Psilocybin Enters Gastroenterology: Pioneering Psychedelic Trial Targets Treatment-Resistant IBS

In a groundbreaking leap for psychedelic medicine and gastroenterology, Dr. Erin E. Mauney, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Tufts University and researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, is pioneering a clinical trial that explores the effects of psilocybin on treatment-resistant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study marks an innovative convergence between mental health, neurobiology, and digestive medicine, opening new avenues for patients who have long struggled with persistent gastrointestinal symptoms unrelieved by traditional treatments.

Dr. Mauney’s clinical investigation positions psychedelic-assisted therapy within the domain of functional bowel disorders, an area historically underserved due to the complex interplay of psychological, neurological, and somatic factors. By administering two doses of psilocybin, integrated with structured therapeutic sessions before and after dosing, her trial seeks to unravel how this classic psychedelic modulates interoception—the brain’s perception of internal bodily sensations—and influences gut-brain communication pathways. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is leveraged to capture dynamic neurobiological changes, offering unprecedented insight into the neural circuits implicated in symptom modulation.

Central to Dr. Mauney’s hypothesis is the concept that IBS and related disorders may ensue from “somatic encoding” of early-life trauma, where adverse experiences imprint themselves on the body’s physiological systems and nervous pathways. This paradigm invites a shift beyond symptomatic treatment toward addressing root psychosomatic causes. Psilocybin, with its known capacity to disrupt entrenched neural patterns and facilitate emotional processing, could recalibrate the maladaptive neurobiological signatures that perpetuate chronic gastrointestinal distress.

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The impetus for Dr. Mauney’s work began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when an intellectual curiosity sparked by Michael Pollan’s book, “How to Change Your Mind,” catalyzed her engagement with the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Leveraging her background in bacteriology and clinical pediatric gastroenterology, she integrated a translational research perspective. Notably, her mentorship under leading neuroscientists specializing in psychedelics and neurointestinal health at Massachusetts General Hospital provided critical interdisciplinary expertise that shaped the study’s methodology and theoretical framework.

Dr. Mauney emphasizes that traditional medical disciplines often maintain a “schism between mind and body,” particularly evident in gastroenterology where psychological and physiological symptoms are inseparably intertwined yet frequently treated in isolation. Her research aims to bridge this divide by deploying an integrative method combining patient-reported outcomes—such as detailed abdominal pain scores—with qualitative narrative accounts and high-resolution neuroimaging data. This dual approach captures both subjective healing experiences and objective neurological correlates, potentially establishing a new model for evaluating functional somatic syndromes.

While her current trial focuses on adult subjects with severe IBS, Dr. Mauney’s pediatric background roots her broader vision in early intervention and trauma-informed care. She highlights systemic societal challenges, including childhood obesity and health inequities, particularly the insufficient alignment of public policies around nutrition, urban planning, and psychosocial support. Her research thus intersects with pressing public health priorities and raises critical questions about the long-term benefits of childhood trauma prevention on adult functional diseases.

The innovative nature of this investigation also challenges clinical paradigms by proposing that psychedelic therapy can serve as a catalyst—not merely for symptom suppression—but for facilitating profound psychological and physiological recalibration. By potentially “unlocking” somatically encoded trauma, such treatments may enable a restorative process capable of achieving sustained functional recovery. The inclusion of fMRI imaging to delineate psychedelics’ modulatory effects on brain-gut networks bolsters the mechanistic understanding necessary to transition these therapies into standard clinical practice.

Dr. Mauney’s personal philosophy deeply informs her scientific approach; she stresses the importance of cultivating authentic, compassionate relationships with patients. This ethos reflects a commitment to treating individuals as whole persons rather than isolated symptom clusters. Her insistence on persistent, meticulous research echoes the maxim “We are what we repeatedly do,” symbolizing an ethos of integrity and patient-centered care that permeates her work.

Looking ahead, the scalability of psychedelic-assisted treatments is a key focus. Dr. Mauney envisions refining protocols to facilitate wider accessibility in clinical settings, thus offering hope to the millions globally with treatment-refractory IBS. As psychedelics gain increasing regulatory acceptance and enter late-stage clinical trials across multiple psychiatric and neurological conditions, her work situates gastroenterology at the cutting edge of this therapeutic renaissance.

This study also prompts broader consideration of whether other medical specialties facing treatment-resistant disorders—such as chronic pain syndromes, autoimmune conditions, or neurodevelopmental disorders—could benefit from similar integrative, trauma-informed psychedelic interventions. Dr. Mauney’s research pioneers a new frontier that transcends disciplinary boundaries, suggesting future multidisciplinary bridges between psychiatry, immunology, neurology, and internal medicine.

Published as part of the Genomic Press “Innovators & Ideas” series, this in-depth interview and report provide an insightful window into the scientists driving transformative change. By weaving rigorous scientific detail with personal reflections, this narrative exemplifies how emerging research can resonate beyond academia and capture public imagination. As the psychedelic field enters a new era, Dr. Mauney’s work epitomizes the potential for groundbreaking scientific advances to restore humanity to medicine and unlock healing where traditional approaches have faltered.

Dr. Erin Mauney’s clinical trial and accompanying research not only herald a paradigm shift in the understanding and treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders but also illuminate the profound interconnectedness of mind and body. Her pioneering use of psilocybin as a modulator of gut-brain interactions serves as a beacon for future investigations poised to redefine how medicine approaches complex, multifaceted illnesses—offering truly holistic pathways to healing for millions worldwide.

Subject of Research: People

Article Title: Erin Mauney: Psychedelics as modulators of the gut-brain interaction

News Publication Date: 3 June 2025

Web References:
DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.61373/pp025k.0020

Image Credits: Erin Mauney

Keywords: psilocybin, psychedelic medicine, irritable bowel syndrome, gut-brain axis, interoception, functional gastrointestinal disorders, trauma, neuroimaging, fMRI, pediatric gastroenterology, psychedelic-assisted therapy, clinical trial

Tags: fMRI in clinical researchfunctional bowel disorders researchgut-brain communicationinnovative therapies for gastrointestinal symptomsinteroception and IBSmental health and digestive health integrationneurobiology of digestive disorderspsilocybin clinical trialpsychedelic medicine in gastroenterologypsychedelic-assisted therapysomatic encoding of traumatreatment-resistant IBS