People grappling with terminal diseases often confront intense emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, existential crisis, and a feeling of lost meaning, which exacerbates the difficulty of their predicament.
While conventional treatments such as counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can provide relief, they don’t always yield results for everyone. Hence, experts are investigating new, creative strategies for end-of-life care.
There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that psychedelic therapy may offer a potential solution to alleviate existential anguish in patients suffering from incurable diseases. A review in Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry indicates that psychedelics could help in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, improving quality of life, and lessening fear of death in individuals with life-threatening conditions.
To further investigate the potential of psilocybin mushrooms, Canadians often 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 agents that alter cognition. They impact mood and perception by interacting with the brain’s serotonin circuits.
Let’s delve into what various studies have to say:
| Researchers | Conclusions |
| Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas | Psychedelics such as psilocybin interact with serotonin 2A receptors that regulate emotions and perception. |
| A study from Mental Health News | Psilocybin, a natural hallucinogenic compound found in over 200 fungi species, could potentially rewire the brains of those suffering from depression, potentially leading to a cure. |
| Researchers from UC San Francisco and Imperial College London | Psilocybin enhances connections between different brain regions in individuals with depression, potentially aiding them in overcoming excessive self-focus and rumination. |
| A randomized, double-blind trial by John Hopkins University | High doses of psilocybin significantly diminished depression, anxiety, and fear of death, while improving life quality, sense of life’s meaning, and optimism. |
| Clinical trial from New York University | Between 60% and 80% of participants reported reduced anxiety. and depression after undergoing psilocybin therapy. This led to a significant reduction in existential distress. It was observed in the study that the therapeutic effects were directly 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.
Study Procedure
- First Study. All subjects suffered from treatment-resistant depression and received psilocybin treatment.
- Second Study. Participants with less severe depression were unaware if they were given psilocybin or an antidepressant placebo (escitalopram). All participants also underwent identical psychotherapy sessions.
Brain scans were conducted before and after the treatment to assess the outcomes.
Study Results
- Psilocybin treatment reduced the connections within brain regions related to depression, including the default mode, salience, and executive networks. Additionally, it enhanced connections to less integrated brain areas.
- The treatment also lessened the effects of emotional avoidance and significantly improved cognitive functioning.
The influence of psilocybin on brain rewiring persisted for up to three weeks after the second dosage. Therefore, psilocybin poses as a potential alternative treatment for depression by reorganizing the brain and minimizing entrenched negative thought patterns associated with the disorder. This outcome suggests that psilocybin operates differently compared to conventional antidepressants.
Psilocybin Therapy – A Potential Treatment Approach
The controlled use of psilocybin in a therapeutic setting, commonly combined with psychological support, is referred to as psilocybin therapy. This approach is gaining recognition for its potential to treat treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and existential distress in terminally ill patients.
Recently, a survey was carried out by researchers from Université Laval’s Faculty of Pharmacy, McGill University, Université de Montréal, and UQAR to gauge public sentiment about the medical use of psilocybin for end-of-life care. According to the survey published in Palliative Medicine, nearly 4 One in every five Canadians supports the use of psilocybin to ease the existential distress associated with end-of-life situations.
Michel Dorval, the lead researcher, noted that studies show psilocybin, when used alongside psychotherapy, can provide rapid, substantial, and lasting relief for individuals grappling with advanced cancer. He emphasized that therapy involving psilocybin can induce a deep sense of comprehension and comfort that can persist for up to six months.
The survey also indicates increased support among those with prior experience in palliative care or past use of psilocybin. Dorval suggested that personal encounters with end-of-life distress could contribute to this openness towards such innovative treatments.
Despite the prevailing prejudices against psychedelic drugs, the research reveals a growing acceptance of psilocybin therapy in Canada, particularly in palliative and end-of-life care contexts. The authors believe these findings will improve the accessibility of this emerging therapy.
Additional Benefits of Psilocybin Therapy
1. Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
A double-blind, randomized trial involving 93 participants, published in JAMA Psychiatry in August 2022, revealed that the combination of psilocybin and psychotherapy significantly reduced the number of heavy drinking days over approximately eight months compared to a placebo group. The group that received psilocybin also consumed less alcohol on the days they did drink.
2. Aid in Smoking Cessation
Quitting smoking is notoriously difficult, but a small pilot study conducted by Johns Hopkins University researchers and published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in January 2017 suggested that psilocybin, in combination with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), helped 10 out of 15 participants to stay smoke-free for a year. A subsequent study suggested that the psychedelic experience might help reshape a smoker’s identity, thereby fostering long-term abstinence.
3. Anorexia Treatment
Emerging research indicates that psilocybin could be helpful for people struggling with anorexia. An initial study published in Biological Psychiatry in May 2022 reported significant reductions in symptoms of eating disorders and anxiety in adults with anorexia who underwent psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
4. Alleviating End-of-Life Anxiety
A great number of patients dealing with terminal diseases often grapple with feelings of anxiety and depression. Encouragingly, research indicates that psilocybin therapy can help in mitigating these distressing symptoms. Studies have revealed substantial declines in depression and anxiety amongst patients grappling with severe cancer diagnoses who have undergone psilocybin therapy.
What To Expect From Psilocybin Therapy?
Psilocybin therapy offers powerful healing impacts promptly and may provide lasting benefits. Each session is designed to cater to individual requirements and adheres to specific clinical or trial protocols.
| Phase | Description | Duration |
| Before | Initial sessions are centered around discussing any apprehensions and treatment goals with a facilitator, with the objective of fostering a secure environment and robust relationship. | 1 to 6 hours |
| In Progress | The participant ingests a dose of psilocybin in a soothing environment, lying down, using 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 decipher the experience with the therapist, thereby facilitating the integration of the insights into day-to-day life. | Several sessions over hours |
Guidelines for Undertaking Psilocybin Therapy
- Research clinics where psilocybin is legal and consider joining a waiting list if necessary.
- Select a clinic that offers psilocybin treatment under the supervision of a therapist or a professional guide for a more beneficial experience.
- Interview potential therapists, inquiring about their credentials, experience, therapeutic techniques, and proficiency in mental health disorders.
- Be open about your real motives for seeking treatment, mental health status, medical history, and family’s mental health background.
- Consider therapists who specialize in your specific mental health issue and seek advice and training from organizations like the Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Association (PATA).
- Fully disclose your medical and mental health history, especially if there’s a family history of schizophrenia or psychosis.
- Discuss your decision to go ahead with psilocybin therapy with your existing mental health provider and inquire if they are open to collaborating with your psilocybin therapy team.
- Discuss the dosage, protocol, and the need to start Start your journey into psilocybin therapy on a cautious note by opting for lower doses. This is especially important if you are a novice. Consult with your psilocybin therapist to ensure safety.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is suitable for psilocybin therapy?
If you’re battling depression, anorexia, alcoholism, trying to quit smoking, or dealing with a terminal disease, psilocybin therapy might be a good option for you.
However, if you or your family have a history of schizophrenia or psychosis, hallucinogenic substances like psilocybin could exacerbate your symptoms. Also, individuals with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are generally cautioned against using these substances.
What is the usual dosage of psilocybin for therapy?
Dosage typically varies, often starting with lower amounts in a therapeutic context and adjusting based on individual responses. Clinical research has demonstrated that a 25-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin, administered along with psychological support, can lead to reduced depression symptoms in treatment-resistant patients.
Can psilocybin be used to treat PTSD?
This is a fast-developing area of research. However, studies on MDMA, an unconventional psychedelic with stimulant properties used in psychotherapy for PTSD treatment, are more advanced. Clinical trials on this substance have reached phase 3, and it is expected that MDMA may receive approval for PTSD treatment this year.
