For many decades, there has been a heated debate: Can psychedelic substances such as MDMA or mushrooms help treat depression, anxiety and PTSD?
Now a new study shows that the substance psilocybin, found in mushrooms among other things, can be an antidepressant that works well.
According to the study, which was published in the famous magazine The BMJdepression symptoms are alleviated after a couple of doses, with minimal side effects.
– A strong psychedelic experience seems to be needed to get the best results, says psychiatrist Dr Paul Keedwell to Sky News.
Especially effective on the elderly
The researchers looked at randomized controlled trials, which compared psilocybin with control substances such as placebo, vitamin B and microdosed psychedelics. In total, they looked at seven trials involving 436 people with depression.
The change in their depreciation was calculated using a system called “Hedges’ g”.
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A result of 0.2 indicated a small effect, 0.5 indicated a moderate effect and 0.8 indicated a large effect.
Overall, psilocybin produced a reduction in depressive symptoms with an effect size of 1.64.
Especially in the elderly, they saw a clear improvement.
– It shows a clear effect, said Tor-Morten Kvam, senior physician and psychiatrist at Sykehuset Østfold in Moss, to Nettavisen.
The study’s researchers described the findings as encouraging, but that further research is needed. “To clarify the factors that increase the treatment potential of psilocybin for the symptoms of depression,” wrote Sky News.
– In some of the studies summarized in this article, there is little psychoactive support combined with psilocybin, Kvam says.
– It should be investigated
Kvam is leading a Norwegian study to find out if psychedelic substances can affect mental disorders.
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The use of treatments such as MDMA and psilocybin has been debated. In some states in the US and in Australia, the use of MDMA and Psilocybin has become legal as a treatment.
– Many believe that it is unwise to market psychedelics as almost exclusively a medicinal treatment. The surrounding frame is extremely important. Good preparation and psychotherapy both before and after are absolutely key, he tells Nettavisen.
He himself would like to speak for the treatment method being studied in Norway.
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– Psychedelic substances can add something new to those who do not get the best effect from the current treatment, and we need to study both the potential and the risks of this treatment, he says.
– Gaining more access
They are researching MDMA in particular, and Kvam is clear that the medication and psychotherapy are two sides of the same coin in this treatment.
– If you remove the psychotherapy from the psilocybin treatment, there is a risk that no one will be willing to handle what comes from thoughts and feelings. With this type of manipulation, you gain greater access to substances that are not available through normal consciousness. Without adequate psychotherapy, there is a possibility of side effects such as panic, anxiety and paranoia.
The Norwegian study has not released any results yet, but they have an ongoing study for depression, and they have previously participated in a European study on MDMA and its effects on the treatment of PTSD.
– In published PTSD studies conducted by others than us, you see a clear difference between those who receive MDMA combined with psychotherapy and those who receive the same psychotherapy, but with a placebo so far, it seems MDMA has beneficial side effects, says Crap.
2024-05-10 20:57:26
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