A new study finds a single dose of psilocybin provides long-term relief from symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer patients.
A naturally occurring, psychedelic compound may help cancer patients beat depression, a new study finds.
About 25% of people living with cancer have depression severe enough to impact their odds of survival, according to researchers.
They recruited 28 patients with cancer and major depressive disorder for a phase 2 clinical trial using psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms.” The participants were given a single 25-milligram dose while being guided by a therapist.
Two years later, about half of the participants reported a significant (53.6%) and sustained (50%) reduction in their depression symptoms. And nearly 43% had a sustained reduction of anxiety symptoms, according to the results.
A randomized, double-blind trial is currently evaluating the impact of up to two doses of psilocybin versus placebo.
The lead author says, “If randomized testing shows similar results, this could lead to greater use of psilocybin to treat depression in patients with cancer.”
Source: Cancer
Author Affiliations: Sunstone Therapies, University of Pennsylvania
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