Psychedelic could reduce effect of brain injuries from domestic violence

Psilocybin could help reverse brain damage from domestic violence related injuries, a new rodent study suggests.

The psychedelic compound reduced inflammation and anxiety while improving memory and learning after brain trauma that mimicked injuries seen in intimate partner violence (IPV).

Victims who are physically attacked regularly can develop mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) and brain damage from non-fatal strangulation (NFS), when blood or oxygen flow to the brain is temporarily cut off.

Both injuries have been linked to inflammation in the brain and reduced neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections between nerve cells.

Researchers at Monash University, Vancouver Island University and the University of Victoria tested whether the compound could reverse these chronic effects.

Josh Allen, Mujun Sun and their colleagues wrotr: “Chronic neurobehavioural sequelae from IPV-BI are associated with neuroinflammation and impaired neuroplasticity, and effective treatment options are scarce, particularly in the context of IPV.

“However, psilocybin, a 5-HT2A receptor agonist with therapeutic potential in psychiatric disorders that share overlapping pathophysiology as BI, is a promising candidate.

“This study evaluated psilocybin’s effects on behaviour, cognition, and neurobiology in a novel rat model of recurrent IPV-BI.”

As most IPV victims are female, the team performed the experiments on female rats.

The animals underwent daily mild brain injuries followed by 90 seconds of simulated strangulation for five days, then were allowed to recover for 16 weeks.

“Female rats underwent daily mTBI (lateral impact) followed by NFS (90 s) for five days, followed by 16 weeks of recovery,” the authors explained.

Four months after the injuries, rats received either psilocybin or a placebo injection. After 24 hours, they completed tests assessing memory, learning, motivation and anxiety.

Psilocybin activates 5-HT2A receptors, a type of serotonin receptor involved in mood, mental processes and brain adaptability.

The researchers also used a drug that blocks these receptors to determine their role in any observed effects.

The authors wrote: “To investigate whether psilocybin’s effects were 5-HT2A receptor dependent, additional rats received pre-treatment with selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist M100907 (1.5 mg/kg) one hour before psilocybin administration.”

The rats showed less anxiety-like and depression-like behaviours after receiving the compound, while performing better in memory and learning tests.

As the study involved rats, the findings cannot yet be applied to humans.

Future clinical trials would be needed to determine whether the compound is safe and effective for treating IPV-related brain injuries in people.

The researchers concluded: “These findings suggest psilocybin’s antidepressant, pro-cognitive, anti-inflammatory, and neuroplasticity-enhancing effects hold promise for improving chronic IPV-BI outcomes and highlight the critical role of 5-HT2A receptors in mediating psilocybin’s therapeutic benefits.”