Potential Therapeutic Effects of Psilocybin: A Systematic Review.

Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, has been used ceremonially by indigenous peoples for centuries and was studied in mid-20th-century psychiatry before falling out of favor due to non-medical use. Renewed 21st-century interest, driven by encouraging studies, has focused on its therapeutic potential. Three controlled trials found that a single dose of psilocybin may reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in cancer patients for at least six months. A small open-label study reported fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms three months after two doses in treatment-resistant depression. Small pilot studies on addiction showed promising results for alcohol and cigarette dependence.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psilocybin is a plant alkaloid that is derived from precursors of tryptamine and is present in many different types of mushrooms. It has been utilized by indigenous peoples of Central and South America for centuries in a ceremonial setting to promote spiritual experiences. Indigenous societies have long employed psilocybin and other 5-HT 2A agonist classic psychedelics in their rites. They were a focus in psychiatry in the middle of the 20th century as both experimental medicines and tools for studying brain function. Due to the fact that traditional psychedelics were being used for purposes other than medical research and in connection with the burgeoning counterculture by the late 1960s and early 1970s, these scientific investigations fell out of favor. However, thanks to a number of encouraging studies that validated the earlier research, interest in traditional psychedelics has surged among scientists in the 21st century. In this review, we examine therapeutic studies on psilocybin, the traditional psychedelic that has received the lion's share of recent attention. According to three controlled studies, psilocybin may reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in the context of cancer-related psychological discomfort for at least six months after a single acute treatment for mood and anxiety disorders. Three months after two acute doses, individuals in a small, open-label study with treatment-resistant depression reported fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms. Small, open-label pilot studies on addiction have demonstrated encouraging success rates for alcohol and cigarette addiction. The review also briefly discusses the synthesis, mechanism of action, effects, molecular pharmacology, adverse effects, and contraindications of psilocybin.