People grappling with terminal illnesses often endure significant emotional distress, which can include feelings of depression, anxiety, existential dread, and a sense of purposelessness that can exacerbate their already challenging circumstances.
While traditional treatments such as counselling or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can offer relief, they don’t always work for everyone. This has prompted researchers to investigate novel and alternative approaches for end-of-life care.
Emerging research is beginning to highlight the potential of psychedelic therapy as a means to alleviate existential distress in patients diagnosed with incurable diseases. A report in Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry suggests that the use of psychedelics can help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, improve quality of life, and lessen fears related to death in patients with life-threatening conditions.
In an effort to further investigate the efficacy of psilocybin mushrooms, many Canadians buy shrooms online for personal exploration.
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Psylocybin’s Impact on the Brain
The National Institutes of Health classify the psychedelics that come from shrooms as powerful substances that alter cognition. They affect mood and perception by interacting with the brain’s serotonin circuits.
Let’s delve into what various studies have discovered:
| Researchers | Findings |
| Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas | Psychedelics like psilocybin act on serotonin 2A receptors that regulate emotions and perception. |
| Mental Health News Study | Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound present in over 200 species of fungi, may restructure the brains of those battling depression, potentially offering a cure. |
| Researchers from UC San Francisco and Imperial College London | Psilocybin boosts 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 reduced symptoms of 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 a reduction in anxiety and depression after receiving psilocybin therapy, leading to a reduction in existential distress. The study also found that these therapeutic effects were closely associated with the psychedelic experience triggered by psilocybin. |
Clinical Study Details
In order to verify these findings, researchers from the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences conducted 2 studies involving 60 participants who underwent fMRI brain scans.
Study Procedures
- First Study. Psilocybin was administered to all participants who were suffering from treatment-resistant depression.
- Second Study. Participants with less severe depression were unsure if they received psilocybin or an antidepressant placebo (escitalopram). Regardless, all participants received the same psychotherapy.
Brain scans were performed before and after the treatment to assess the effects.
Study Results
- Psilocybin therapy reduced connections within brain areas related to depression, such as the default mode, salience, and executive networks. Conversely, it increased connections to less integrated brain regions.
- The treatment decreased emotional avoidance effects and significantly improved cognitive functioning.
The effects of psilocybin on brain restructuring lasted for up to three weeks following the second dose. Therefore, psilocybin shows promise as an alternative treatment for depression by reorganizing the brain and reducing entrenched negative thought patterns associated with the disorder. This discovery suggests that psilocybin operates differently from conventional antidepressants.
Psilocybin Therapy – A Promising Treatment Approach
Psilocybin therapy involves the controlled use of psilocybin within a therapeutic setting, usually accompanied by 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 executed 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, approximately 4
One in every five Canadians supports the use of psilocybin for easing existential distress at the end of life.
According to the chief researcher, Michel Dorval, psilocybin, when combined with psychotherapy, has been found to provide quick, potent, and long-lasting relief for individuals struggling with severe cancer. The impact of psilocybin therapy can result in deep understanding and comfort, which can persist for up to six months.
Additionally, the survey indicates that individuals with exposure to palliative care or prior psilocybin use were more supportive. Dorval suggests that personal encounters with end-of-life distress may influence this willingness to consider novel approaches.
Even amidst existing prejudices against psychedelic drugs, the research shows a growing acceptance of psilocybin therapy in Canada, particularly in palliative and end-of-life care contexts. The authors expect these findings to broaden the availability of this innovative treatment.
Additional Benefits of Psilocybin Therapy
1. Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
Published in JAMA Psychiatry in August 2022, a double-blind, randomized trial involving 93 participants showed that combining psilocybin with psychotherapy significantly reduced the number of heavy drinking days over approximately eight months compared to a control group that received placebo therapy. The group treated with psilocybin also drank less alcohol on the days they did consume it.
2. Aid in Smoking Cessation
Quitting smoking is notoriously difficult. However, a small pilot study conducted by Johns Hopkins University researchers, published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in January 2017, suggested that psilocybin, in conjunction with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), helped 10 out of 15 participants to stay smoke-free for a year. A subsequent study indicated that the psychedelic experience might help reshape a smoker’s identity, thereby encouraging long-term abstinence.
3. Anorexia Treatment
Recent research suggests that psilocybin could be beneficial for individuals battling anorexia. A preliminary study published in Biological Psychiatry in May 2022 reported significant reductions in symptoms of eating disorders and anxiety in adults with anorexia who received psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
4. Alleviating End-of-Life Anxiety
Life
Many individuals diagnosed with terminal diseases often struggle with anxiety and depression. Encouragingly, psilocybin therapy has shown promise in helping to alleviate these distressing symptoms. Studies have found that patients facing life-threatening cancer diagnoses have seen significant decreases in depression and anxiety after undergoing psilocybin therapy.
What Can You Expect from Psilocybin Therapy?
Psilocybin therapy offers the potential for powerful and immediate healing results, which could have enduring benefits. Every therapy session is custom-tailored to the individual’s specific needs, adhering to the guidelines set by the particular clinic or trial.
| Phase | Description | Duration |
| Beforehand | The initial sessions focus on discussing any apprehensions and treatment goals with a facilitator. The aim is to establish a strong bond and create a safe environment. | 1 to 6 hours |
| During | The individual ingests a dose of psilocybin in a serene setting, lying down with an eye mask on, listening to a chosen playlist, under the supervision of a therapist. | 5 to 8 hours |
| Afterwards | Follow-up sessions offer an opportunity to discuss the experience with the therapist, assisting in applying the insights gained into daily life. | Several sessions spread over hours |
Navigating Psilocybin Therapy: A Guide
- Seek clinics where psilocybin is legal and consider joining a waiting list if necessary.
- Choose a clinic that administers psilocybin treatment under the guidance of a professional therapist or guide for a more therapeutic outcome.
- Interview potential therapists, enquiring about their qualifications, experience, therapeutic approaches, and expertise in dealing with mental health conditions.
- Be open about your actual motivations for seeking treatment, mental health status, 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).
- Disclose your complete 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 provider and ascertain if they are willing to collaborate with your psilocybin therapy team.
- Discuss the dosage, protocol, and the need to commence Ensure to start with smaller doses for your safety, especially when new to psilocybin therapy and under the guidance of a psilocybin therapist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is an ideal candidate for psilocybin therapy?
If you are grappling with issues such as depression, anorexia, alcohol addiction, smoking cessation, or terminal illness, you may consider psilocybin therapy.
However, if you have a family history or personal experience with schizophrenia or psychosis, psilocybin, a hallucinogenic substance, may exacerbate your condition. Similarly, individuals with bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder are generally advised against this therapy.
What is the standard dose of psilocybin in therapy?
The dosage is usually personalized, starting with smaller amounts in a therapeutic environment and adjusting as per individual responses. Clinical research indicates that a single dose of 25 milligrams of synthetic psilocybin, administered with psychological support, can reduce depression scores in treatment-resistant depression.
Is psilocybin a potential treatment for PTSD?
This is a swiftly progressing area of research. However, studies on MDMA, a non-traditional psychedelic with stimulant characteristics used with psychotherapy for PTSD treatment, are further along. The research on this psychedelic has advanced to phase 3 clinical trials, and it is expected that MDMA might be approved for PTSD treatment within the year.
