Treat the most severe depression with mushroom substance

Convincing effect of psychoactive mushrooms in the treatment of depression
Psychoactive mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms", can be used to treat depression. According to a recent study by British researchers, the contained psilocybin of the magic mushrooms has a high therapeutic potential in "unipolar treatment-resistant depression". According to the scientists, the mushroom compound offers promising therapeutic options here.

The research team led by Robin L. Carhart-Harris of Imperial College London has tested in his study the use, safety and efficacy of psilocybin in patients with unipolar treatment-resistant depression. The result was quite convincing. The subjects showed a significant relief of their depressive symptoms. The study was published in the journal "The Lancet Psychiatry".

The active ingredient psilocybin, which is included in, for example, the shown pointed cone bald head, may help in the treatment of depression. (Image: yellowj / fotolia.com)

Psilocybin with high therapeutic potential
Psilocybin is a so-called serotonin receptor agonist, which occurs naturally in some fungus species. Previous studies have already found evidence of its therapeutic potential, for example in the treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and alcohol addiction. The British researchers are now dedicated to the use of psilocybin in patients with depression in their current study. She tested the use of the fungus agent on six men and six women with "moderate to severe unipolar, treatment-resistant depression". Subjects were given two oral doses of psilocybin (10 mg and 25 mg, 7-day apart). Patients were monitored clinically and their depressive symptoms recorded using a questionnaire.

No serious side effects
According to the researchers, the acute psychedelic effects of psilocybin were usually seen 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion and peaked two to three hours later. About six hours after dosing, psychedelic effects returned to "negligible levels," Carhart-Harris and colleagues report. The compatibility of the mushroom ingredient was good in all patients. Side effects included transient anxiety (in all patients), transient confusion or disorgenic disorder (nine patients), mild and transient nausea (four patients), and transient headache (four patients) at baseline, the researchers explain. Serious or unexpected side effects did not occur.

Safe and effective therapy option
The evaluation of the depressive symptoms one week after the psilocybin intake and three months later, according to the researchers showed a significant decrease in symptoms. Also, a "sustainable improvement" in the fears of the subjects had been noted, write Carhart-Harris and colleagues. The results are to be considered as preliminary evidence for "the safety and efficacy of psilocybin for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression" and should lead to further attempts to further examine therapeutic potential, the researchers concluded. (Fp)