The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin

Summary & key facts

This paper looks back at the history and recent research on psilocybin, the active compound in “magic” mushrooms. It explains that people have used psychedelic mushrooms for thousands of years, that research stopped after governments banned psychedelics in 1970, and that a small study in 2004 helped restart scientific interest. Since then, scientists have learned more about psilocybin’s chemistry and are studying whether it can help with mental health problems. The paper is a regular review of the field, not a strict, systematic survey of all studies.

Key facts:

• Psilocybin is a chemical from mushrooms that people have used in religious and spiritual ceremonies for thousands of years.
• After psychedelics were made illegal in 1970, scientific research on drugs like psilocybin mostly stopped for decades.
• A small study in 2004 at the University of California, Los Angeles helped restart serious research into psilocybin for treating people with advanced cancer and related distress.
• Since that restart, researchers have made noticeable progress in describing psilocybin’s chemical properties and in exploring possible therapeutic uses.
• This paper reviews recent advances and current research about psilocybin and mental health, but it is not a systematic review that looks at every study in a strict way.
• Because of past laws and ongoing stigma around psychedelics, the pace and direction of research on psilocybin were delayed and remain influenced by public views and regulations.

Abstract

The psychedelic effects of some plants and fungi have been known and deliberately exploited by humans for thousands of years. Fungi, particularly mushrooms, are the principal source of naturally occurring psychedelics. The mushroom extract, psilocybin has historically been used as a psychedelic agent for religious and spiritual ceremonies, as well as a therapeutic option for neuropsychiatric conditions. Psychedelic use was largely associated with the "hippie" counterculture movement, which, in turn, resulted in a growing, and still lingering, negative stigmatization for psychedelics. As a result, in 1970, the U.S. government rescheduled psychedelics as Schedule 1 drugs, ultimately ending scientific research on psychedelics. This prohibition on psychedelic drug research significantly delayed advances in medical knowledge on the therapeutic uses of agents such as psilocybin. A 2004 pilot study from the University of California, Los Angeles, exploring the potential of psilocybin treatment in patients with advanced-stage cancer managed to reignite interest and significantly renewed efforts in psilocybin research, heralding a new age in exploration for psychedelic therapy. Since then, significant advances have been made in characterizing the chemical properties of psilocybin as well as its therapeutic uses. This review will explore the potential of psilocybin in the treatment of neuropsychiatry-related conditions, examining recent advances as well as current research. This is not a systematic review.

Topics

Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques Chemical synthesis and alkaloids Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Counterculture Hallucinogen Law Political science Psilocybin Psychiatry Psychology Psychotherapist

Substances

Psilocybin

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Depression PTSD Anxiety or worry Sadness or low mood