Does psilocybin really provide long-term relief from depression, as recent studies suggest?

Psilocybin, a psychedelic substance present in magic mushrooms, is a promising recent treatment for psychiatric disorders, particularly depression. The useful effects of psilocybin on mood and anxiety are evident quickly and after only one dose. The only cure. A small study even suggests that these advantages last. After a year.

But what is actually needed is to check the long-term effect of psilocybin with one other treatment (an antidepressant) or placebo. Ideally, neither the participants nor the staff should know who was given what – that is generally known as “double-blinding” and is used to remove bias within the study. . Recently, the primary such attempt summarized a Published report. This is a six-month follow-up of a brief psilocybin trial. Published in 2021..

The original study lasted six weeks and involved a gaggle of 59 depressed patients, who were randomly assigned to receive two doses of psilocybin or each day escitalopram, a commonly prescribed antidepressant. was After six weeks, depressive symptoms decreased in each groups, with no between-group differences.

Now, six-month results have been reported. Depressive symptoms at the top of this era weren’t found to differ between the psilocybin group and escitalopram. However, some differences were found between groups, similar to greater social functioning and increased meaning in life in patients receiving psilocybin.

Social functioning was measured using a questionnaire where participants could indicate how much their mental health interfered with their ability to work, manage their home, socialize and revel in hobbies. gave Psilocybin primarily improves social functioning, but not work ability.

Similarly, “meaning in life” was also measured by questionnaires, where participants indicate how much they agree with statements similar to: “I have a clear sense of purpose in life” and “I have a sense of purpose in life.” Have found a satisfying purpose.” Patients treated with psilocybin answered these questions more positively than patients treated with escitalopram.

Not enough to attract conclusions.

It could be tempting to conclude from this study that psilocybin acts similarly to commonly prescribed antidepressants in the long run. Unfortunately, the information from this study are insufficient to attract this conclusion. A bigger sample of participants is required.

Also, many patients (63%) received other treatments during those six months, similar to psychotherapy, antidepressants or used psychedelics. Due to the small variety of participants and the study design, especially for the reason that need for alternative treatments was not well monitored, the outcomes of this study can’t be used to attract any firm conclusions on the long-term effect of psilocybin. can’t be used for

However, this study is a very good example of the sphere's tendency to maneuver away from looking only at short-term antidepressant effects. Many early studies focused on psilocybin. The first few weeks after treatment. More and more studies now follow patients for months or a yr after treatment to see how they’re doing.

Monitoring the duration of psilocybin's effect for a minimum of 12 weeks, but ideally as much as a yr, can also be indicated. Important consideration For clinical investigations of the effectiveness of psychedelic drugs by the US Food and Drug Administration. European Medicines Agency Makes the same point.

Long-term results will even be essential in determining the protection and cost-effectiveness of psilocybin, because the treatment must be administered in a hospital. It is definitely costlier than prescribing antidepressants that might be taken at home.