What’s the use?
Now that I’ve explained how psilocybin works on the brain and broken down what exactly it does, it’s time to shift focus to the practical application of the substance. What uses does psilocybin actually have in the world of mental health care?
Therapeutic Efficacy
I talk a lot of game about the potential for psilocybin to be used as a psychiatric medicine. Can I back it up? Yes.
I spoke in my first blog post about psychedelics being shown to have promising results in the fight against treatment-resistant depression, a problem plaguing about one third of all depression patients worldwide. And with no options in sight, it can be difficult for people with depression to find a way out.
This paradigm is shifting, though, as new studies like one published in Lancet Psychiatry in 2016 [1] demonstrated that patients with treatment-resistant depression experienced “markedly reduced” depressive symptoms relative to baseline in a week after their high-dose psilocybin session (Carhart-Harris, 2016).
And the change was lasting, too.
The same participants in the experiment reported that these feelings of reduced depressive systems — including anxiety and anhedonia — persisted for 3 months after the initial dose.
On Death’s Door
How do people cope with a terminal cancer diagnosis? You’re suddenly confronted with your own mortality and the future seems set in stone. For many people, this sudden loss of control over one’s life can be devastating and cause tremendous anxiety. Luckily, there is hope for the treatment of end of life anxiety, and it comes in mushroom form.
I bet you already know what I’m going to say, right?
Psilocybin. The same molecule responsible for battling treatment-resistant depression has also shown enormous potential in helping cancer patients who’ve just been told how long they have left to live.
Initial study
In a peer-reviewed scientific study published in 2016 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology [3], 51 cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of end of life anxiety were administered both high and low doses of psilocybin and participated in sober follow-up appointments 6 months later. The researchers found that immediately after the high-dose psilocybin sessions, patients and clinicians reported a dramatic decrease in anxiety and depressive mood (Griffiths, 2016). This finding was paired with an increase in quality of life, acceptance of death, and overall life satisfaction.
6-month follow up
The most surprising result of this study was the reports patients gave to clinicians in their 6-month follow up appointments. “At 6-month follow-up, these changes were sustained, with about 80% of participants continuing to show clinically significant decreases in depressed mood and anxiety.” (Griffiths, 2016). The same patients interviewed in the follow-up appointments additionally reported increased happiness in relationship satisfaction and improvements in attitudes toward life and spirituality. These findings were then confirmed by members of the community, such as friends and family of the patient.
Takeaway
There’s no doubt that Psilocybin has potential for fighting mental ailments that have been difficult for modern medicine to crack in recent years. But what can we expect to see from the molecule in the future?
Recent Legislation
In November 3rd of 2020, Oregon passed the revolutionary piece of legislation known as Measure 110 [4]. This measure not only decriminalized the possession of small amounts of many illegal drugs and reduced penalties for their use, but also legalized psilocybin for psychiatric use. The Oregon state legislature has a little more than a year (as of October 2021) left to decide how psilocybin mushrooms will be grown and processed, as well as what the licensing requirements will be for therapy centers and therapists who want to utilize this new treatment in a clinical setting (Roberts, 2020)[5].
It seems likely that other states will eventually follow in Oregons footsteps, and as more and more of the country mirrors their approach to legalization and decriminalization, psilocybin therapy will become more and more of a reality in America. For now, it’s important to stay educated on this complex topic and be aware of the potential these mushrooms have to change the way we treat mental health in this country.
Citations
[1] Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, M., Rucker, J., Day, C. M., Erritzoe, D., Kaelen, M., Bloomfield, M., Rickard, J. A., Forbes, B., Feilding, A., Taylor, D., Pilling, S., Curran, V. H., & Nutt, D. J. (2016). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: An open-label Feasibility Study. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(7), 619–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30065-7
[2]Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2021, from https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/.
[3]Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W., Carducci, M. A., Umbricht, A., Richards, W. A., Richards, B. D., Cosimano, M. P., & Klinedinst, M. A. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1181–1197. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675513
[4]Measure 110 (2020) — oregon state legislature. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2021, from https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lpro/Publications/Background-Brief-Measure-110-(2020).pdf.
[5]Roberts, C. (2020, November 4). Oregon legalizes psilocybin mushrooms and decriminalizes all drugs. Forbes. Retrieved October 10, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisroberts/2020/11/04/oregon-legalizes-psilocybin-mushrooms-and-decriminalizes-all-drugs/?sh=62a40ec64b51.
