New study sees magic mushrooms help fight depression in patients
Research finds Class A psychedelic substance curbs depressive symptoms in patients for up to three months
MAGIC mushrooms have been used to successfully treat people suffering depression.
Patients were given a recreational dose of the active ingredient psilocybin, which is a Class A psychedelic substance.
Researchers found 25mg of psilocybin – equivalent to at least five shrooms – could fight off symptoms for more than three months.
Patients reported “mystical or spiritual-type experiences” as they “tripped” on the drug, scientists from Imperial College London report.
Researchers say find could ‘revolutionise’ treating depression
Study author Amanda Feilding said: “For the first time in many years, people who were at the end of the road with currently available treatments reported decreased anxiety, increased optimism and an ability to enjoy things.
“This is an unparalleled success and could revolutionise the treatment of depression.”
The pilot trial tested the drug in 12 patients with moderate to severe treatment-resistant depression, meaning they had failed to respond to two courses of antidepressants.
They were aged from 30 to 64 and had suffered an average of 18 years of depression, with no history of suicide attempts or psychosis.
The six men and six women were given a safety dose of 10mg of psilocybin to check for unintended reactions before returning one week later to take the stronger 25mg dose.
They were monitored at all times by two members of clinical staff, and took the Home Office approved pills while listening to soothing music.
Despite the find, doctors warned against people self-medicating with the drug, which carries a seven-year jail term for possession
Lead scientist Dr Robin Carhart-Harris, from Imperial College London, said: “These experiences with psilocybin can be incredibly profound.
“Sometimes people have what they describe as mystical or spiritual-type experiences – that’s not uncommon, particularly with the high dose.
“The limitation of this treatment is the acute experience itself. It can be psychologically challenging.”
Dr Carhart-Harris warned against people self-medicating with the drug, which carries a seven-year jail term for possession.
One volunteer says since the trial he ‘approaches life and friendships with a fresher viewpoint’
Kirk Rutter, 45, who was a volunteer on the trial, said he was “truly heartbroken” by the loss of his mother and became deeply depressed after her death in October 2011.
The technical support worker, from London, said: “I had a mostly pleasant – and sometimes beautiful – experience.
“There were certainly some challenging moments during the sessions. For instance, when I experienced being in hospital with my mother, when she was very ill.
“And during the high dose session I visualised my grief as an ulcer that I was preventing from healing so that I could stay connected to my mother.
“However by going through memories, and feeling the love in our relationship, I saw that letting go of the grief was not letting go of her memory.
“Following on from the sessions I felt lighter and more optimistic than I had in quite some time. However it certainly wasn’t a ‘quick fix’, and I needed to work at staying positive.
Professor Nutt, who worked on the study, was previously sacked as the Government’s chief drug advisor in 2009 after claiming ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol
“Since then I have approached life and friendships with a fresher viewpoint.”
Professor David Nutt, who also worked on the study, hailed the findings a “landmark” but lashed out at the “Kafkaesque” restrictions that made it so difficult to conduct research on psilocybin.
Because of the regulations and red tape, “it cost £1,500 to dose each patient when in any sane world it might have cost £30”, said Prof Nutt.
He argued that obstacles in the way of investigating the therapeutic potential of psilocybin could be lifted “overnight” if the Home Secretary reclassified it as a Schedule Two drug, which can be prescribed and supplied by doctors.
Prof Nutt, from Imperial College, was famously sacked from his former job as the Government’s chief drug advisor in 2009 after claiming that ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol.
Depression affects around one in five people at some time in their lives.
Most patients respond positively to medical treatments and cognitive behavioural therapy, but around a fifth cannot be helped and are classified as having treatment-resistant depression.
Precisely how psilocybin might lift depression remains an unanswered question.
Previous brain scan studies suggest that it dismantles a harmful hyperactive neural circuit that causes people to be inward-looking and to dwell on thoughts of failure and inadequacy.
Patients were given a recreational dose of the active ingredient psilocybin, which is a Class A psychedelic substance.
