‘Magic Mushroom’ Psychedelic Compound Shows Promise In Treatment of Depression
04/15/21 AT 11:53 AM
A small study done by researchers from London found psychedelic drugs may treat depression just as effectively as commonly prescribed antidepressants.
The results of the six-week study were published on Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers conducted a Phase 2 clinical trial that compared the therapeutic doses of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, with escitalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
During the trial, scientists from Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research observed the functioning and moods of 59 adults.
Around 40 percent of the group had to be weaned off of the medication they were prescribed to treat their depression before the study began. Of the participants, 30 were given two 25 mg doses of psilocybin three weeks apart and also received daily placebo pills for six weeks.