Psilocybin’s antidepressant effects can last for over 12 months, says a new medical study

The antidepressant effects of psilocybin are long-lasting, studies say

Millions of people around the world rely on antidepressants just to make ends meet.

There are dozens of different antidepressants on the pharmaceutical market and to feel their effects, many need to be taken daily for up to 2 weeks to see significant improvements. Additionally, these pills can often take 3 to 6 months to stop feeling depressed, if they work for you at all. There are countless people who cannot rely on antidepressants to work because they simply don’t work for them or numb them; often, antidepressants can actually make you feel worse than when you started.

Antidepressant side effects vary: they include insomnia, fatigue, headaches, diarrhea or constipation, dry mouth, and sexual problems, to name a few. Because depression can really rob you of your quality of life – either way, it’s a risk.

But what if you just had to take one thing once or twice a year and you were already seeing significant improvements in depression?

Psilocybin mushrooms can do just that.

A study earlier this year included 27 participants, all of whom had a long history of depression. Many had symptoms of depression for around 2 years before they were recruited for the study, which was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University who followed up on previous studies that showed psilocybin treatment was effective in treating depressive symptoms for up to a month was.

88% of participants had been treated with conventional antidepressants in the past, while 58% said they were currently taking antidepressants. After they were all screened, they were randomly divided into two groups, taken to attend prep meetings, and then given two doses of psilocybin two weeks apart from August 2017 to April 2019. One day and one week follow-up visits after all sessions, followed by follow-up visits at 1, 3, 6 and 12 month intervals after the 2nd session. 24 of these participants were able to complete all psilocybin and follow-up visits.

According to the researchers, treatment with psilocybin showed a significant reduction in depression symptoms in both groups. It was also noted that symptoms remained mild not only for 1 and 3 months but up to 12 months after treatment.

“Our results demonstrate that under carefully controlled conditions, this is a promising therapeutic approach that can lead to significant and lasting improvements in depression,” said Natalie Gukasyan, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Science. She warns that “the results we’re seeing are in a research setting and require a lot of preparation and structured support from trained clinicians and therapists, and people shouldn’t try to try it themselves.”

“Not only does psilocybin produce significant and immediate effects, it also has a long duration of action, suggesting that it could be a uniquely useful new treatment for depression,” adds Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., founding director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic , added and Consciousness Research and Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness. “Compared to traditional antidepressants that need to be taken over a long period of time, psilocybin has the potential to provide lasting relief from depression symptoms in one or two treatments.”

Given the track record of standard antidepressants, this is incredible news.

However, the researchers emphasize the importance of doing more research to confirm that psilocybin is actually potent enough to last longer than 12 months.

older studies

Similar older studies have been done showing similar results.

For one, researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine followed the results of their 2016 study, which found that just a single treatment with a single dose of psilocybin significantly improved the mental well-being of cancer patients.

The cancer patients suffered from existential angst, anxiety, depression and hopelessness. However, after a follow-up visit 6.5 months after treatment, they found that treatment with psilocybin was associated with a better quality of life, an improvement in spiritual well-being, and a reduction in anxiety and depression.

“Our findings represent the strongest evidence to date of clinical benefit from psilocybin therapy, with the potential to transform the care of patients with cancer-related psychological distress,” said Stephen Ross, MD, the study’s lead author. “Ultimately, if larger clinical trials prove successful, we could have a safe, effective, and inexpensive drug — dispensed under tight control — to alleviate the distress that increases suicide rates in cancer patients,” adds Ross.

One of the key findings of their study was that clinical scores for depression and anxiety lasted 8 months — far longer than the study’s monitoring period. Study co-author Anthony Bossis, PhD, also said that after treatment with psilocybin, patients reported greater improvements in quality of life: they had more energy, went out more, performed better at work, and had better relationships with people Family members. Some patients even said they were more spiritual in various ways, experienced unusual peacefulness, and had feelings of altruism.

“Our study showed that psilocybin facilitated experiences that led to a reduction in psychological distress,” Bossis said. “And if it’s true for cancer treatment, it could be true for other distressing diseases as well.”

Conclusion

Psilocybin is proving to be a remarkable, revolutionary compound in the medical world. To date, it has already found so many far-reaching applications with profound implications in the lives of people struggling with emotional and mental health. It may not be a panacea, but it’s a fantastic starting point that can potentially have long-lasting effects.

DEPRESSION AND LEGALIZATION, READ MORE…

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANNABIS AND DEPRESSION, READ THIS!