2023-10-14 15:22:26
Faced with the growing fascination with the world of “magic” or hallucinogenic mushrooms, to which more and more medicinal and spiritual properties and even great environmental benefits are attributed due to their great capacity to fight climate change, the interest of scientific community grew exponentially around the world.
In the last decade, two relevant studies, one of the New York University and another from Johns Hopkinshave shown that a single dose of psilocybin was sufficient to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis.
In this regard, in 2016 the specialized magazine New Scientist dedicated an article to the results of research carried out at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, where two trials were carried out involving 80 people with cancer and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
In our country, in 2022, revolutionary research was presented about the benefits of psilocybin for the treatment of cancer patients suffering from depression and anxiety in advanced stages. The study was led by Ricardo Corral, head of research at the Borda Hospital, Enzo Tagliazucchi, researcher at the Institute of Physics of Buenos Aires and Ain Stolkiner, a doctor who specializes in Psychiatry at the Hospital de Clínicas.
That same year, the Hospital Borda Ethics Committee approved a protocol to treat cancer patients with depression or anxiety with psilocybin.
Before continuing, it must be said that Psilocybin is a psychoactive substance present in psilocybes mushrooms. (popularly “hallucinogens”). To learn about the particularities of psilocybin and the scientific evidence that is available to date, NA spoke with Ricardo Corral about the results obtained. “Psilocybin acts by binding to serotonin receptors, particularly 5-HT2A receptors,” introduces the consulted expert.
“Depression and anxiety are two of the therapeutic proposals that are being investigated in the country in cancer patients. And there are mainly two hypotheses that are being worked on: On the one hand, evaluating results through the provision of a single dose with a therapist-guided psychedelic experience that I call the “therapeutic journey”; and, on the other hand, the effects of administering a microdose of psilocybin which, in this case, do not produce the psychedelic effect,” he explains.
“The discussion at this point at the moment is whether or not the psychedelic experience is necessary within the framework of therapeutic treatment,” he specifies.
Psilocybes mushrooms: can they cause addiction?
According to the available evidence, Corral assures that “it does not generate addiction”, although he warns of other risks, among which the possibility of triggering psychosis in people with a predisposition and who were unaware of it stands out.
In relation to the microdose administration without therapeutic assistanceCorral warns that, “as the patient has a loss of awareness of reality, its use is very dangerous if it is not properly controlled by an expert professional.”
There are still many questions and some obstacles related to how to enter this drug into the country. Although the research team carrying out the study has the approval of the National Institute of Medicines (INAME), the agency in charge of importing the drug, and ensures that “there are no legal or health impediments,” there are still barriers in the area of Foreign trade.
“This type of research is of the “Non profit” order,” adds Corral and notes that, at the moment, “they do not receive subsidies or sponsors.”
Empirical background
The research from Johns Hopkins University was a so-called “double-blind” study carried out in a group of 50 cancer patients with depression or anxiety.. The results were overwhelming as they found that 80 percent of people responded favorably to psilocybin with evident improvements in their mental health.
As Stolkiner, one of the study’s directors, told THC magazine, “they were people who had to face death and psilocybin helped them much more than any other drug in the industry. “It is very interesting from a medical perspective, but also from psychological and even philosophical aspects because today we have few tools to work with death,”
Now, the objective of the team of Argentine researchers is to continue that research with the incorporation of the hypothesis that meditation can be a ally of psilocybin. The Argentine trial plans a double-blind study in approximately 100 patients.
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