{
  "id": 11193860,
  "title": "Single psilocybin dose linked to increased social exploration in OCD mouse model",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/single-psilocybin-dose-linked-to-increased-social-exploration-in-ocd",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-01T12:40:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-psilocybin-dose-linked-social-exploration.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, may offer a new avenue for treating obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in mice exhibiting compulsive-like behaviors. Researchers from the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and other Australian institutions found that a single psilocybin dose significantly increased social exploration in male mice with OCD-like symptoms. Published in Molecular Psychiatry, the study indicates that the drug could potentially restore social cognition in OCD patients, who often struggle with social functioning. The findings suggest that psilocybin's effects on the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus may play a crucial role in its therapeutic impact, offering hope for a novel treatment option for individuals affected by OCD and related disorders.",
  "summary": "Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, or unwanted thoughts, typically accompanied by repeated actions that seem difficult to control, also known as compulsions. While there are various treatments for OCD, not all patients respond well to them.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}