Date of Award

2026

Degree Name

Healthcare Administration

College

College of Business

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Research Paper

First Advisor

Alberto Coustasse, Dr.PH. MD, MBA, MPH

Abstract

This current paper has studied whether the psilocybin-assisted treatment has been linked with meaningful shifts in three clinical outcomes among adults 18 years old and above diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD): percentage of heavy drinking days, abstinence rates, and neural responsiveness to alcohol-related cues. A literature review following a systematic approach was performed using guidelines from PRISMA 2020 based on four databases, namely PubMed and PsycINFO, and Scopus and CINAHL, where peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2026 were included. A semi-structured professional interview with a clinical researcher in the Division of Addiction Sciences of Marshall University was also undertaken to address issues of clinical feasibility, patient safety, and policy barriers. Six quantitative studies were within the inclusion criteria. The study showed that compared to the controls, Psilocybin-assisted therapy was linked with a deceleration of percentages of heavy drinking days in three studies. The outcome of abstinence was inconsistent, with two of the studies showing a statistically higher abstinence in the psilocybin groups, and one of the randomized trials showed no statistically significant difference. Results from one of the neuroimaging sub-studies showed neural reactivity, indicating that Psilocybin was linked to changes in activation patterns in prefrontal, striatal, and insular regions involved in craving and inhibitory control. The interview data were consistent with the quantitative results on preliminary clinical effectiveness and patient selection criteria, cardiac safety monitoring, regulatory barriers, and the lack of incentives for patent protection as priority considerations for larger implementation. The quantitative data provided some evidence for the research hypothesis. Future research is necessary to establish optimal dosing schedules, appropriate patient groups, long-term safety metrics, and sustainable funding for the growth of clinical trials.

Subject(s)

Health services administration.

Health facilities -- Business management.

Alcoholism.

Alcoholism -- Treatment.

Substance abuse.

Substance abuse -- Treatment.

Neurons.

Psilocybin.

Psilocybin -- Treatment.

Medical care -- Evaluation.

Therapeutics -- Evaluation.

Psilocybin -- Treatment -- Evaluation.

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