The Rise of Medicinal Psychedelic Mushrooms: A New Frontier in Mental Health Treatment

July 22, 2023 Finley Delouche

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In recent years, the world of mental health treatment has been revolutionized by an unexpected player: psychedelic mushrooms. Also known as "magic mushrooms" or by their scientific name, Psilocybe cubensis, these fungi have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and spiritual practices. Today, they're making a comeback in the realm of modern medicine, promising new hope for patients with mental health disorders.

A Brief History of Psychedelic Mushrooms

The use of psychedelic mushrooms for spiritual and healing purposes dates back thousands of years. Ancient depictions of mushrooms in rock art suggest they were used in religious rituals among indigenous cultures in places like Algeria and Guatemala. In Siberia, shamans consumed psychedelic mushrooms, believing they enabled communication with the spirit world. Among the Mazatec people of Mexico, magic mushrooms were used by traditional healers to treat ailments, facilitate visionary states, and provide divinatory insight.

In 1955, an American banker named R. Gordon Wasson traveled to Mexico and participated in a Mazatec mushroom ceremony led by the healer María Sabina. Upon returning to the U.S., Wasson published an article about his experience in Life magazine, introducing psychedelic mushrooms to the American public.

News of the mystical mushrooms sparked the interest of researchers. In 1958, Albert Hofmann, the Swiss scientist who first synthesized LSD, isolated and identified psilocybin and psilocin as the compounds responsible for the psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms. He sent samples to the mycologist Roger Heim, who identified over 200 mushroom species containing psilocybin and named them Psilocybe cubensis.

Throughout the 1960s, researchers at Harvard University, under the direction of Timothy Leary, began studying the effects of psilocybin. During this era, recreational use of psychedelics also became popular within the American counterculture movement. However, rising rates of substance abuse led to the eventual criminalization of psychedelics. In 1970, the US government classified psilocybin as a Schedule I drug, bringing psychedelic research to a halt.

The Science Behind Psilocybin

After decades of hiatus, research into the medical potential of psychedelics has restarted, with modern studies providing new insights into how psilocybin works in the brain.

When ingested, psilocybin is metabolized into psilocin and acts as a partial agonist for several serotonin receptors, specifically the 5-HT2A receptors. This means that psilocin mimics the effects of serotonin at certain receptor sites in the brain. This leads to broad effects on cognition, perception, and mood.

Neuroimaging studies show that psilocybin decreases activity and connectivity in key areas of the brain's default mode network, which is involved in high-level thinking and is typically very active when a person is not focused on a task. Psilocybin allows the brain to enter new patterns of activity that are not rigidly organized as they are in normal waking consciousness. This state of "unconstrained cognition" is believed to underlie the subjective effects of psychedelic experiences.

Research also suggests that psilocybin can promote neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to form new connections and pathways. This may enable new patterns of thinking and behavior that could address psychiatric conditions like treatment-resistant depression. The exact mechanisms behind these neuroplastic effects are still being studied.

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The Resurgence of Psychedelic Research

Starting in the 1990s, calls began to grow among psychiatrists and researchers to re-examine restricted substances like psilocybin for their therapeutic potential. Important studies came out of institutions like Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Imperial College London, and the University of Zurich.

One influential pilot study was conducted at Johns Hopkins in 2006, led by researcher Roland Griffiths. The study involved 36 healthy volunteers with no history of psychedelic drug use. Participants received a high dose of psilocybin in a supervised setting. Two-thirds of participants rated it among the top five most spiritually significant experiences of their lives. None reported any clinically significant adverse effects, demonstrating the safety of a single high dose of pure psilocybin administered in a research environment.

The success of this pilot study led to a new wave of randomized control trials testing psilocybin therapy for various conditions:

In 2016, two simultaneous randomized trials at Johns Hopkins and New York University found that just one or two supervised sessions of psilocybin therapy provided rapid, substantial, and sustained relief from depression and anxiety in cancer patients. The effects lasted for over 6 months after treatment.
In 2021, a large randomized trial at Johns Hopkins demonstrated that psilocybin therapy led to significant improvements in major depressive disorder. After just two doses, over 70% of participants experienced remission of depression symptoms for at least 4 weeks.
Research has also shown positive outcomes using psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), addictions, and other conditions. Ongoing studies are evaluating psilocybin for additional uses.

Psilocybin Therapy Protocols

Modern clinical trials utilize carefully controlled psychedelic therapy protocols to ensure the safe and effective administration of psilocybin.

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In a typical psilocybin therapy session, patients receive comprehensive preparatory counseling with a psychiatrist to establish trust and identify treatment goals. On the dosing day, the patient takes a capsule of synthetic psilocybin in a comfortable, living-room like environment, decorated with artwork and plants to feel less clinical.

They are encouraged to lie down, wear eyeglasses, and listen to a curated music playlist. Two psychiatrists guide the 6-8 hour experience, monitoring for safety and providing emotional support. Sometimes patients experience challenging psychological effects, but these are managed by the therapists.

After the acute psychedelic experience, patients participate in integrative therapy to help incorporate their insights into everyday life. Follow-up counseling reinforces positive changes in behaviors and thought patterns.

Strict screening procedures exclude people who may be vulnerable to adverse reactions. Volunteers must be medically healthy with no family or personal history of psychosis. These precautions help minimize potential risks.

Expanding Access to Psilocybin Therapy

Given the positive research findings, efforts are underway to increase legal access to psilocybin therapy:

In 2018, the FDA granted "breakthrough therapy" designation to psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, expediting its development as a medication.
In 2022, Health Canada approved psilocybin therapy through its Special Access Program, which allows patients to access unapproved treatments. Terminally ill patients can now legally undergo psilocybin therapy.
Oregon and Colorado have passed ballot measures to legalize regulated psilocybin services starting in 2023. Licensed "Psilocybin Service Centers" will provide supervised dosing to adults over 21.
Several cities like Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Ann Arbor have decriminalized psychedelics like psilocybin. Decriminalization prevents prosecution for personal use and possession.
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is conducting clinical trials to gather data to support eventual FDA approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Approval is expected as early as 2023.

Criticisms and Concerns

Some psychiatrists argue that the evidence for psychedelic therapy is still preliminary. They caution against overhyping psychedelics before definitive phase 3 trials are complete. There are also concerns that widespread use of psychedelics could lead to negative societal impacts, as occurred in the 1960s.

Others contend that psychedelic therapy is too expensive and inaccessible due to the need for lengthy supervised sessions, limiting its scalability. There are also fears that legalization will enable unsupervised, reckless recreational use. Proper education and regulation will be necessary for the safe integration of psychedelic therapy into mainstream psychiatry.

The Future of Psychedelic Medicine

Looking ahead, psychedelic medicine will likely occupy a greater role in psychiatry and neuroscience. With more conclusive clinical data and evolving public and regulatory attitudes, the controlled therapeutic use of psychedelics will expand.

Drug development pipelines are actively investigating psychedelic compounds like psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, DMT, and others. New delivery methods are being developed to provide more convenient dosing options beyond oral ingestion.

Advances in neuroimaging, genetics, and other technologies will shed light on the precise mechanisms of psychedelics in the brain. This will allow for more targeted, personalized psychedelic therapies. Psychedelics could also catalyze innovation in mental healthcare beyond existing paradigms.

However, the true promise of psychedelic medicine includes more than novel treatments. It encompasses a hopeful vision of human flourishing, with psychedelic experiences providing insight into our shared consciousness. With diligent research and compassionate care, psychedelics may guide us to a future of greater wisdom, empathy, and well-being.

Conclusion

After being suppressed for decades, psychedelic mushrooms are re-emerging as powerful catalysts for healing. Modern clinical research is resurrecting indigenous wisdom on the benefits of plant medicines. However, a cautious, scientifically-grounded approach will be critical to integrate psilocybin into medical practice. Looking ahead, psychedelic mushrooms seem poised to open miraculous new vistas in psychiatry, if we have the courage and wisdom to explore them.