Magic in the Fungi: Psilocybin Rivals Traditional Antidepressants in Groundbreaking Depression Treatment

▲ Research results have shown that psilocybin, an ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is as effective in treating depression as existing antidepressants. (Photo = DB)

[메디컬투데이=이승재 기자] Research has shown that psilocybin, an ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is as effective in treating depression as existing antidepressants.

The results of a study comparing the effectiveness of psilocybin in treating depression with the antidepressant ‘escitalopram’ were published in the Lancet e-Clinical Medicine journal.

Studies estimate that 5% of adults worldwide suffer from depression. Treatment of depression includes the use of antidepressants in addition to psychiatric counseling and psychotherapy.

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are the ‘selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor’ class, also called ‘SSRI’. However, like other drugs, SSRIs have several side effects. Common side effects include anxiety, headaches, nausea, dry mouth, sleep problems, and loss of libido. Additionally, it is known that approximately 30% of all depression patients have symptoms whose symptoms do not improve even after using SSRIs.

Researchers at Imperial College London conducted a clinical trial on 59 adults diagnosed with moderate to severe depression to investigate the effectiveness of ‘psilocybin’ as an antidepressant that can replace SSRIs.

Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic ingredient found in some mushrooms, and is regulated as a narcotic in many countries around the world, but has recently been actively studied for therapeutic purposes in psychiatry.

Among the study participants, 30 received 25 mg of psilocybin twice, and the remaining 29 received ‘escitalopram’, one of the SSRIs, for 6 weeks. 20 hours of psychological counseling was also provided, and the follow-up and observation period was 6 months.

As a result of the study, depression symptoms were noticeably improved in both patients who received psilocybin and those who received escitalopram. Additionally, patients who received psilocybin had improved feelings of psychological connection with others and improved social functioning.

Based on these results, the researchers concluded that psilocybin is as effective in treating depression as SSRIs.

Medical Today Reporter Seungjae Lee (ecthomas@mdtoday.co.kr)

[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]