People living with terminal diseases commonly grapple with intense emotional distress, including feelings of depression, anxiety, existential dread, and a loss of purpose, which further exacerbates their plight.
Current therapies such as counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) may offer some relief, but they are not effective for all. Consequently, researchers have been compelled to investigate alternative, novel methods for palliative care.
Mounting evidence suggests that psychedelic therapy might present a viable solution to address existential anguish in patients with terminal conditions. As per a review in Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, psychedelics may help relieve depression and anxiety symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce death-related fears in patients with life-threatening diseases.
Canadians often buy shrooms online to further investigate the efficacy of psilocybin mushrooms.
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How Psilocybin Affects the Brain
Psychedelics derived from shrooms are powerful substances that can alter cognition according to the National Institutes of Health. They impact mood and perception by interacting with the brain’s serotonin circuits.
Let’s delve into what various studies have unveiled:
| Researchers | Discoveries |
| Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas | Psychedelics such as psilocybin affect serotonin 2A receptors which regulate emotions and perception. |
| A report by Mental Health News | The naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound psilocybin, found in over 200 species of fungi, could potentially rewire the brain of those suffering from depression, paving the way to a possible cure. |
| Researchers from UC San Francisco and Imperial College London | Psilocybin can enhance connections between various brain regions in people with depression, which could aid in overcoming excessive self-focus and rumination. |
| A randomized, double-blind study by John Hopkins University | High doses of psilocybin significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and fear of death, while improving life quality, sense of life’s meaning, and optimism. |
| Clinical study from New York University | Between 60% and 80% of participants reported a reduction in anxiety and depression after psilocybin therapy, leading to a reduction in existential distress. The study also noted that these therapeutic effects were associated with the psychedelic experience triggered by psilocybin. |
Investigative Study
In order to validate these findings, researchers from the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences conducted 2 studies involving 60 participants who underwent fMRI brain scans.
Methodology
- First Study. All participants were experiencing treatment-resistant depression and were given psilocybin.
- Second Study. Participants with less severe depression were not informed if they were receiving psilocybin or a placebo antidepressant (escitalopram). All participants also received the same psychotherapy.
Scans were performed before and after treatment to assess the effects.
Results
- Psilocybin treatment reduced connections within brain areas linked with depression, such as the default mode, salience, and executive networks. It also increased connections to less integrated regions of the brain.
- It reduced emotional avoidance behaviors and made significant improvements in cognitive functioning.
The effect of psilocybin on brain rewiring lasted for up to three weeks following the second dose. As such, psilocybin offers a potential alternative treatment for depression by restructuring the brain and reducing entrenched negative thought patterns associated with the condition. This discovery suggests that psilocybin operates differently than conventional antidepressants.
Psilocybin Therapy – A Promising Treatment Approach
Psilocybin therapy refers to the controlled use of psilocybin in a therapeutic setting, usually combined with psychological support. This approach is gaining recognition for its potential to treat treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and existential distress in terminally ill patients.
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 out of every five Canadians supports the use of psilocybin for relieving the existential distress associated with end-of-life situations.
Michel Dorval, the lead researcher, noted that studies have proven that psilocybin, when used alongside psychotherapy, can provide rapid, robust, and long-lasting relief for individuals grappling with advanced cancer. It’s worth highlighting that psilocybin therapy can induce a profound sense of understanding and relief that can endure for up to six months.
Moreover, the survey indicates that individuals with experience in palliative care or past use of psilocybin exhibited more support. Dorval suggested that personal encounters with end-of-life distress could contribute to this receptivity to innovative approaches.
Despite existing prejudices towards psychedelic drugs, the research points to a growing acceptance of psilocybin therapy in Canada, particularly in the fields of palliative and end-of-life care. The authors predict that these results will improve the availability of this emerging therapy.
Additional Benefits of Psilocybin Therapy
1. Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
In a double-blind, randomized trial involving 93 participants, published in JAMA Psychiatry in August 2022, evidence showed that the integration of psilocybin with psychotherapy resulted in a significant reduction in heavy drinking days over a period of approximately eight months, compared to a control group undergoing placebo therapy. The group that received psilocybin also consumed less alcohol on the days they did drink.
2. Aid in Smoking Cessation
Despite the notorious difficulty of quitting smoking, a small pilot study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in January 2017, suggested that psilocybin combined with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helped 10 out of 15 participants to stay smoke-free for a year. A subsequent study proposed that the psychedelic experience could potentially aid in shifting a smoker’s identity, thus fostering long-term abstinence.
3. Potential Therapy for Anorexia
New research indicates that psilocybin may be helpful for people dealing with anorexia. A preliminary study published in Biological Psychiatry in May 2022 reported significant decreases in eating disorder and anxiety symptoms in adults with anorexia who underwent psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
4. Alleviating End-of-Life Anxiety
Many individuals diagnosed with terminal diseases often suffer from anxiety and depression. However, there is growing evidence that therapy using psilocybin can help mitigate these symptoms. Studies have reported significant decreases in depression and anxiety among patients diagnosed with life-threatening cancers who have undergone psilocybin therapy.
What to Expect from Psilocybin Therapy?
Psilocybin therapy offers the possibility of profound healing results in a short amount of time, potentially offering enduring benefits. Each session is customized to suit individual needs and strictly adheres to specific clinic or trial protocols.
| Phase | Description | Duration |
| Before | The initial sessions are meant to discuss any anxieties and treatment goals with a facilitator, with the objective of establishing a trusting relationship and a safe environment. | 1 to 6 hours |
| During | The participant consumes a dose of psilocybin in a comfortable environment, reclining, wearing an eye mask, listening to a chosen playlist, and in the company of a therapist. | 5 to 8 hours |
| After | Follow-up sessions offer an opportunity to reflect on the experience with the therapist, aiding in integrating the insights into daily life. | Multiple sessions over varying hours |
Principles for Engaging in Psilocybin Therapy
- Research clinics where psilocybin is legally administered and consider joining a waiting list if necessary.
- Choose a clinic that offers psilocybin treatment under the supervision of a therapist or a professional guide to enhance the therapeutic experience.
- Interview potential therapists, asking about their qualifications, experience, therapeutic approaches, and expertise in mental health disorders.
- Be open about your genuine motives for seeking treatment, mental health concerns, medical history, and family mental health background.
- Consider therapists who specialize in your particular mental health condition and seek advice and training from organizations like the Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Association (PATA).
- Thoroughly disclose your medical and mental health history, especially if there’s a family history of schizophrenia or psychosis.
- Discuss your decision to undergo psilocybin therapy with your current mental health care provider and ask if they are willing to collaborate with your psilocybin therapy team.
- Discuss the dosage, protocol, and the need to start It’s recommended to start with smaller doses for safety when you’re new to psilocybin therapy, especially under the guidance of a psilocybin therapist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is suitable for psilocybin therapy?
If you’re battling depression, anorexia, alcohol addiction, trying to quit smoking, or dealing with a terminal illness, you might want to consider psilocybin therapy.
However, if you have a history or family prevalence of schizophrenia or psychosis, psilocybin and other hallucinogenic substances might exacerbate your symptoms. Similarly, those with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are typically advised against this treatment.
What’s the usual dosage of psilocybin in therapy?
The dosage often varies, typically starting with lower doses in a therapeutic context and adjusting based on individual responses. Clinical studies have shown that a single 25-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin, alongside psychological support, led to a reduction in depression scores in individuals with treatment-resistant depression.
Can psilocybin be utilized for PTSD treatment?
This is a rapidly growing field of research. However, studies on MDMA, a non-traditional psychedelic with stimulant properties used alongside psychotherapy for PTSD treatment, are more advanced. Trials of this psychedelic have reached phase 3 clinical trials, and it’s expected that MDMA may be approved for PTSD treatment this year.
