Individuals dealing with terminal illnesses often face considerable emotional turmoil, such as depression, anxiety, existential crisis, and a sense of lost purpose, making their situation even more difficult to navigate.
While existing treatments like counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can be beneficial, they may not work for everyone. This has led researchers to explore alternative, innovative approaches to end-of-life care.
An increasing body of research indicates that psychedelic therapy could be a potential solution for treating existential distress among patients with incurable diseases. A review published in Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry suggests that psychedelics can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, enhance life quality, and mitigate death-related fears among patients with life-threatening conditions.
To further probe the effectiveness of psilocybin mushrooms, Canadians often purchase shrooms online for exploration purposes.
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The Effect of Psilocybin on the Brain
The National Institutes of Health describes psychedelics derived from shrooms as potent substances capable of modifying cognition. They influence mood and perception by interacting with the brain’s serotonin circuits.
Let’s explore what different studies reveal:
| Researchers | Findings |
| Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas | Psychedelics like psilocybin influence serotonin 2A receptors that control emotions and perception. |
| A study from Mental Health News | Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound found in over 200 fungi species, may rewire the brains of individuals suffering from depression, potentially leading to a cure. |
| Researchers from UC San Francisco and Imperial College London | Psilocybin strengthens connections between different brain regions in depressed individuals, potentially helping them overcome excessive self-focus and rumination. |
| A randomized, double-blind trial by John Hopkins University | High doses of psilocybin substantially reduced depression, anxiety, and death anxiety, while enhancing life quality, sense of life’s meaning, and optimism. |
| Clinical trial from New York University | Between 60% and 80% of participants reported reduced anxiety and depression following psilocybin therapy, leading to improvements in existential distress. The study also observed that the therapeutic effects were linked to the psychedelic experience induced by psilocybin. |
Clinical Study
To substantiate this, the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences’ researchers carried out 2 studies with 60 participants who were subjected to fMRI brain scans.
Procedure
- First Study. All participants were suffering from treatment-resistant depression and were administered psilocybin.
- Second Study. Participants with less severe depression were unware whether they received psilocybin or an antidepressant placebo (escitalopram). All participants also underwent the same psychotherapy.
Scans were taken pre and post-treatment to evaluate the impacts.
Findings
- Psilocybin treatment lessened connections within brain areas associated with depression, including the default mode, salience, and executive networks. It also strengthened connections to less integrated brain regions.
- It decreased emotional avoidance effects and brought substantial enhancements in cognitive functioning.
The impact of psilocybin on brain rewiring persisted for up to three weeks after the second dosage. Hence, psilocybin presents a potential alternative remedy for depression by restructuring the brain and diminishing deep-seated negative thought processes linked to the condition. This finding indicates that psilocybin functions differently from traditional antidepressants.
Psilocybin Therapy – A Potential Treatment Method
Psilocybin therapy constitutes the regulated use of psilocybin in a therapeutic environment, typically coupled with psychological support. This method is gaining acknowledgment for its potential to treat treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and existential distress in patients with terminal illnesses.
A recent poll conducted by researchers from Université Laval’s Faculty of Pharmacy, McGill University, Université de Montréal, and UQAR aimed to measure public sentiment on the medical application of psilocybin for end-of-life care. As per the survey published in Palliative Medicine, almost 4 in 5 Canadians endorse the use of psilocybin to alleviate end-of-life existential distress.
Head researcher Michel Dorval observed that studies have demonstrated psilocybin, in conjunction with psychotherapy, can offer rapid, robust, and create enduring relief for individuals battling advanced cancer. It’s noteworthy to mention that therapy using psilocybin can invoke a profound sense of understanding and relief that can last for up to half a year.
Furthermore, the survey suggests that those with experience in palliative care or previous psilocybin use showed greater support. Dorval pointed out that personal experiences with end-of-life distress might be a factor in this openness towards innovative methods.
Despite the existing biases towards psychedelic drugs, the research indicates an increasing acceptance of psilocybin therapy in Canada, especially within palliative and end-of-life care scenarios. The authors anticipate that these findings will enhance the accessibility of this novel therapy.
Additional Advantages of Psilocybin Therapy
1. Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder
In a double-blind, randomized trial involving 93 people, published in JAMA Psychiatry in August 2022, it was shown that the combination of psilocybin with psychotherapy led to significantly fewer heavy drinking days over a span of around eight months compared to a control group receiving placebo therapy. The group that received psilocybin also consumed less alcohol on the days they did drink.
2. Support in Quitting Smoking
While quitting smoking is notoriously challenging, a small pilot study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in January 2017, proposed that psilocybin, along with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), enabled 10 out of 15 participants to remain smoke-free for a year. A follow-up study suggested that the psychedelic experience could potentially help remold a smoker’s identity, thus promoting long-term abstinence.
3. Treatment for Anorexia
Emerging research shows that psilocybin might be beneficial for individuals suffering from anorexia. A preliminary study released in May 2022 in Biological Psychiatry reported significant reductions in symptoms of eating disorders and anxiety in adults with anorexia who underwent psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
4. Easing Anxiety at the End of Life
Many patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses experience anxiety and depression. There’s promising evidence that psilocybin therapy can help alleviate these symptoms. Research has shown significant reductions in depression and anxiety among patients with life-threatening cancer diagnoses who underwent psilocybin therapy.
What Can You Anticipate from Psilocybin Therapy?
Psilocybin therapy has the potential to HTML:
Our therapy delivers powerful healing results promptly, potentially providing long-lasting benefits. Each session is tailored to individual needs and follows specific clinic or trial guidelines.
| Phase | Description | Duration |
| Prior | Initial sessions focus on discussing any fears and treatment objectives with a facilitator, with the aim of building a strong relationship and safe atmosphere. | 1 to 6 hours |
| During | The participant consumes a dose of psilocybin in a comfortable setting, lying down, wearing an eye mask, listening to a selected playlist, and accompanied by a therapist. | 5 to 8 hours |
| Subsequent | Follow-up sessions provide a platform to interpret the experience with the therapist, thus helping to incorporate the insights into everyday living. | Several sessions spanning hours |
Guidelines for Navigating Psilocybin Therapy
- Look into clinics where psilocybin is legal and consider getting on a waiting list if required.
- Opt for a clinic that delivers psilocybin treatment in the presence of a therapist or a professional guide for a more therapeutic experience.
- Interview potential therapists, asking about their qualifications, experience, therapeutic methods, and expertise in mental health conditions.
- Be transparent about your actual reasons for seeking treatment, mental health issues, medical records, and family mental health history.
- Consider therapists specializing in your specific mental health condition and consult organizations like the Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Association (PATA) for advice and training.
- Provide a comprehensive disclosure of your medical and mental health history, particularly if there’s a family history of schizophrenia or psychosis.
- Discuss your decision to proceed with psilocybin therapy with your current mental health provider and ask if they are willing to cooperate with your psilocybin therapy team.
- Discuss the dosage, protocol, and the need to start with lower doses for safety with your psilocybin therapist, especially if you’re new to psilocybin therapy.
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Commonly Asked Questions
Who is a good candidate for psilocybin therapy?
If you are struggling with depression, anorexia, alcohol dependency, attempting to quit smoking, or facing a terminal illness, you may want to consider psilocybin therapy.
On the other hand, if you have a history of schizophrenia or psychosis, or these conditions are prevalent in your family, hallucinogenic substances like psilocybin may worsen your symptoms. Similarly, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are also typically advised against.
What is the typical dosage of psilocybin in therapy?
The dosage typically varies, usually beginning with lower doses in a therapeutic setting and adjusting based on individual reactions. Clinical studies have found that a single 25-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin, coupled with psychological assistance, resulted in decreased depression scores in treatment-resistant depression.
Can psilocybin be used to treat PTSD?
This is a rapidly evolving field of study. However, research on MDMA, a non-traditional psychedelic with stimulant properties used in conjunction with psychotherapy for PTSD treatment, is more advanced. Trials on this psychedelic have reached phase 3 clinical trials, and it is anticipated that MDMA may be approved for PTSD treatment this year.
