Those suffering from terminal illnesses often grapple with significant emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, existential crises, and a loss of life purpose, which exacerbates their already challenging circumstances.
Existing treatments such as counselling and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can provide relief, but they are not universally effective. This reality has prompted researchers to investigate novel, alternative strategies for end-of-life care.
Mounting evidence suggests that psychedelic therapy could potentially alleviate existential suffering in patients with terminal conditions. A review in Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry posits that psychedelics can ease symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve quality of life, and lessen fears associated with mortality in those facing life-threatening diseases.
To delve deeper into the potential benefits of psilocybin mushrooms, many Canadians buy shrooms online for personal experimentation.
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Psilocybin’s Impact on the Brain
The National Institutes of Health characterizes psychedelics derived from shrooms as powerful compounds that can alter cognition. They affect mood and perception by interacting with the brain’s serotonin pathways.
Let’s examine what various studies have discovered:
| Researchers | Observations |
| Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas | Psychedelics such as psilocybin interact with serotonin 2A receptors that regulate emotions and perception. |
| A report from Mental Health News | Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound found in over 200 species of fungi, could restructure the brains of depression sufferers, potentially providing a remedy. |
| Scientists from UC San Francisco and Imperial College London | Psilocybin enhances the connectivity between different brain areas in individuals with depression, potentially enabling them to overcome excessive self-focus and rumination. |
| A randomized, double-blind study by John Hopkins University | High doses of psilocybin significantly diminished depression, anxiety, and fear of death, while improving life quality, sense of life’s meaning, and optimism. |
| Clinical study from New York University | 60% to 80% of participants experienced a decrease in anxiety and depression after undergoing psilocybin therapy, which resulted in a reduction in existential distress. The study also noted a connection between the therapeutic effects and the psychedelic experience brought about by psilocybin. |
Clinical Research
In support of this, researchers from the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences conducted 2 studies involving 60 participants, all of whom underwent fMRI brain scans.
Methodology
- Study One. All participants were dealing with treatment-resistant depression and were given a dose of psilocybin.
- Study Two. Participants with less severe depression were not informed whether they had received psilocybin or an escitalopram placebo. All participants also went through the same psychotherapy regimen.
Scans were performed before and after the treatment to assess the effects.
Results
- Psilocybin treatment reduced connectivity within brain areas linked to depression, including the default mode, salience, and executive networks, while increasing connections to less integrated regions of the brain.
- It lessened emotional avoidance behaviors and resulted in significant improvements in cognitive functioning.
The effect of psilocybin on brain rewiring continued to be observed up to three weeks after the second dose. Therefore, psilocybin may offer an alternative solution for treating depression by reconfiguring the brain and reducing entrenched negative thought patterns associated with the condition. This discovery suggests that psilocybin operates differently compared to conventional antidepressants.
Psilocybin Therapy – An Emerging Treatment Approach
Psilocybin therapy involves the controlled use of psilocybin in a therapeutic setting, usually in combination with psychological support. This approach is increasingly being recognized for its potential in treating treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and existential distress in terminally ill patients.
A recent survey conducted by researchers from Université Laval’s Faculty of Pharmacy, McGill University, Université de Montréal, and UQAR was aimed at gauging public opinion on the medicinal use of psilocybin for end-of-life care. According to the survey findings published in Palliative Medicine, nearly 4 One in every five Canadians supports the use of psilocybin for mitigating existential distress at the end of life.
Lead scientist Michel Dorval noted that research has shown psilocybin therapy, when combined with psychotherapy, can provide swift, substantial and lasting relief for those grappling with advanced cancer. It’s worth noting that psilocybin therapy can trigger a deep sense of comprehension and relief, which can endure for up to six months.
In addition, the survey indicates that those with experience in palliative care or prior psilocybin use were more supportive. Dorval suggested that personal experiences of end-of-life distress may contribute to this increased openness towards innovative treatment approaches.
Despite prevalent prejudices against psychedelic drugs, the study shows a growing acceptance of psilocybin therapy in Canada, particularly within the context of palliative and end-of-life care. The researchers predict that these results will advance the accessibility of this groundbreaking treatment.
Additional 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, found that combining psilocybin with psychotherapy resulted in significantly fewer instances of heavy drinking over approximately eight months compared to a placebo control group. The group that received psilocybin also consumed less alcohol on the days they did drink.
2. Assistance in Smoking Cessation
Although quitting smoking is famously hard, a small pilot study by Johns Hopkins University researchers, published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in January 2017, suggested that combining psilocybin with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helped 10 out of 15 participants to quit smoking for a year. A subsequent study indicated that the psychedelic experience might help reshape a smoker’s identity, thereby fostering long-term abstinence.
3. Therapy for Anorexia
New research indicates that psilocybin could be helpful for individuals battling anorexia. A preliminary study published in Biological Psychiatry in May 2022 documented significant reductions in symptoms of eating disorders and anxiety in adults with anorexia who underwent psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
4. Alleviating Anxiety at the End of Life
Individuals diagnosed with terminal conditions often suffer from anxiety and depression. However, there’s growing evidence indicating the potential benefits of psilocybin therapy in reducing these symptoms. Studies have recorded significant decreases in depression and anxiety in patients diagnosed with life-threatening cancers who have undergone psilocybin therapy.
Expectations from Psilocybin Therapy
Psilocybin therapy has the potential to offer powerful healing results swiftly, potentially providing enduring benefits. Each session is customized to individual requirements and adheres to specific clinic or trial protocols.
| Phase | Description | Duration |
| Prior | Initial meetings focus on discussing any apprehensions and treatment goals with a facilitator, aiming to establish a robust relationship and safe environment. | 1 to 6 hours |
| During | The participant ingests a psilocybin dose in a cozy setting, lying down with an eye-mask, listening to a chosen playlist, and accompanied by a therapist. | 5 to 8 hours |
| Subsequent | Post-treatment sessions offer a platform to interpret the experience with the therapist, thus aiding in integrating the insights into day-to-day life. | Several sessions spread over hours |
Tips for Navigating 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 an enhanced therapeutic experience.
- Interview potential therapists, inquire about their credentials, experience, therapeutic approaches, and proficiency in handling mental health conditions.
- Be open about your genuine reasons for seeking therapy, mental health conditions, medical history, and family mental health background.
- Consider therapists who specialize in your specific mental health condition and consult organizations like the Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Association (PATA) for guidance and training.
- Provide a detailed account of your medical and mental health history, especially if there’s a family history of schizophrenia or psychosis.
- Discuss your decision to opt for psilocybin therapy with your current mental health provider and check if they are open to coordinating with your psilocybin therapy team.
- Discuss the dosage, protocol, and the need to start
- It is advised to begin with smaller doses when starting psilocybin therapy for safety reasons, especially if you are new to this type of treatment and are under the guidance of a psilocybin therapist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is an ideal candidate for psilocybin therapy?
If you are dealing with depression, anorexia, alcohol addiction, trying to quit smoking, or confronting a terminal disease, you might want to think about psilocybin therapy.
However, if there’s a history of schizophrenia or psychosis in your family or you have experienced these conditions personally, hallucinogenic substances like psilocybin could exacerbate your symptoms. The same applies to those with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.
What is the usual psilocybin dosage in therapy?
The dosage generally fluctuates, typically starting with smaller amounts in a therapeutic context and adjusting according to individual responses. Clinical research indicates that a single 25-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin, accompanied by psychological support, led to reduced depression scores in treatment-resistant depression.
Can psilocybin be utilized to treat PTSD?
This area of study is rapidly progressing. However, research on MDMA, a non-traditional psychedelic with stimulant properties used in psychotherapy for PTSD treatment, is more developed. Clinical trials for this psychedelic have reached phase 3, and it is expected that MDMA may be approved for PTSD treatment this year.
