In recent years, there has been renewed interest in studying psilocybin mushrooms for certain mental health conditions. Psilocybin is the main psychedelic compound found in some species of mushrooms. While illegal in most places, as per experts at heysero.co psilocybin is being researched in clinical trials for its potential therapeutic benefits. This article will summarize the current scientific findings and need for more rigorous studies.
The State of Psilocybin Research
Small clinical studies by institutions like Johns Hopkins and Imperial College London have hinted at possible benefits of psilocybin for conditions like treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and addiction.
Researchers emphasize that these early studies all have very small sample sizes, usually just a few dozen patients. They stress that much larger, longer-term randomized controlled trials are needed before any definitive conclusions can be made about efficacy and safety.
While these initial studies are promising, they are still Phase I and Phase II clinical trials intended to determine appropriate dosing, observe for side effects, and gather preliminary data on potential benefits. But confirming psilocybin as an accepted therapeutic treatment requires successfully progressing through Phase III trials, which involve hundreds of patients randomly assigned to treatment and control groups over longer periods.
No psilocybin therapies have yet reached Phase III trials, let alone been approved by the FDA. The director of Johns Hopkins’ Center for Psychedelic Research stated it may be years before psilocybin obtains FDA approval as a medication and is available by prescription. There are also open questions about optimal protocols, retreat-style vs clinic settings, the role of therapists during sessions, and more.
Examining the Potential Benefits and Risks
Researchers have various theories regarding the ways in which psilocybin could aid patients, if it is proven to be efficient. It is believed to alter the interaction between brain regions which are abnormal and depressive. Psilocybin can also increase neuroplasticity and allow the brain to change its wiring to function in a healthy way.
People have described mystical experiences under the influence of psilocybin that can cause lasting positive changes to their outlook on life, mood and behavior. Certain addiction research studies have shown that an experience that transcends psilocybin will stop the abuse of drugs for up to 6 months through redefining their relationship with the substance that is addictive.
But, the psychedelic aspect of psilocybin is not without dangers. Patients may be afflicted with anxiety attacks, paranoia, or worsening mental health issues. Patients with familial or personal experiences of schizophrenia or psychosis have a higher risk of experiencing adverse circumstances. Monitoring by mental health professionals with training in psychedelic treatments is crucial.
Other issues include the extreme variation in psilocybin itself. The other compounds, in addition to psilocybin, that differ between mushrooms could have a role to play. Quality and potency also differ greatly in non-clinical fungi which can cause effects to be unpredictable. Because of this, experts advise against self-medicating using magic mushrooms.
Research Insights to Date
While not all research has produced uniformly positive results, here are some insights that have emerged so far:
- Effects seem highly dependent on surroundings, therapist interactions, and patient mindset going into the experience. Fear or resistance can trigger bad trips.
- Benefits seem to require some level of psychedelic experience but excessively intense trips can be counterproductive. Optimal dosing levels are still being defined.
- Effects can last many months after the session, unlike antidepressants that must be continually taken. Just one session shows promise.
- Psilocybin may one day provide a rapid-acting antidepressant but is not a magic cure-all. Integrating insights during and after the trip is crucial.
Ongoing studies are diving deeper into these dynamics. But a complete picture of psilocybin’s therapeutic potential is still emerging. Long term impacts, addiction potential, and effects on those under 25 also require further scrutiny.
Conclusion
While a handful of studies demonstrate possible benefits to mental health, conclusive evidence of the risks of psilocybin mushroom use and effectiveness is dependent on vast clinical trials, which are in progress. In the meantime, until further research can determine safe guidelines and protocols there are a lot of uncertainties about the real effects of the mushrooms, their side effects, ethicality and legality of use that is not clinical. At present, any use is considered to be an experiment with uncertain results.
This underscores the necessity to accelerate, rigorously conducted studies by medical professionals to discover the true medicinal and adverse effect potential. Any use of mental health products must be under medical supervision. The evidence available today is very limited. Much more research in clinical studies is required to establish the benefits of psilocybin’s use in terms of mental health, should it exist. This research has promise but isn’t conclusive until additional controlled research.