The study involved 28 people with cancer and major depressive disorder. Scientists tested how a single dose of psilocybin would impact the participants' condition over a two-year follow-up period. The findings were published on the Sunstone Therapies clinic website.
Psilocybin, a psychoactive substance found in some mushrooms, was administered as a single dose of 25 mg. Participants also received psychological counseling. Nearly 54% of volunteers showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms, and 50% reported a sustained effect. Approximately 43% of participants reported a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms.
"This result represents a revolutionary alternative to antidepressant medication," the study's authors stated. Previously, the scientists observed a similar effect in another study among cancer patients, where half of the participants achieved remission within the first week of the experiment, which also involved taking 25 mg of psilocybin.
Recently, Australian scientists discovered new beneficial properties of a psychedelic drug against a key symptom of depression. Psilocybin treatment was found to have long-term benefits for the reward system and enhance optimism. Psilocybin has already been approved for the treatment of depression in Australia.
