A new study compares psilocybin — the active compound in magic mushrooms, with a common antidepressant medication.
- During 6 months of follow-up, both drugs effectively improved depressive symptoms.
- Psilocybin, however, seemed to provide additional benefits, including improved psychological connectedness and social functioning.
- This is a small study, and scientists still need to conduct more research to understand the longterm effects of psilocybin.
Follow the latest news and policy debates on sustainable agriculture, biomedicine, and other ‘disruptive’ innovations. Subscribe to our newsletter.
…
“The excitement is justified, given psilocybin’s potential to treat resistant depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” said [Ozan Toy, MD, a neuropsychiatrist not involved in this study]. “Many studies have demonstrated significant benefits for PTSD.”
Share this article
Still, Toy added a word of caution: “Concerns remain about long-term effects, accessibility, and better safety data to understand the risks and benefits.”
