Could Psilocybin Treat Depression?

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic" mushrooms, has been illegal in the United States for many years. As a Schedule I drug, psilocybin is said to "have a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose," says the U.S. Department of Justice.

This could soon change, however, due to increasing evidence supporting the use of psilocybin in patients with high levels of anxiety (such as terminally ill cancer patients) and now in those with depression.

According to a preliminary study published in the Proceedings in the National Academy of Sciences, psilocybin's hallucinogenic properties could have lasting beneficial effects on depression symptoms. Though the study was small, with only 30 participants, the results were promising.

By using MRI to examine the effects of psilocybin in the brain, researchers noted that the drug appears to turn off a certain area in the prefrontal cortex – the area responsible for thinking, feeling, and behaving. Changes to this area of the brain can cause lasting personality changes, including a "fragmented sense of self," says lead scientist and former British Chief Drug Adviser David Nutt.

Based on study results, those who used psilocybin reported feeling more "oneness" with the world and their environment, leading to a more contented state of being – even years later.

It is important to note that this is a preliminary study, and a great deal more research needs to be done before psilocybin should be recommended for anyone – particularly since the drug can cause permanent changes in the brain.