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Some interesting results from a Phase II clinical trial indicate that psilocybin, a hallucinogenic chemical found in certain mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe, may benefit individuals with cancer and major depression. According to the trial participants treated with psilocybin, not only experienced a lessening of depressive symptoms but also spoke highly of the therapy when interviewed at the end of the trial.
These remarkable findings are published in two articles appearing online in Cancer.
By binding to a specific subtype of serotonin receptor in the brain, psilocybin can cause alterations to mood, cognition, and perception. While psilocybin is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the safety and potential efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy in treating major depressive disorder. Ongoing research is also exploring the use of psilocybin-assisted therapy for various other mental health conditions such as anxiety, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In this latest Phase II open-label trial involving adults with cancer and major depression, 30 participants at Sunstone Therapies in Rockville, Maryland received a single 25 mg dose of synthesized psilocybin plus therapy sessions.
Lead author Manish Agrawal, MD, of Sunstone Therapies, explained, “This study was differentiated by its group approach. Cohorts of three to four patients were simultaneously treated with 25 mg of psilocybin in adjacent rooms open at the same time, in a 1:1 therapist to patient ratio. The cohorts had preparation for the therapy as well as integration sessions following the psilocybin session as a group.”
Participants enrolled had moderate to severe depression scores at baseline. After eight weeks of treatment, an average of 80% of the participants experienced a sustained response to treatment, with 50% showing full remission of depressive symptoms after one week that was sustained for eight weeks. Treatment-related side effects such as nausea and headache were generally mild.
According to lead author Dr. Agrawal, “This was a small, open-label study and more research needs to be done, but the potential is significant and could have implications for helping millions of patients with cancer who are also struggling with the severe psychological impact of the disease.”
A second study led by Yvan Beaussant, MD, MSc, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute gathered input from patients in the trial during exit interviews. The participants described generally positive experiences.
For more detailed information, you can read the original articles at this link .