Do you suspect in magic?
Studies that support the usage of psychedelics to treat mental health problems are popping up like mushrooms.
Yesterday, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an investigation into the usage of psilocybin mushrooms to treat major depressive disorder.
MDD, or clinical depression, is a long-lasting emotional state that involves a persistently low or sad mood and a lack of interest in activities, in line with the Cleveland Clinic.
In some cases, MDD doesn’t reply to such treatments as medication or psychotherapy.
But a growing body of evidence suggests that psilocybin, the lively ingredient in “magic” mushrooms, may also help with depression and other conditions, similar to anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Interest within the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic psilocybin has skyrocketed in recent times, spurred partially by increasing awareness of the constraints of currently approved pharmacological treatments for … MDD and partially by recent studies suggesting that psilocybin engenders a rapid antidepressant response that far outlasts the presence of the drug within the body,” the study authors wrote.
To check the effectiveness of psilocybin, the researchers conducted trials at 11 sites within the US with medically healthy adults, aged 21 to 65 years, who met the standards for MDD.
After screening, 104 participants got either a single 25-mg oral dose of psilocybin, or a placebo consisting of a 100-mg dose of the B-vitamin niacin.
Along with a preparatory session, the day of dosing was marked by a seven- to 10-hour dosing session conducted in a quiet, comfortable room.
The sessions were guided by two trained facilitators who were either doctoral-level psychologists or doctors with MDD treatment experience, and by co-facilitators holding a bachelor’s degree in a mental health-related field.
During each dosing session, the participants were encouraged to wear eyeshades and take heed to a curated playlist on headphones.
After the dosing session, they discussed their experience with the therapists, and the participants’ depression symptoms were measured before treatment and five times in the next 43 days.
“Improvements in depression were apparent inside eight days of psilocybin dosing, consistent with a rapid onset of motion, and were maintained across the six-week follow-up period,” the study authors wrote.
In conclusion, “[p]silocybin treatment was related to a … sustained reduction in depressive symptoms and functional disability, without serious hostile events,” they wrote. “These findings add to increasing evidence that psilocybin — when administered with psychological support — may hold promise as a novel intervention for MDD.”
Indeed, psilocybin and other psychedelics are establishing themselves as a vital a part of the armamentarium doctors can use to treat an ever-widening range of mental health concerns.
A small study from researchers on the University of California, San Diego, has found that psilocybin can successfully treat some individuals with anorexia.
A recent study found that a mixture of psychedelics and talk therapy may also help cigarette smokers finally kick the habit for good.
And company America is being attentive: some US corporations are offering psychedelic therapy as a piece profit for workers searching for alternative treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.
