Magic mushroom chemical psilocybin could be key to treating depression – studies
All the papers in the issue in question:<p>&quot;Psilocybin for anxiety and depression in cancer care? Lessons from the past and prospects for the future&quot;, Nutt 2016 <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;s2l739f0gstsyzx&#x2F;2016-nutt.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;s2l739f0gstsyzx&#x2F;2016-nutt.pdf</a><p>&quot;Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial&quot;, Griffiths et al 2016: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;nxi3ix88jo67y88&#x2F;2016-griffiths.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;nxi3ix88jo67y88&#x2F;2016-griffiths.pdf</a><p>&quot;Cancer patients often develop chronic, clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety. Previous studies suggest that psilocybin may decrease depression and anxiety in cancer patients. The effects of psilocybin were studied in 51 cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and&#x2F;or anxiety. This randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial investigated the effects of a very low (placebo-like) dose (1 or 3 mg&#x2F;70 kg) vs. a high dose (22 or 30 mg&#x2F;70 kg) of psilocybin administered in counterbalanced sequence with 5 weeks between sessions and a 6-month follow-up. Instructions to participants and staff minimized expectancy effects. Participants, staff, and community observers rated participant moods, attitudes, and behaviors throughout the study. High-dose psilocybin produced large decreases in clinician- and self-rated measures of depressed mood and anxiety, along with increases in quality of life, life meaning, and optimism, and decreases in death anxiety. 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. Participants attributed improvements in attitudes about life&#x2F;self, mood, relationships, and spirituality to the high-dose experience, with &gt;80% endorsing moderately or greater increased well-being&#x2F;life satisfaction. Community observer ratings showed corresponding changes. Mystical-type psilocybin experience on session day mediated the effect of psilocybin dose on therapeuti&quot;<p>&quot;Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial&quot;, Ross et al 2016: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;eol3lp85pgbe8m3&#x2F;2016-ross.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;eol3lp85pgbe8m3&#x2F;2016-ross.pdf</a><p>&quot;_Background_: Clinically significant anxiety and depression are common in patients with cancer, and are associated with poor psychiatric and medical outcomes. Historical and recent research suggests a role for psilocybin to treat cancer-related anxiety and depression.
Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 29 patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression were randomly assigned and received treatment with single-dose psilocybin (0.3 mg&#x2F;kg) or niacin, both in conjunction with psychotherapy. The primary outcomes were anxiety and depression assessed between groups prior to the crossover at 7 weeks.
Results: Prior to the crossover, psilocybin produced immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression and led to decreases in cancer-related demoralization and hopelessness, improved spiritual wellbeing, and increased quality of life. At the 6.5-month followup, psilocybin was associated with enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects (approximately 60–80% of participants continued with clinically significant reductions in depression or anxiety), sustained benefits in existential distress and quality of life, as well as improved attitudes towards death. The psilocybin-induced mystical experience mediated the therapeutic effect of psilocybin on anxiety and depression.
Conclusions: In conjunction with psychotherapy, single moderate-dose psilocybin produced rapid, robust and enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects in patients with cancer-related psychological distress.&quot;<p>&quot;Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences&quot;, Carbonaro et al 2016 <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;z18mzgyke0j35b4&#x2F;2016-carbonaro.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;z18mzgyke0j35b4&#x2F;2016-carbonaro.pdf</a><p>&quot;Acute and enduring adverse effects of psilocybin have been reported anecdotally, but have not been well characterized. For this study, 1993 individuals (mean age 30 yrs; 78% male) completed an online survey about their single most psychologically difficult or challenging experience (worst “bad trip”) after consuming psilocybin mushrooms. Thirty-nine percent rated it among the top five most challenging experiences of his&#x2F;her lifetime. Eleven percent put self or others at risk of physical harm; factors increasing the likelihood of risk included estimated dose, duration and difficulty of the experience, and absence of physical comfort and social support. Of the respondents, 2.6% behaved in a physically aggressive or violent manner and 2.7% received medical help. Of those whose experience occurred &gt;1 year before, 7.6% sought treatment for enduring psychological symptoms. Three cases appeared associated with onset of enduring psychotic symptoms and three cases with attempted suicide. Multiple regression analysis showed degree of difficulty was positively associated, and duration was negatively associated, with enduring increases in well-being. Difficulty of experience was positively associated with dose. Despite difficulties, 84% endorsed benefiting from the experience. The incidence of risky behavior or enduring psychological distress is extremely low when psilocybin is given in laboratory studies to screened, prepared, and supported participants.&quot;<p>&quot;The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms&quot;, Barrett et al 2016 <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;ndp11g9a038ofti&#x2F;2016-barrett.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dropbox.com&#x2F;s&#x2F;ndp11g9a038ofti&#x2F;2016-barrett.pdf</a><p>&quot;Acute adverse psychological reactions to classic hallucinogens (“bad trips” or “challenging experiences”), while usually benign with proper screening, preparation, and support in controlled settings, remain a safety concern in uncontrolled settings (such as illicit use contexts). Anecdotal and case reports suggest potential adverse acute symptoms including affective (panic, depressed mood), cognitive (confusion, feelings of losing sanity), and somatic (nausea, heart palpitation) symptoms. Responses to items from several hallucinogen-sensitive questionnaires (Hallucinogen Rating Scale, the States of Consciousness Questionnaire, and the Five-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness questionnaire) in an Internet survey of challenging experiences with the classic hallucinogen psilocybin were used to construct and validate a Challenging Experience Questionnaire. The stand-alone Challenging Experience Questionnaire was then validated in a separate sample. Seven Challenging Experience Questionnaire factors (grief, fear, death, insanity, isolation, physical distress, and paranoia) provide a phenomenological profile of challenging aspects of experiences with psilocybin. Factor scores were associated with difficulty, meaningfulness, spiritual significance, and change in well-being attributed to the challenging experiences. The factor structure did not differ based on gender or prior struggle with anxiety or depression. The Challenging Experience Questionnaire provides a basis for future investigation of predictors and outcomes of challenging experiences with classic hallucinogens.&quot;﻿