New Study Finds – Using Psilocybin Therapy for Long-Term Relief from Anxiety and Depression in Cancer Patients
Psilocybin is the active compound found in magic mushrooms or more commonly known as shrooms. This psychedelic substance has been reported to help provide lasting and profound relief from depression and anxiety for individuals that have been diagnosed with cancer. These findings expand our understanding of how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy could potentially transform the current landscape of treatment for mental health care in people facing terminal illness and as well as other mental health conditions.
A study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, showcased a group of cancer patients who partook in a psilocybin-assisted therapy. The study involved 29 patients suffering from clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression as a result of their cancer diagnoses. In conjunction with psychotherapy, researchers found that one single dose of psilocybin resulted in a significant and quick reduction in symptoms. This finding stood in sharp contrast to the slower method of conventional medications and therapies.
The promising news is that these benefits were not temporary. Over a span of four years, various of the original participants continue to report emotional improvements as well as extensive psychological improvements. Researchers found that the controlled therapy led to a continual decrease in depression, feelings of hopelessness, demoralization, anxiety, and even the fear of death.
A Reflective and Lasting Transformation
“Our findings strongly suggest that psilocybin therapy is a promising means of improving the emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of patients with life-threatening cancer,” said Dr. Stephen Ross, the study’s principal investigator and an associate professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. The long-term effects faced by the participants showcase the potential for psilocybin for not only symptom relief but for a deeper transformation as a means of coping with their terminal illness.
Researchers have stated that over 70% of the patients involved with this study described the positive impact of their psilocybin exposure years after the initial study. Numerous patients have even stated that the experience was the most spiritually significant and personally meaningful moments of their lives.
The Trial That Took Place in 2016: A Closer Overview
The original 2016 study at NYU Langone was a carefully controlled, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Each participant was randomly assigned to receive either a moderate dose of psilocybin or a placebo (vitamin B3/niacin) in a supervised therapeutic setting, followed by the alternate treatment seven weeks later. In total, each patient participated in nine psychotherapy sessions, including both preparatory and integration meetings designed to help them prepare for and reflect on the psychedelic experience.
By the 6.5-month mark, after all participants had received the active drug, approximately 60 to 80 percent showed clinically significant reductions in anxiety and depression. Many also reported feeling more accepting of death and a renewed sense of meaning and connection.
These early results prompted excitement in the field of psychedelic medicine, but questions remained about the durability of the benefits. Would the positive effects of a single dose wear off over time? Would patients relapse into anxiety or depression as their illnesses progressed?
The latest study helps answer these questions—and the answer appears to be yes, the effects can last.
The Positive Impact Remains Years Later
Fifteen of the original twenty-nine participants agreed to partake in the long-term follow-up. The follow up period occurred roughly between 3.2 and 4.5 years after the initial study. These individuals reported significant reductions in their psychological distress. They also reported a deeper sense of acceptance and peace in regard to their diagnosis.
Gabby Agin-Liebes, the study’s lead author and a doctoral candidate at Palo Alto University, emphasized how the subjective nature of the experience may play a key role in its effectiveness. “The drug seems to facilitate a deep, meaningful experience that stays with a person and can fundamentally change his or her mindset and outlook,” she said.
Researchers believe that this “mystical-type” experience—often characterized by feelings of unity, transcendence, and insight—may help reframe how patients perceive their illness, mortality, and purpose. These kinds of experiences have been correlated with long-term therapeutic benefits in numerous psychedelic studies.
The Science Behind the Change
Although researchers and scientists do not fully understand how magic mushrooms created such long-lasting effects. One of their numerous theories is that the compound, psilocybin, enhances neuroplasticity. This is when the brain recognizes that it can reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. These new neural connections allow patients to reset their emotions and patterns surrounding their diagnosis. Psilocybin also acts on serotonin receptors in the brain, which are known to regulate mood, cognition, and perception. By altering activity in brain regions involved in self-reflection and emotional processing, the compound may create a window of opportunity for individuals to experience profound personal insight, often within the context of guided therapy.
A Shift in Mental Health Treatments
Scientists believe that psilocybin-assisted therapy can potentially cause a major shift in how the medical community as whole approaches mental health challenges – not only in patients who are facing terminal diagnoses but also in patients who are struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD and many other mental health conditions.
According to the World Health Organization, there were approximately 18 million new cancer diagnoses in 2018 alone. Since 2018, that number has only increased exponentially. It is reported that a significant number of patients diagnosed with cancer struggle with depression and anxiety. These conditions are often difficult to treat with talk therapy or traditional antidepressants, especially for those with recent cancer diagnoses.
Unlike conventional medications that require daily dosing and can come with unpleasant side effects on top of chemotherapy and radiation, a single session with a psychedelic substance can potentially yield extraordinary results. It is important to note that these studies were conducted in a therapeutic and supportive environment to ensure that patients were set up for success.
Not Without Limitations
Despite the promising findings, the researchers acknowledge the study’s limitations. Chief among them is the small sample size—only 15 participants took part in the long-term follow-up. Additionally, because the original study used a crossover design (in which all participants eventually received psilocybin), there is no long-term control group for comparison.
James Rucker, a psychiatrist at King’s College London who was not involved in the research, praised the study’s contribution but cautioned against drawing broad conclusions too quickly. “The conclusions that can be drawn are limited because the original trial was a crossover design,” Rucker noted. “We do not know whether the participants might have improved long term anyway, regardless of the treatment.”
Still, Rucker and others in the field see the findings as supportive of ongoing research into psilocybin for other conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders.
Broader Consequences and Possible Future Direction
A growing number of clinical trials are being held around the world as renewed interest in psychedelics is being used as medical treatments. Institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College London, and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) are leading efforts to explore how these ancient compounds might address some of today’s most stubborn mental health challenges.
If more studies can replicate the results seen in this study, psychedelic and psilocybin therapies could theoretically play a significant role in psychological care as well as hospice treatment programs. These therapies can not only provide symptom relief but help patients approach their diagnoses with dignity, emotional clarity, and peace.
Conclusion
Although further research and clinical trials are needed to fully understand the potential benefits of psilocybin. The evidence thus far is compelling and should be continued. For patients struggling with depression and anxiety following their cancer diagnosis as well as patients who are suffering from PTSD, this approach offers hope where traditional methods have not been as helpful. The good news is that shrooms have become readily available for everyone to purchase online. Some keywords that can be used to search for shrooms online are, “buying shrooms online Canada, online mushrooms Canada, or buy mushrooms online Canada.” When searching for shrooms for medicinal or recreational use, it is important to find a reputable dispensary and to use shrooms with caution. It is important to start low and go slow to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable adventure.