Magic mushrooms are having a huge week. Research continues supporting the idea of psilocybin’s big treatment potential. Among them is depression, a hot topic in the psilocybin research world and patients, too.
A study from the University of Emery School of Medicine identified that people want to know more about magic mushroom therapy, and researchers should take note.
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“Our findings suggest that if the US Food and Drug Administration gives the green light, psilocybin-assisted therapy has the potential to help millions of Americans who suffer from depression,” Rab said in a statement. “This underscores the importance of understanding the practical realities of rolling out this novel treatment on a large scale.”
While definitive answers on psilocybin are not yet clear, promising research dropped early this week suggesting the entheogenic compounds may be more effective for depression than SSRIs.
Magic mushrooms may beat out pharmaceuticals for depression
Doctors generally rely on SSRIs when treating depression with pharmaceuticals. A recently published paper shared phase two clinical trial follow-up results from a study weighing the value of traditional SSRI escitalopram against psilocybin. The observational investigation of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients was placebo-controlled, double-blind, and randomized.
Patients had been diagnosed by a general practitioner, had no contraindications with SSRIs, were aged 18 to 80, and spoke English. Those who fit this criteria were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Almost 60 patients fit, totalling 30 women and 19 men.
While the resulting findings are intriguing, there are limitations worth considering. This study could not detect subtle differences in patients undergoing each treatment. Information on other interventions (like cannabis, more psilocybin, and continued SSRI regimen) between check-ins was also lacking. This data could alter how the outcome is understood. With that in mind, the results prove a need for more finely tuned research.
The mushroom group underwent two supported sessions to receive 25 mg of psilocybin each time. These sessions were preceded and followed by six weeks of additional support. The other group received 10 mg of escitalopram for three weeks and 20 mg for the next three weeks. They also received “psychological support.”
Both groups self-reported depressive symptoms after six weeks and again after six months. After six months, patients in the psilocybin arm of the study showed greater improvement in “psychosocial functioning, meaning in life, and psychological connectedness” compared to the escitalopram group.
News that magic mushrooms are more impactful for MMD patients than SSRIs has swept the nation, and it is not the only positive psilocybin news.
RELATED: This Ivy League university is going all in on psychedelics
Untapped psilocybin potential bountiful
Psilocybin is under a microscope for depression treatment potential, but it may also be helpful for anorexia patients. A previous psilocybin anorexia study centered around psychedelic pharmaceutical formulation COMP360 and self-reporting all-female subjects who experienced positive results.
This most recently published study offers a pre-clinical report that its formulation has proven “safe” on rats, according to Morningstar. The studied compound was formulated by a for-profit, publicly traded company.
Americans want to know what psychedelics are capable of, and research continues catching up. Results from one clinical trial and pre-trial feedback from another show promise that the research wheels will continue turning.
