Magic mushrooms could treat depression, anxiety and PTSD, researchers claim

Do you believe in magic?

Studies that support the use 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 use 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 loss of interest in activities, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

In some cases, MDD doesn’t respond to such treatments as medication or psychotherapy.

But a growing body of evidence suggests that psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic” mushrooms, can help with depression and other conditions, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Interest in the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic psilocybin has skyrocketed in recent years, spurred in part by increasing awareness of the limitations of currently approved pharmacological treatments for … MDD and in part by recent studies suggesting that psilocybin engenders a rapid antidepressant response that far outlasts the presence of the drug in the body,” the study authors wrote.

To test the effectiveness of psilocybin, the researchers conducted trials at 11 sites in the US with medically healthy adults, aged 21 to 65 years, who met the criteria for MDD.

After screening, 104 participants were given either a single 25-mg oral dose of psilocybin, or a placebo consisting of a 100-mg dose of the B-vitamin niacin.

In addition to 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 listen to a curated playlist on headphones.

After a session, they discussed their experience with the therapists. Before treatment began, participants’ depression symptoms were measured, and then five times over the following 43 days.

“Improvements in depression were apparent within eight days of psilocybin dosing, consistent with a rapid onset of action, and were maintained across the six-week follow-up period,” the study authors wrote.

In conclusion, “psilocybin treatment was associated with a … sustained reduction in depressive symptoms and functional disability, without serious adverse 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 being established as an important option among the techniques that doctors can use to treat varied mental health concerns.

A small study from researchers at the University of California, San Diego, has found that psilocybin can successfully treat some patients with anorexia.

Another study found that a combination of psychedelics and talk therapy can help cigarette smokers finally kick the habit for good.

And corporate America is paying attention: some US companies are offering psychedelic therapy as a work benefit for employees seeking alternative treatments for PTSD, anxiety or depression.