People grappling with terminal illnesses often experience significant emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, existential crises, and a loss of purpose, which can further complicate their circumstances.
Although existing interventions such as counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can be helpful, they don’t always yield satisfactory results for everyone. This has prompted researchers to investigate alternative, innovative strategies to improve end-of-life care.
There is a growing body of research suggesting that psychedelic therapy may hold promise for alleviating existential distress in patients with incurable diseases. A review published in Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry indicates that psychedelics can reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, enhance the quality of life, and alleviate fears associated with death in patients facing life-threatening conditions.
To further explore the potential of psilocybin mushrooms, Canadians are increasingly turning to online purchases of shrooms for research purposes.
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How Psilocybin Affects the Brain
The National Institutes of Health characterizes psychedelics derived from mushrooms as powerful substances that can alter cognition. They affect mood and perception by interacting with the brain’s serotonin circuits.
Let’s delve into what various studies have uncovered:
| Research Entities | Results |
| Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas | Psychedelics such as psilocybin interact with serotonin 2A receptors, which are involved in regulating emotions and perception. |
| A study from Mental Health News | Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound present in over 200 species of fungi, may reconfigure the brains of individuals with depression, potentially paving the way for a treatment solution. |
| Researchers from UC San Francisco and Imperial College London | Psilocybin enhances connections between various brain regions in depressed individuals, potentially aiding them in overcoming excessive self-focus and rumination. |
| A randomized, double-blind study by John Hopkins University | High doses of psilocybin significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and fear of death, while improving quality of life, sense of life’s meaning, and optimism. |
| Clinical study from New York University | Between 60% and 80% of participants reported a reduction in anxiety. and depression after undergoing psilocybin therapy, which led to a reduction in existential distress. It was also noticed that the healing effects were connected to the psychedelic experience that psilocybin initiates. |
The Clinical Study
Researchers from the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences undertook two studies involving 60 participants who underwent fMRI brain scans to validate these claims.
Study Procedure
- First Study: All participants, who were suffering from treatment-resistant depression, were given psilocybin.
- Second Study: Participants with less serious depression were not informed whether they received psilocybin or an antidepressant placebo (escitalopram). All participants also received the same psychotherapy.
Brain scans were performed both before and after the treatment to assess its effects.
Study Results
- Psilocybin therapy reduced connections within the brain regions associated with depression, including the default mode, salience, and executive networks. It also bolstered connections to less integrated brain areas.
- It mitigated emotional avoidance effects and led to significant improvements in cognitive functioning.
The influence of psilocybin on brain rewiring remained for up to three weeks following the second dosage. Therefore, psilocybin offers a potential alternative solution for depression by restructuring the brain and mitigating entrenched negative thought patterns associated with the condition. This discovery suggests that psilocybin operates differently than conventional antidepressants.
Psilocybin Therapy – A Promising Treatment Option
Psilocybin therapy, which involves the controlled use of psilocybin in a therapeutic setting often alongside psychological support, is becoming recognized for its potential to treat treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and existential distress in patients with terminal diseases.
Recently, a survey was conducted by researchers from Université Laval’s Faculty of Pharmacy, McGill University, Université de Montréal, and UQAR with the aim of gauging public opinion on the medical use of psilocybin for end-of-life care. According to the survey published in Palliative Medicine, nearly 4 One in 5 Canadians support the use of psilocybin to mitigate the existential distress experienced at the end of life.
Lead researcher Michel Dorval noted that research shows psilocybin, when used alongside psychotherapy, can provide swift, potent, and long-lasting relief for individuals grappling with advanced cancer. It’s worth highlighting that psilocybin therapy can induce a deep sense of understanding and comfort that can persist for up to six months.
Moreover, the survey indicates that individuals with experience in palliative care or prior psilocybin use exhibited stronger support. Dorval emphasized that personal encounters with end-of-life distress may contribute to this receptiveness towards groundbreaking approaches.
Despite prevailing prejudices against psychedelic drugs, the study reveals a growing acceptance of psilocybin therapy in Canada, particularly within palliative and end-of-life care contexts. The authors expect that these findings will improve the availability of this innovative treatment.
Further Benefits of Psilocybin Therapy
1. Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
A double-blind, randomized trial with 93 participants, published in JAMA Psychiatry in August 2022, revealed that the integration of psilocybin with psychotherapy resulted in significantly less heavy drinking days over roughly eight months compared to a control group undergoing placebo therapy. The group that was given psilocybin also drank less alcohol on the days they did consume it.
2. Aid in Smoking Cessation
Quitting smoking is notoriously difficult, yet a small pilot study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in January 2017, suggested that psilocybin, in combination with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), allowed 10 out of 15 participants to maintain their smoke-free status for a year. A subsequent study indicated that the psychedelic experience might aid in reshaping a smoker’s identity, thus encouraging long-term abstinence.
3. Therapy for Anorexia
Emerging research indicates that psilocybin may be helpful for those battling anorexia. A preliminary study published in Biological Psychiatry in May 2022 reported notable reductions in symptoms of eating disorders and anxiety in adults with anorexia who underwent psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
4. Alleviating End-of-Life Anxiety
End of Life
Many individuals diagnosed with terminal diseases often grapple with feelings of anxiety and depression. Encouragingly, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that psilocybin therapy can help ease these symptoms. Studies have demonstrated significant declines in depression and anxiety among patients diagnosed with life-threatening cancers who have undergone psilocybin therapy.
What Can You Expect from Psilocybin Therapy?
Psilocybin therapy can potentially provide immediate, potent healing results that may offer long-term benefits. Each session is customized to the individual’s needs and adheres to specific clinic or trial protocols.
| Phase | Description | Duration |
| Before | Initial sessions center around discussing any concerns and treatment goals with a facilitator, aiming to establish a trusting relationship and safe environment. | 1 to 6 hours |
| During | The participant ingests a dose of psilocybin in a relaxing environment, laying down, wearing an eye mask, listening to a curated playlist, and under the supervision of a therapist. | 5 to 8 hours |
| After | Subsequent sessions serve as a venue to make sense of the experience with the therapist, aiding in the integration of gained insights into daily life. | Several sessions over a period of hours |
Guidelines for Approaching Psilocybin Therapy
- Research clinics where psilocybin is legal and consider joining a waiting list if necessary.
- Choose a clinic that administers psilocybin treatment under the supervision of a therapist or a professional guide for a more therapeutic outcome.
- Interview potential therapists, inquiring about their credentials, experience, therapeutic techniques, and expertise in handling mental health conditions.
- Be open about your genuine reasons for seeking treatment, mental health concerns, medical history, and family mental health background.
- Consider therapists who specialize in your particular mental health condition and seek advice and training from organizations such as the Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Association (PATA).
- Provide a detailed account of your medical and mental health history, especially if there is a family history of schizophrenia or psychosis.
- Discuss your decision to undertake psilocybin therapy with your current mental health provider and see if they are open to collaborating with your psilocybin therapy team.
- Discuss the dosage, protocol, and the need to start For those who are new to psilocybin therapy, starting with smaller doses is safer and recommended by your psilocybin therapist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is an ideal candidate for psilocybin therapy?
If you’re dealing with depression, anorexia, alcohol addiction, trying to quit smoking, or confronted with a terminal illness, you might want to consider psilocybin therapy.
Conversely, if you have a history of schizophrenia or psychosis, or if these conditions run in your family, hallucinogenic substances like psilocybin could exacerbate your symptoms. Similarly, those with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are usually advised against it.
What is the usual psilocybin dosage for therapy?
The dosage often varies, typically starting with smaller doses in a therapeutic context and adjusting based on individual responses. Clinical studies have shown that a single 25-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin, paired with psychological support, led to a decrease in depression scores in cases of treatment-resistant depression.
Can PTSD be treated with psilocybin?
This is a swiftly advancing area of study. However, the research on MDMA, a non-traditional psychedelic with stimulant qualities used alongside psychotherapy for PTSD treatment, is more developed. Studies on this psychedelic have progressed to phase 3 clinical trials, and there’s a likelihood that MDMA may get approval for PTSD treatment this year.
