New study finds magic mushrooms may be able to help with depression

By Stephen Beech via SWNS

The psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms reduces depression, according to a new study.

It also reduces depressive symptoms in people undergoing cancer treatment, say scientists.

They said the positive results of clinical trials of psilocybin-assisted therapy support further study of the psychedelic substance, administered with psychological support from trained therapists.

They say the findings, published in the journal Cancer, indicate that psilocybin - a hallucinogenic chemical found in certain mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe - may benefit people with cancer and major depression.

Participants treated with psilocybin not only experienced a lessening of depressive symptoms but also spoke highly of the therapy when interviewed at the end of the trial.

Scientists explained that by binding to a specific subtype of serotonin receptor in the brain, psilocybin can cause "alterations" to mood, cognition, and perception.

Psilocybin is currently classified as a Schedule I drug - defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Psilocybin mushrooms are subject to legal restrictions in several countries including the UK, USA and Canada.

However, several controlled trials have shown the safety and potential efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy - which combines psilocybin with psychological support from trained therapists - to treat major depressive disorder.

Ongoing research is also looking into the use of psilocybin-assisted therapy for other mental health conditions including anxiety, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In the latest trial involving adults with cancer and major depression, 30 participants at Sunstone Therapies in Rockville, USA, received a single 25mg dose of synthesized psilocybin plus a one-on-one session with a therapist and group therapy support.

Study lead author Dr. Manish Agrawal, of Sunstone Therapies, said: “This study was differentiated by its group approach.

"Cohorts of three or four patients were simultaneously treated with 25mg of psilocybin in adjacent rooms open at the same time, in a one-on-one therapist: patient ratio.

"The cohorts had preparation for the therapy as well as integration sessions following the psilocybin session as a group,”

Participants enrolled had moderate to severe depression at the start of the trial.

After eight weeks of treatment, Dr. Agrawal and his colleagues observed that patients’ depression severity scores dropped by an average of 19.1 points, a magnitude that would indicate the majority no longer experienced depression.

And 80 percent of the participants experienced a "sustained" response to treatment, while half (50 percent) showed full remission of depressive symptoms after one week, which was sustained for eight weeks.

Dr. Agrawal said treatment-related side effects - such as nausea and headaches - were generally mild.

He added: “As an oncologist for many years, I experienced the frustration of not being able to provide cancer care that treats the whole person, not just the tumor.

“This was a small study and more research needs to be done, but the potential is significant and could have implications for helping millions of patients with cancer who are also struggling with the severe psychological impact of the disease.”

Dr. Agrawal was also the senior author of a second study led by Dr. Yvan Beaussant, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, that gathered input from patients in the trial during exit interviews.

Participants described generally positive experiences.

Regarding safety, the participants noted that being a part of the group calmed their fears and increased their sense of preparedness to engage in therapy.

Regarding therapeutic efficacy, they felt that being connected to the group "deepened" and "enriched" their experience, ultimately contributing to their experience of self-transcendence and compassion for one another.

Dr. Beaussant said: “As a hematologist and palliative care physician and researcher, it was profoundly moving and encouraging to witness the magnitude of participants’ improvement and the depth of their healing journey following their participation in the trial.

"Participants overwhelmingly expressed positive sentiments about their experience of psilocybin-assisted therapy while emphasizing the importance of the supportive, structured setting in which it took place.”

He added: “Many described an ongoing transformative impact on their lives and well-being more than two months after having received psilocybin, feeling better equipped to cope with cancer and, for some, end of life.”

The researchers said additional studies should include larger numbers of patients, along with a control arm to compare its effects with other treatments or placebo, before psilocybin-assisted therapy is implemented into clinical practice.