The study involved 28 people with cancer and major depressive disorder. Scientists tested how a single dose of psilocybin would change the participants' condition over two years of observation. 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% showed a sustained effect. About 43% of participants reported a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms.
"The result represents a revolutionary alternative to taking antidepressants," the study's authors said. Previously, scientists had obtained a similar effect in another study among cancer patients - there, half of the participants achieved remission in the first week of the experiment, in which they also took 25 mg of psilocybin.
Recently, Australian scientists have discovered new positive properties of the psychedelic drug in relation to the main symptom of depression. It turned out that treatment with psilocybin has long-term benefits for the reward system and increases optimism. In Australia, psilocybin has already been approved for the treatment of depression.
