One study found that psychedelic treatment with psilocybin could reduce depressive symptoms in adults with cancer and depression. The results were published in the journal CANCER.
The trial involved 30 patients suffering from both cancer and moderate to severe depression. They received one-time access to synthesized psilocybin as well as one session of individual psychotherapy and group therapy. After eight weeks, patients’ depression severity scores dropped by an average of 19.1 points. Most of them were actually no longer experiencing depression. Treatment-related side effects (nausea and headache) were generally mild.
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic substance found in some mushrooms of the genus. psiloybe. When bound to a specific molecule in the brain (serotonin receptor), psilocybin can cause changes in mood, thinking, and perception. It is currently classified as a substance with no accepted medical use and a high risk of abuse.
Before psilocybin can be implemented into clinical practice, studies with large numbers of patients are needed. Additionally, studies with control groups are needed to exclude whether the antidepressant effect is due to psychotherapy or the effect of self-hypnosis.
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