scientific Reports.

Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia bacteria and transmitted to people through the bite of infected ticks. It can affect the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart. Early symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, headache, and a characteristic expanding skin rash. When recognized and treated with appropriate antibiotics, most people recover well.

However, an estimated 10% to 20% of patients continue to experience symptoms such as fatigue, pain, sleep problems, and difficulties with memory or concentration after completing standard treatment. This condition is called post-treatment Lyme disease, or PTLD. The symptoms can persist for months or years and may substantially interfere with everyday functioning and quality of life. Many patients also struggle with depression and anxiety, and there are currently no established treatments for the condition.

Why PTLD develops is still not fully understood. Proposed explanations include lingering immune changes, tissue injury from the original infection, and other biological or psychological factors. Importantly, persistent symptoms after treatment do not necessarily mean that the original bacterial infection is still active.

Study author Albert Garcia-Romeu of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and his colleagues reasoned that classic psychedelics might help ease symptoms and improve quality of life in people with chronic illnesses that have not responded to other treatments, such as PTLD. In clinical trials, psilocybin has shown antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, and animal studies have provided preliminary evidence that psychedelics may reduce inflammation. Classic psychedelics are psychoactive substances such as psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and mescaline that primarily alter perception, mood, and cognition through serotonin receptor activity.

Although these substances are illegal or tightly controlled in many countries, researchers are actively examining their use in treating various mental health conditions, with many reporting positive results. The authors of this study explored how PTLD symptoms change after treatment with psilocybin accompanied by psychological support.

Study participants were 20 patients with PTLD. The main source of recruitment was patients who had previously taken part in studies at the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center and had agreed to be contacted about future research. Additional participants were recruited through online advertisements and word of mouth. To be eligible, participants needed medical records documenting a Lyme disease diagnosis and a standard course of antibiotics, followed by persistent symptoms. Screening was strict: of 486 people who were pre-screened, 20 enrolled and received the treatment.

Participants’ average age was 44 years, 11 of them were women, and 90% were white. Their median illness duration was 5.7 years. At screening, five participants met criteria for major depression and five met criteria for ADHD, and three remained on antidepressants throughout the trial.

After enrollment, participants completed an 8-week study intervention that included two sessions in which they received psilocybin with psychological support. Everyone received 15 mg in week 4. In week 6, 18 participants received a higher 25 mg dose, while two stayed at 15 mg because they had strong reactions to the first session.

Before receiving psilocybin, participants attended three weekly preparatory meetings that included standard psychoeducation about its effects and a brief life review to discuss the course of their illness, their symptom burden, and other formative life events. These meetings were also used to help participants set their own treatment goals.

After each psilocybin session, participants completed an integration meeting within three days so the team could assess their mental status and document any adverse events. Weekly meetings with facilitators continued through week 8 to discuss the contents of participants’ psilocybin sessions and to monitor their overall progress. Participants completed follow-up assessments approximately 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the second psilocybin session. Most study visits took place over video chat, but the dosing sessions, the week 8 visit, and the 6-month follow-up were conducted in person at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus.

These self-reported assessments covered PTLD symptoms (using the General Symptom Questionnaire-30), health-related quality of life (the Short-Form Health Survey), depressive symptoms, sleep quality, fatigue severity, and pain severity.

Results showed that PTLD symptoms and all other outcomes improved after treatment, and the improvements largely held through the 6-month follow-up. The study’s main endpoint was 1 month after the second dose, and by that point general symptom burden was 42% lower than at the start of the study, after being 52% lower at 2 weeks. Six months after the second dose, symptom burden remained 40% lower than at baseline. Mental and physical quality of life scores were each about 13% higher at 6 months.

Mood, fatigue, sleep quality, and pain improved as well. Across the follow-ups, depressive symptoms were roughly 50% to 60% lower than at baseline, sleep problems 40% to 50% lower, fatigue 25% to 30% lower, and overall pain 40% to 50% lower.

No serious adverse events related to the treatment occurred, and all participants completed both dosing sessions. The most common side effects attributed to psilocybin were temporary increases in blood pressure (in 90% of participants), headache (65%), rapid heart rate (35%), pain (20%), and fatigue (15%). The blood pressure and heart rate increases were modest and resolved on their own, and over-the-counter pain relievers were the only treatment needed to manage side effects.

Two serious adverse events occurred during the study period, and both were judged unrelated to psilocybin. One participant developed passive suicidal thoughts about seven weeks after their last psilocybin session, shortly after starting a new antidepressant, and the thoughts resolved within four days of stopping that medication. Another participant was diagnosed with rectal cancer at the 6-month follow-up.

“Preliminary findings support that psilocybin-assisted treatment was feasible and well-tolerated among the sample. Clinical outcomes indicated potentially long-lasting benefits of psilocybin-assisted treatment, warranting further investigation for PTLD,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on potential uses of psilocybin for treating PTLD. However, it did not include a control group, and participants knew they were receiving psilocybin, which may have shaped their expectations about the outcome.

Because there was no control group, it remains unknown whether the observed changes resulted from psilocybin treatment, from the natural course of the illness over time, or from other factors that might have affected symptoms independently of the study treatment. Some of the improvement may also reflect regression to the mean, the tendency for unusually high scores at the start of a study to drift back toward typical levels on their own. Additionally, participants’ expectations, which the researchers did not measure, may have influenced how they reported their symptoms.

Because psilocybin was given together with psychological support, the study also cannot separate the effects of the drug from those of the support sessions. The sample was small and mostly white and highly educated, several participants had depression or ADHD or were taking psychiatric medications, and the study did not measure memory or concentration, even though cognitive difficulties are a core feature of PTLD. The researchers say the results are encouraging enough to justify randomized controlled trials.

The paper, “Pilot study of psilocybin in patients with post-treatment lyme disease,” was authored by Albert Garcia-Romeu, Gideon P. Naudé, Alison W. Rebman, Sara So, Abigail Yaffe, Ian Geithner, Erica A. Kozero, Ting Yang, Mark J. Soloski, and John N. Aucott.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-shows-early-promise-for-lingering-lyme-disease-symptoms/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsilocybinPTLD #LymeDiseaseRecovery #PsychedelicTherapy #PostTreatmentLymeDisease #MentalHealthInnovation #ChronicIllnessCare #QualityOfLifeBoost #DepressionFatigueSleepPain #ClinicalTrial # JohnsHopkinsStudy

DATE: October 3, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Psilocybin shows early promise for lingering Lyme disease symptoms

URL: https://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-shows-early-promise-for-lingering-lyme-disease-symptoms/

A small pilot study of 20 people with post-treatment Lyme disease found that, 6 months after two psilocybin sessions with psychological support, their overall symptom burden was 40% lower than at the start of the study, and their health-related quality of life had improved. Mood, fatigue, sleep quality, and pain also showed significant and sustained improvements, although the study did not include a control group. The paper was published in Scientific Reports.

Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia bacteria and transmitted to people through the bite of infected ticks. It can affect the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart. Early symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, headache, and a characteristic expanding skin rash. When recognized and treated with appropriate antibiotics, most people recover well.

However, an estimated 10% to 20% of patients continue to experience symptoms such as fatigue, pain, sleep problems, and difficulties with memory or concentration after completing standard treatment. This condition is called post-treatment Lyme disease, or PTLD. The symptoms can persist for months or years and may substantially interfere with everyday functioning and quality of life. Many patients also struggle with depression and anxiety, and there are currently no established treatments for the condition.

Why PTLD develops is still not fully understood. Proposed explanations include lingering immune changes, tissue injury from the original infection, and other biological or psychological factors. Importantly, persistent symptoms after treatment do not necessarily mean that the original bacterial infection is still active.

Study author Albert Garcia-Romeu of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and his colleagues reasoned that classic psychedelics might help ease symptoms and improve quality of life in people with chronic illnesses that have not responded to other treatments, such as PTLD. In clinical trials, psilocybin has shown antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, and animal studies have provided preliminary evidence that psychedelics may reduce inflammation. Classic psychedelics are psychoactive substances such as psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and mescaline that primarily alter perception, mood, and cognition through serotonin receptor activity.

Although these substances are illegal or tightly controlled in many countries, researchers are actively examining their use in treating various mental health conditions, with many reporting positive results. The authors of this study explored how PTLD symptoms change after treatment with psilocybin accompanied by psychological support.

Study participants were 20 patients with PTLD. The main source of recruitment was patients who had previously taken part in studies at the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center and had agreed to be contacted about future research. Additional participants were recruited through online advertisements and word of mouth. To be eligible, participants needed medical records documenting a Lyme disease diagnosis and a standard course of antibiotics, followed by persistent symptoms. Screening was strict: of 486 people who were pre-screened, 20 enrolled and received the treatment.

Participants’ average age was 44 years, 11 of them were women, and 90% were white. Their median illness duration was 5.7 years. At screening, five participants met criteria for major depression and five met criteria for ADHD, and three remained on antidepressants throughout the trial.

After enrollment, participants completed an 8-week study intervention that included two sessions in which they received psilocybin with psychological support. Everyone received 15 mg in week 4. In week 6, 18 participants received a higher 25 mg dose, while two stayed at 15 mg because they had strong reactions to the first session.

Before receiving psilocybin, participants attended three weekly preparatory meetings that included standard psychoeducation about its effects and a brief life review to discuss the course of their illness, their symptom burden, and other formative life events. These meetings were also used to help participants set their own treatment goals.

After each psilocybin session, participants completed an integration meeting within three days so the team could assess their mental status and document any adverse events. Weekly meetings with facilitators continued through week 8 to discuss the contents of participants’ psilocybin sessions and to monitor their overall progress. Participants completed follow-up assessments approximately 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the second psilocybin session. Most study visits took place over video chat, but the dosing sessions, the week 8 visit, and the 6-month follow-up were conducted in person at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus.

These self-reported assessments covered PTLD symptoms (using the General Symptom Questionnaire-30), health-related quality of life (the Short-Form Health Survey), depressive symptoms, sleep quality, fatigue severity, and pain severity.

Results showed that PTLD symptoms and all other outcomes improved after treatment, and the improvements largely held through the 6-month follow-up. The study’s main endpoint was 1 month after the second dose, and by that point general symptom burden was 42% lower than at the start of the study, after being 52% lower at 2 weeks. Six months after the second dose, symptom burden remained 40% lower than at baseline. Mental and physical quality of life scores were each about 13% higher at 6 months.

Mood, fatigue, sleep quality, and pain improved as well. Across the follow-ups, depressive symptoms were roughly 50% to 60% lower than at baseline, sleep problems 40% to 50% lower, fatigue 25% to 30% lower, and overall pain 40% to 50% lower.

No serious adverse events related to the treatment occurred, and all participants completed both dosing sessions. The most common side effects attributed to psilocybin were temporary increases in blood pressure (in 90% of participants), headache (65%), rapid heart rate (35%), pain (20%), and fatigue (15%). The blood pressure and heart rate increases were modest and resolved on their own, and over-the-counter pain relievers were the only treatment needed to manage side effects.

Two serious adverse events occurred during the study period, and both were judged unrelated to psilocybin. One participant developed passive suicidal thoughts about seven weeks after their last psilocybin session, shortly after starting a new antidepressant, and the thoughts resolved within four days of stopping that medication. Another participant was diagnosed with rectal cancer at the 6-month follow-up.

“Preliminary findings support that psilocybin-assisted treatment was feasible and well-tolerated among the sample. Clinical outcomes indicated potentially long-lasting benefits of psilocybin-assisted treatment, warranting further investigation for PTLD,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on potential uses of psilocybin for treating PTLD. However, it did not include a control group, and participants knew they were receiving psilocybin, which may have shaped their expectations about the outcome.

Because there was no control group, it remains unknown whether the observed changes resulted from psilocybin treatment, from the natural course of the illness over time, or from other factors that might have affected symptoms independently of the study treatment. Some of the improvement may also reflect regression to the mean, the tendency for unusually high scores at the start of a study to drift back toward typical levels on their own. Additionally, participants’ expectations, which the researchers did not measure, may have influenced how they reported their symptoms.

Because psilocybin was given together with psychological support, the study also cannot separate the effects of the drug from those of the support sessions. The sample was small and mostly white and highly educated, several participants had depression or ADHD or were taking psychiatric medications, and the study did not measure memory or concentration, even though cognitive difficulties are a core feature of PTLD. The researchers say the results are encouraging enough to justify randomized controlled trials.

The paper, “Pilot study of psilocybin in patients with post-treatment lyme disease,” was authored by Albert Garcia-Romeu, Gideon P. Naudé, Alison W. Rebman, Sara So, Abigail Yaffe, Ian Geithner, Erica A. Kozero, Ting Yang, Mark J. Soloski, and John N. Aucott.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-shows-early-promise-for-lingering-lyme-disease-symptoms/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsilocybinPTLD #LymeDiseaseRecovery #PsychedelicTherapy #PostTreatmentLymeDisease #MentalHealthInnovation #ChronicIllnessCare #QualityOfLifeBoost #DepressionFatigueSleepPain #ClinicalTrial # JohnsHopkinsStudy

DATE: October 3, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Psilocybin shows early promise for lingering Lyme disease symptoms

URL: https://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-shows-early-promise-for-lingering-lyme-disease-symptoms/

A small pilot study of 20 people with post-treatment Lyme disease found that, 6 months after two psilocybin sessions with psychological support, their overall symptom burden was 40% lower than at the start of the study, and their health-related quality of life had improved. Mood, fatigue, sleep quality, and pain also showed significant and sustained improvements, although the study did not include a control group. The paper was published in Scientific Reports.

Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia bacteria and transmitted to people through the bite of infected ticks. It can affect the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart. Early symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, headache, and a characteristic expanding skin rash. When recognized and treated with appropriate antibiotics, most people recover well.

However, an estimated 10% to 20% of patients continue to experience symptoms such as fatigue, pain, sleep problems, and difficulties with memory or concentration after completing standard treatment. This condition is called post-treatment Lyme disease, or PTLD. The symptoms can persist for months or years and may substantially interfere with everyday functioning and quality of life. Many patients also struggle with depression and anxiety, and there are currently no established treatments for the condition.

Why PTLD develops is still not fully understood. Proposed explanations include lingering immune changes, tissue injury from the original infection, and other biological or psychological factors. Importantly, persistent symptoms after treatment do not necessarily mean that the original bacterial infection is still active.

Study author Albert Garcia-Romeu of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and his colleagues reasoned that classic psychedelics might help ease symptoms and improve quality of life in people with chronic illnesses that have not responded to other treatments, such as PTLD. In clinical trials, psilocybin has shown antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, and animal studies have provided preliminary evidence that psychedelics may reduce inflammation. Classic psychedelics are psychoactive substances such as psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and mescaline that primarily alter perception, mood, and cognition through serotonin receptor activity.

Although these substances are illegal or tightly controlled in many countries, researchers are actively examining their use in treating various mental health conditions, with many reporting positive results. The authors of this study explored how PTLD symptoms change after treatment with psilocybin accompanied by psychological support.

Study participants were 20 patients with PTLD. The main source of recruitment was patients who had previously taken part in studies at the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center and had agreed to be contacted about future research. Additional participants were recruited through online advertisements and word of mouth. To be eligible, participants needed medical records documenting a Lyme disease diagnosis and a standard course of antibiotics, followed by persistent symptoms. Screening was strict: of 486 people who were pre-screened, 20 enrolled and received the treatment.

Participants’ average age was 44 years, 11 of them were women, and 90% were white. Their median illness duration was 5.7 years. At screening, five participants met criteria for major depression and five met criteria for ADHD, and three remained on antidepressants throughout the trial.

After enrollment, participants completed an 8-week study intervention that included two sessions in which they received psilocybin with psychological support. Everyone received 15 mg in week 4. In week 6, 18 participants received a higher 25 mg dose, while two stayed at 15 mg because they had strong reactions to the first session.

Before receiving psilocybin, participants attended three weekly preparatory meetings that included standard psychoeducation about its effects and a brief life review to discuss the course of their illness, their symptom burden, and other formative life events. These meetings were also used to help participants set their own treatment goals.

After each psilocybin session, participants completed an integration meeting within three days so the team could assess their mental status and document any adverse events. Weekly meetings with facilitators continued through week 8 to discuss the contents of participants’ psilocybin sessions and to monitor their overall progress. Participants completed follow-up assessments approximately 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the second psilocybin session. Most study visits took place over video chat, but the dosing sessions, the week 8 visit, and the 6-month follow-up were conducted in person at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus.

These self-reported assessments covered PTLD symptoms (using the General Symptom Questionnaire-30), health-related quality of life (the Short-Form Health Survey), depressive symptoms, sleep quality, fatigue severity, and pain severity.

Results showed that PTLD symptoms and all other outcomes improved after treatment, and the improvements largely held through the 6-month follow-up. The study’s main endpoint was 1 month after the second dose, and by that point general symptom burden was 42% lower than at the start of the study, after being 52% lower at 2 weeks. Six months after the second dose, symptom burden remained 40% lower than at baseline. Mental and physical quality of life scores were each about 13% higher at 6 months.

Mood, fatigue, sleep quality, and pain improved as well. Across the follow-ups, depressive symptoms were roughly 50% to 60% lower than at baseline, sleep problems 40% to 50% lower, fatigue 25% to 30% lower, and overall pain 40% to 50% lower.

No serious adverse events related to the treatment occurred, and all participants completed both dosing sessions. The most common side effects attributed to psilocybin were temporary increases in blood pressure (in 90% of participants), headache (65%), rapid heart rate (35%), pain (20%), and fatigue (15%). The blood pressure and heart rate increases were modest and resolved on their own, and over-the-counter pain relievers were the only treatment needed to manage side effects.

Two serious adverse events occurred during the study period, and both were judged unrelated to psilocybin. One participant developed passive suicidal thoughts about seven weeks after their last psilocybin session, shortly after starting a new antidepressant, and the thoughts resolved within four days of stopping that medication. Another participant was diagnosed with rectal cancer at the 6-month follow-up.

“Preliminary findings support that psilocybin-assisted treatment was feasible and well-tolerated among the sample. Clinical outcomes indicated potentially long-lasting benefits of psilocybin-assisted treatment, warranting further investigation for PTLD,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on potential uses of psilocybin for treating PTLD. However, it did not include a control group, and participants knew they were receiving psilocybin, which may have shaped their expectations about the outcome.

Because there was no control group, it remains unknown whether the observed changes resulted from psilocybin treatment, from the natural course of the illness over time, or from other factors that might have affected symptoms independently of the study treatment. Some of the improvement may also reflect regression to the mean, the tendency for unusually high scores at the start of a study to drift back toward typical levels on their own. Additionally, participants’ expectations, which the researchers did not measure, may have influenced how they reported their symptoms.

Because psilocybin was given together with psychological support, the study also cannot separate the effects of the drug from those of the support sessions. The sample was small and mostly white and highly educated, several participants had depression or ADHD or were taking psychiatric medications, and the study did not measure memory or concentration, even though cognitive difficulties are a core feature of PTLD. The researchers say the results are encouraging enough to justify randomized controlled trials.

The paper, “Pilot study of psilocybin in patients with post-treatment lyme disease,” was authored by Albert Garcia-Romeu, Gideon P. Naudé, Alison W. Rebman, Sara So, Abigail Yaffe, Ian Geithner, Erica A. Kozero, Ting Yang, Mark J. Soloski, and John N. Aucott.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-shows-early-promise-for-lingering-lyme-disease-symptoms/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsilocybinPTLD #LymeDiseaseRecovery #PsychedelicTherapy #PostTreatmentLymeDisease #MentalHealthInnovation #ChronicIllnessCare #QualityOfLifeBoost #DepressionFatigueSleepPain #ClinicalTrial # JohnsHopkinsStudy