Magic Mushrooms for Depression?

Magic mushrooms could one day be prescribed for depression,” The Independent has reported. The newspaper said the approach is based on potentially using its chemical properties to trigger positive memories during psychotherapy.

A number of newspapers have reported similar news, which is based on research led by the former government drugs adviser Professor David Nutt. For example, the Daily Mirror reported that the use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is being considered as part of therapy for depression.

These claims are based on a pair of research studies, one published today and another to be published in the near future. The study published today looked at brain activity in 30 people using a special type of MRI scan to help establish how psilocybin causes sensations such as hallucinations. The research compared the brain’s workings when given psilocybin and a placebo. It found that the psychoactive compound decreased activity in various brain areas and that greater decreases were linked to more intense experiences.

Crucially, this exploratory study was not a clinical trial or an examination of the effect psilocybin has on people with depression. Therefore, it is not possible to say from this

The study was carried out by researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Bristol . It was funded by a range of research and policy foundations: The Beckley Foundation, The Neuropsychoanalysis Foundation, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, and The Heffter Foundation. The study was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The headlines featured in The Daily Telegraph and The Independent suggested that magic mushrooms are being considered as a treatment for depression. The study itself looked at how the brain was affected by a hallucinogenic chemical in the mushrooms, rather than using them in a medicinal manner.

As this study did not look at whether psilocybin had any beneficial effects for depression, it will take further study to see whether it does have any beneficial effect and if it is safe.

It has been reported that a related trial looking at the psychological impact of psilocybin is to be published in the near future, although Behind the Headlines cannot verify the nature of this research and its findings until the research paper is available.

Metro had correctly reported the current research’s finding that psilocybin reduces blood flow. However, its headline suggesting the drug ‘narrows the mind’ is misleading and confusing.