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A new study published in the British Medical Journal points out that psilocybin, the active ingredient in so-called “magic mushrooms,” might be useful in the treatment of depression. This is important research to discuss for many reasons, not the least of which are the side effects.
Let’s start back to the 1960s with Timothy Leary. An American psychologist, Leary was planning to do research on all forms of psychedelic drugs, from LSD to psilocybin, to see what use they might have in psychiatry.
He ended up taking drug-induced trips instead. “Turn on, tune in, drop out” became his slogan. Enter the federal government, which subsequently classified these psychedelic drugs, along with heroin, making them illegal.
The result of that move by the feds is that minimal research can be done on these very interesting substances.
Look, opioids like fentanyl and OxyContin kill people, yet doing research with these drugs is easy compared to working with psychedelics such as psilocybin. Until the feds reclassify psychedelics, good research is hard to do.
Now on to the BMJ article. Depression affects 300 million people worldwide. Antidepressants have been so very effective, with minimal side effects, for many who suffer from depression. But they’re not for everyone.
In the BMJ piece, a group of researchers looked at a number of studies where patients with depression received one or two doses of psilocybin. There were about 400 people in all, and their depression was measured with a validated scale.
The results showed a significant improvement in depression symptoms among many of the people who took a psilocybin trip. The effects were modest, and it didn’t help everyone.
How good were the studies included in the BMJ research? It’s really hard to do the typical double-blind placebo-controlled study because most people will know if they’re taking the drug. Also, most of the research subjects, about 90%, were white men and women, so it’s hard to extrapolate to the entire population.
But this study dovetails with other studies of psilocybin that involve microdosing, which is easier to do than blind studies. That limited research also seems to show promise for the drug in treating depression.
My spin: Psilocybin deserves to be studied, and it would be much easier if the federal restrictions were lifted. Depression should be treated just like any other medical condition, from cancer to heart disease, from strokes to diabetes.
There continues to be an epidemic of suicide in this country, including among many who are affected by depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Any drug that might help curb this situation should be studied.
The fact is, there are more suicides than murders in the U.S. every year. It’s time to take action. Stay well.
Dr. Zorba Paster
This column provides general health information. Always consult your personal health care provider about concerns. No ongoing relationship of any sort is implied or offered by Dr. Paster to people submitting questions. Any opinions expressed by Dr. Paster in his columns are personal and are not meant to represent or reflect the views of SSM Health.
“Zorba Paster On Your Health” is produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and distributed by PRX. Its weekly, one-hour episodes are heard on stations in more than 20 states and parts of Canada. It airs on the Wisconsin Public Radio Ideas Network on Saturdays at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. The program can be streamed online. Just Google “Zorba Paster,” click on the WPR site and, pop, you’ll be there.
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