People grappling with life-threatening diseases often experience substantial emotional distress, including feelings of depression, anxiety, existential dread, and a loss of purpose, which can compound the challenges of their situation.
Though traditional interventions like counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can provide relief, they may not be effective for all. This has prompted scientists to investigate novel, alternative strategies for palliative care.
Emerging evidence suggests that psychedelic therapy could potentially alleviate existential suffering in patients with incurable illnesses. A review in Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry indicates that psychedelics may ease symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve quality of life, and help reduce fears related to mortality in patients confronting grave health conditions.
In an effort to further investigate the potential benefits of psilocybin mushrooms, many Canadians buy shrooms online for research purposes.
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How Psilocybin Affects the Brain
The National Institutes of Health characterizes psychedelics from shrooms as powerful substances that can alter cognition. They affect mood and perception by interacting with the brain’s serotonin pathways.
Let’s delve into what various studies have uncovered:
| Research Teams | Conclusions |
| Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas | Psychedelics such as psilocybin interact with serotonin 2A receptors, which regulate emotions and perception. |
| Research as reported by Mental Health News | Psilocybin, a naturally-occurring hallucinogenic compound present in over 200 species of fungi, could potentially restructure the brains of individuals with depression, thereby paving the way for a potential cure. |
| Researchers from UC San Francisco and Imperial College London | Psilocybin enhances connections between various brain areas in individuals with depression, potentially aiding them in overcoming excessive self-focus and rumination. |
| A randomized, double-blind study by John Hopkins University | Large doses of psilocybin significantly alleviated depression, anxiety, and death-related anxieties while improving quality of life, sense of life’s purpose, and optimism. |
| Clinical trial conducted by New York University | Between 60% and 80% of participants reported a decrease in anxiety |
| Following psilocybin therapy, improvements were observed in both anxiety and depression which led to a reduction in existential distress. It was also noticed that these therapeutic effects were directly connected to the psychedelic experience invoked by psilocybin. |
Investigative Study
The UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences’ researchers conducted 2 studies involving 60 participants who underwent fMRI brain scans.
Methodology
- Study One. Participants, all of whom were dealing with treatment-resistant depression, received a psilocybin treatment.
- Study Two. Participants who had less severe depression did not know whether they had been given psilocybin or a placebo antidepressant (escitalopram). Every participant also received the same psychotherapy.
Scans were performed before and after treatment to assess the effects.
Results
- Psilocybin treatment weakened connections within brain areas associated with depression, including the default mode, salience, and executive networks, while simultaneously strengthening connections to less integrated brain regions.
- It mitigated the effects of emotional avoidance and led to significant improvements in cognitive functioning.
The influence of psilocybin on brain rewiring continued for up to three weeks after the second dose. Consequently, psilocybin could serve as a potential alternative solution for depression by reshaping the brain and reducing entrenched negative thought patterns tied to the condition. This discovery suggests that psilocybin operates differently from conventional antidepressants.
Psilocybin Therapy – A Promising Treatment Approach
Psilocybin therapy involves the controlled use of psilocybin in a therapeutic setting, often in combination with psychological guidance. This approach is gaining recognition for its potential to treat treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and existential distress in patients with terminal diseases.
A recent survey by researchers from Université Laval’s Faculty of Pharmacy, McGill University, Université de Montréal, and UQAR aimed to gauge public opinion on the medicinal use of psilocybin for end-of-life care. According to the survey published in Palliative Medicine, nearly 4
One in five Canadians support the use of psilocybin to alleviate end-of-life distress caused by existential crises.
Michel Dorval, the lead researcher, noted that psilocybin, when used in conjunction with psychotherapy, has shown to provide quick, strong, and long-lasting relief for individuals suffering from advanced cancer. He emphasized that psilocybin therapy can trigger a deep sense of understanding and relief that can persist for up to six months.
Moreover, the survey indicates that individuals with prior experience in palliative care or with psilocybin use were more supportive. Dorval suggested that personal experiences with end-of-life distress may contribute to this openness towards such innovative treatments.
Despite the prevailing biases against psychedelic drugs, the study reveals a growing acceptance of psilocybin therapy in Canada, particularly in palliative and end-of-life care situations. The authors expect these findings to improve the availability of this new treatment approach.
Additional Benefits of Psilocybin Therapy
1. Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
In a double-blind, randomized trial of 93 participants, published in JAMA Psychiatry in August 2022, it was found that using psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy resulted in significantly fewer days of heavy drinking over approximately eight months compared to a placebo-controlled group. The psilocybin group also consumed less alcohol on the days they did drink.
2. Assistance in Smoking Cessation
Quitting smoking is notorious for its difficulty, but a small pilot study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University suggested that psilocybin, together with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), helped 10 out of 15 participants abstain from smoking for a year. This study, published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in January 2017, also suggested that the psychedelic experience could play a role in reshaping a smoker’s identity, thereby aiding long-term abstinence.
3. Intervention for Anorexia
New research suggests that psilocybin may be helpful for individuals battling anorexia. A preliminary study published in Biological Psychiatry in May 2022 reported significant reductions in eating disorder symptoms and anxiety among adults with anorexia who underwent psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
4. Alleviating End-of-life Anxiety
End of LifeIndividuals suffering from terminal illnesses often grapple with feelings of anxiety and depression. Encouragingly, studies suggest that psilocybin therapy could ease these symptoms. In fact, significant reductions in depression and anxiety have been observed among patients with life-threatening cancer after they underwent psilocybin therapy.
What Can You Expect from Psilocybin Therapy?
Psilocybin therapy holds the potential to yield profound healing outcomes swiftly, potentially delivering benefits that endure. Each therapy session is designed to address individual needs, following specific clinic or trial protocols.
| Phase | Description | Duration |
| Before | Initial sessions are geared towards addressing any concerns and outlining treatment goals with a facilitator, fostering a solid relationship and a secure environment. | 1 to 6 hours |
| During | The participant takes a psilocybin dose in a relaxed setting, lying down, wearing an eye mask, listening to a chosen playlist, and under the supervision of a therapist. | 5 to 8 hours |
| After | Follow-up sessions offer an opportunity to discuss the experience with the therapist, helping to integrate the insights into daily life. | Several sessions lasting hours |
Tips for Exploring Psilocybin Therapy
- Research clinics in areas where psilocybin is legal and consider joining a waiting list if necessary.
- Choose a clinic that provides psilocybin treatment under the supervision of a therapist or a professional guide for an optimally therapeutic experience.
- Interview potential therapists, inquiring about their qualifications, experience, therapeutic approaches, and expertise in mental health disorders.
- Be open about your actual motivations for seeking treatment, mental health challenges, medical history, and any family history of mental health conditions.
- Consider therapists who specialize in your specific mental health condition and reach out to organizations like the Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Association (PATA) for guidance and training.
- Provide a detailed account of your medical and mental health history, especially if there’s a family history of schizophrenia or psychosis.
- Discuss your decision to pursue psilocybin therapy with your current mental health provider and inquire if they are willing to collaborate with your psilocybin therapy team.
- Discuss the dosage, protocol, and the necessity of starting a new regimen with your psilocybin therapy team.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the right candidate for psilocybin therapy?
If you are dealing with depression, anorexia, alcohol addiction, trying to quit smoking, or confronting a terminal disease, you might want to consider psilocybin therapy.
However, if you have a past of schizophrenia or psychosis, or if these disorders run in your family, hallucinogenic substances like psilocybin might exacerbate your symptoms. Similarly, those with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are generally discouraged.
What is the usual dosage of psilocybin in therapy?
The dosage generally varies, often starting with smaller doses in a therapeutic setting and adjusting according to individual responses. Clinical research has shown that a single 25-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin, along with psychological support, resulted in reduced depression scores in treatment-resistant depression.
Can psilocybin be used to treat PTSD?
This is a fast-developing field of study. Nonetheless, research on MDMA, a non-traditional psychedelic with stimulant effects used alongside psychotherapy for PTSD treatment, is more established. This psychedelic has reached phase 3 clinical trials, and it is expected that MDMA may be approved for PTSD treatment this year.
