For more than 40 years, magic mushrooms or psilocybin has been considered illegal in the United states. An ongoing study, however investigates on the drug's potential benefit in reducing anxiety and depression in cancer patients.
Octavian Mihai
Octavian Mihai, finishing his treatment for Stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma, joined the study investigating psilocybin's benefits on cancer patients.
Results Showed 80 Percent Improvement In Anxiety And Depression of Cancer Patients
The results of the study confirmed that 80 percent of cancer patients showed significant reductions in the anxiety and depression of cancer patients within seven months after a single dose. The drug exhibited minimal side effects. Another minor trial also proved similar results.
Both trials have shown the intense proofs of the mystical experiences described by patients correlated to which their degree of anxiety and depression have significantly clinically decreased.
The Study And Its Authors
The study was conducted by New York University with 29 patients and John Hopkins University with 51 patients. The results were released in The Journal of Psychopharmacology.
The study on the therapeutic effect of psilocybin has been subjected to a meticulous review by regulators- in fact, the most arduous among a number to trials.
Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman former president of the American Psychiatric Association, and Dr. Daniel Shalev of the New York State Psychiatric Institute endorsed the work- they are among the leaders in psychiatry, addiction medicine and palliative care. Accordingly, the studies they authored are "a model for revisiting criminalized compounds of interest in a safe, ethical way." In the possibility that the other restrictions in their researched will be eased, "there is much potential for new scientific insights and clinical applications," the authors added.
Cancer patients will not have not have access to administer psilocyn therapeutically any time soon. The findings of the study, however, have paved the way for further research in multicenter trials with hundreds of other participating patients.
Mihai After 3 Years
Mihai's anxiety was triggered upon his doctor's warning of a remission. Since then, he developed the obsessive habit of touching the nodules on his neck- same spot where the cancer was diagnosed. He travelled to Europe to celebrate the end of his treatment as well as his graduation in college. He was prompted to immediately return to New York however, as he was terrified by his doctors. With his, he resulted to drinking daily, further compromising his frail health.
These alarmed the doctors and advised him to enrol in the psilocybin study. Mihai recalls his experience, "I had an epiphany."
After three years of participating in the study, Mihai is now working as a physician assistant in Las Vegas. He confirms, I'm not anxious about cancer anymore. I'm not anxious about dying." According to him, the medication has "has made my life richer."
Further Studies On Psilocybin For U.S. And Europe
To date, psilocybin trials are underway both for the United States and Europe. These studies further consider the drug's effects on alcoholism, treatment-resistant depression and tobacco addiction. Furthermore, other hallucinogens are also under study. The Food and Drug Administration has already granted approval to a large-scale trial that aims to investigate MDMA, also known as Ecstasy, and its potential benefits in treating post-traumatic stress disorder.
Psychological distress related to cancer has affected almost 40 percent of patients. Prior studies have shown that this psychological status can even be resistant to conventional therapy.
