Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Open-label, single-arm pilot study follow-up without a control group
PubMed 27441452 · doi:10.3109/00952990.2016.1170135
What was done
This study evaluated long-term outcomes of an open-label pilot trial where 15 participants received 2 to 3 moderate to high doses (20 and 30 mg/70 kg) of psilocybin combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for smoking cessation. Biologically verified smoking abstinence and subjective ratings of psilocybin experiences were measured at 12 months and at a long-term follow-up (≥16 months post-target quit date).
What was found
All 15 participants completed the 12-month follow-up, and 12 (80%) completed the long-term follow-up (mean 30 months, range 16–57 months). Biologically confirmed smoking abstinence was 67% (10/15) at 12 months and 60% (9/15) at long-term follow-up. At 12 months, 86.7% of participants (13/15) rated their psilocybin experiences among the five most personally meaningful and spiritually significant experiences of their lives.
Why it matters
This study suggests that psilocybin combined with behavioral therapy can produce sustained smoking abstinence over several years, supporting further investigation in larger controlled trials.
Limits
The study is an open-label, single-arm pilot with a very small sample size (n = 15) and no control group, precluding causal attribution to psilocybin versus CBT or placebo effects. Three participants (20%) were lost to follow-up at the long-term timepoint.
Cited by
- supports Psychedelic therapies have demonstrated efficacy in smoking cessation.