Psilocybin May Help Treat Depression: A new study published in JAMA on August 31 shows that a single dose of psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, given with psychological support, reduced symptoms of major depression for up to six weeks. The study improved on earlier research and adds to the evidence that psilocybin, alongside psychological support, may provide people with major depressive disorder an alternative treatment to antidepressants.
Researchers found that people who took psilocybin saw a greater improvement in depression scores compared to those who took a placebo substance with no psychedelic properties. People who took psilocybin also saw a decrease in the overall severity of their disease and improvements in anxiety symptoms and quality of life. Unlike standard antidepressant medicines, psilocybin use did not lead to “emotional blunting,” or a numbness to positive and negative emotions.
The study was carried out at 11 sites in the United States between 2019 and 2022 and included 104 participants between 21 and 65 years of age who met the criteria for major depressive disorder but were otherwise healthy. Researchers randomly assigned people to receive either a single oral dose of 25 milligrams of psilocybin or 100 milligrams of niacin after participants slowly reduced and then stopped taking their regular antidepressants.
“Although the trial was relatively small, it demonstrated that a single dose of psilocybin in the context of a six-week period that included active psychotherapy resulted in a rapid, robust, and sustained reduction in depressive symptoms,” wrote Rachel Yehuda, PhD, and Amy Lehrner, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in an accompanying editorial.
Major depressive disorder is commonly treated with antidepressant medicines which improve symptoms in 40% to 60% of people with moderate or severe depression within six to eight weeks. However, these medications have side effects such as headaches, dizziness, and sexual problems that may cause people to stop their treatment. In recent years, researchers have been studying the use of psychedelics such as psilocybin as a treatment for depression and other mental health conditions.
Experts say longer-term trials are needed to know if the benefits of psilocybin are sustained beyond six months. Psilocybin is given with psychological support, including preparation before the dose and an integration session following.
side effects of psilocybin
Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms. It can have both positive and negative physical and psychological effects. Some of the common side effects of psilocybin include confusion, fear, hallucinations, headache, high blood pressure, nausea, and paranoia1. The primary adverse side effect of psilocybin is a “bad” trip. Sometimes, the altered perception and hallucinations can lead to anxiety and unease. The resulting stress can scare patients and lead to agitation2. One’s surroundings and comfort level strongly influence their psychedelic experiences. Physical side effects of psilocybin are temporary and usually mild. As with any substance, the dose and individual biochemistry affect their severity and longevity. The compound dilates the pupils, increases heart rate, and elevates blood pressure2.
benefits of psilocybin
Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms. It has been studied for its potential medicinal benefits. Some of the benefits that have been reported in recent research include:
Treatment of depression: A new study published in JAMA on August 31 shows that a single dose of psilocybin, given with psychological support, reduced symptoms of major depression for up to six weeks1. People who took psilocybin saw a greater improvement in depression scores compared to those who took a placebo substance with no psychedelic properties1. People who took psilocybin also saw a decrease in the overall severity of their disease and improvements in anxiety symptoms and quality of life1. Unlike standard antidepressant medicines, psilocybin use did not lead to “emotional blunting,” or a numbness to positive and negative emotions1.
The study adds to the evidence that psilocybin, alongside psychological support, may provide people with major depressive disorder an alternative treatment to antidepressants1. Experts say longer-term trials are needed to know if the benefits of psilocybin are sustained beyond six months1.
It’s important to note that psilocybin is given with psychological support, including preparation before the dose and an integration session following1.
How is psilocybin used in medicine?
Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, primarily originating from fungal species within the genus Psilocybe¹. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of psilocybin as a therapeutic approach in western medicine¹. Research has shown that psilocybin has the potential to treat a range of psychiatric and behavioral disorders, although it has yet to receive FDA approval for any specific use². Its potential indications include depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, quitting smoking, alcohol addiction, cocaine addiction, cluster headaches, and cancer-related or other end-of-life psychological distress².
Psilocybin is most often used by adults in single doses of 0.2-0.42 mg/kg by mouth as part of a medically supervised, drug-assisted psychotherapy program³. The therapy session is designed to evoke comfort and ease and includes preparation before the dose and an integration session following². Some people also use psilocybin in “microdoses,” but there isn’t enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose might be³.
Despite social stigma and legal red tape, researchers are forging ahead with clinical trials for FDA approval. Several high-profile trials have shown promising results for end-of-life distress and treatment-resistant depression¹. However, experts say longer-term trials are needed to know if the benefits of psilocybin are sustained beyond six months¹.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 1/9/2023
(1) Frontiers | Therapeutic use of psilocybin: Practical considerations for …. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1040217/full.
(2) Medical Benefits of Magic Mushrooms – Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/benefits-of-medical-mushrooms.
(3) PSILOCYBIN – Uses, Side Effects, and More – WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1654/psilocybin.
(4) Medicinal Use of Psilocybin: Reducing … – Adam Smith Institute. https://www.adamsmith.org/research/medicinal-use-of-psilocybin.
(5) undefined. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1040217.