While there is still a frustrating stigma surrounding mental health discussions, the stats speak for themselves. A report from Mental Health America found that over 60 million adults (about 23% of the population) experienced a form of mental illness in 2024, while 2.8 million young people (11.30% of the population) between the ages of 12 and 17 experienced a major depressive episode in the same year. It is imperative that healthcare professionals remain open-minded and up to date about the latest treatments to ensure that they are in a position to provide the best care possible to patients in need. This has led to a renewed interest in psychedelic therapy.
Skepticism over the practice and tighter regulations on pharmaceutical research led to a ban on research into the utilization of substances such as ketamine, “magic mushrooms”, and ayahuasca as a method of treatment by the US government in 1970. But since the landmark work of Johns Hopkins University in the early 2000s, the notion of psychedelic-assisted therapy has gained prominence as more and more evidence confirms its effectiveness as a restorative tool.
Without the right form of support, some people may turn to the wrong places for relief from their problems. In a small-sample Sermo poll in 2021, 88% of participants agreed that the need for new therapeutics is more urgent due to the national epidemic of opioid use and deaths by suicide. This need has only grown since. In this article, we’ll explain how using mushrooms and psychedelic drugs for depression can be a valid option for treating mental illness.
Psilocybin and other psychedelics in treating mental health issues
The vast majority of research into psychedelic therapy supports its viability as a way to treat or manage several mental health conditions. An analysis of 16 clinical trials involving psychedelic-assisted therapy between 2013 and 2023 showed that psychedelics could play a real role in treating addiction and substance abuse disorders. In particular, psilocybin and ketamine were effective in reducing cravings and improving the psychological well-being of patients.
Elsewhere, a meta-analysis of all clinical trials of psychedelic therapy published after 1960 found that psychedelics could reduce the negative mood associated with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Psilocybin was shown to have the strongest effect on mental disorders, followed by ayahuasca, MDMA, and LSD.
There was also some evidence that suggested that psychedelics could help patients with conditions such as:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
- Borderline personality disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Body dysmorphic disorder.
Headaches were mentioned as the most common adverse effect, but of the 126 articles evaluated as part of the study, nearly a third of them reported no lasting negative effects at all for participants.
76% of physicians polled on Sermo support the use of psychedelic drugs as part of the treatment plan for PTSD and other neurological conditions. But the reality where such treatment is commonplace remains far away. Psychedelic therapy remains illegal in large parts of the world, making access extremely restricted for most people. To that point, only 34% of Sermo members could attest to personally witnessing psychedelics having a therapeutic effect on a patient.
More advocacy is needed to make psychedelic-assisted therapy attainable for the global population. “I’ve seen a number of patients with PTSD and depression improve after ketamine therapy, which is generally very well-tolerated,” said an anesthesiologist in a discussion in the Sermo community. “Considering that most of our treatments for these disorders still leave a lot to be desired, there is plenty of need for better therapies, and I see no reason why psychedelics should not be tested out, under controlled circumstances of course.”
Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression (TRD)
All forms of depression can significantly hamper a patient’s quality of life, and finding the right strategy for each individual can be a complicated process. But treatment-resistant depression (TRD) brings a particularly arduous set of circumstances. TRD is a major depressive disorder where at least two different first-line antidepressants (SSRIs or SNRIs) have proven to be unable to manage a person’s condition over an extended period of time. As implied by the name, tending to patients with TRD can involve a frustrating amount of trial and error to discover a plan that works enough to help a person heal. One of the most well-established treatments for TRD is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which has shown response rates of around 60-90% in acute settings and meaningful remission for many patients who have not responded to medications.
There remains a lack of clarity about what makes the condition so persistent, but expanding the scope of possible treatments is a net positive for both doctors and patients. According to this Sermo poll on TRD, a mere 35% of polled physicians believed that the condition was well understood or recognized by healthcare professionals, and 97% of participants agreed that patients suffering from TRD need more available care options.
“Resistant depression is tough for the patient and the doctor. I am open to learning more about anything that can make things easier for the patient and the doctor,” affirmed a GP member of the Sermo community.
This could be the space where psilocybin therapy could be the most transformative. 83% of participants in the Sermo poll felt that psychedelic-assisted therapy could be beneficial for treating TRD. There is plenty of support for that belief. Multiple clinical trials have shown that a dose of 25 mg in conjunction with psychological support could lead to an immediate reduction in depression severity that lasts for several weeks. Headaches and nausea were the most common adverse effects, but more serious downsides were extremely rare.
About 30% of people with major depressive disorder are also diagnosed with TRD. Whatever misgivings impede psilocybin therapy from being a more accepted practice may be getting in the way of a countless number of patients improving their mental health and getting the most out of their lives.
“There is a LOT of good data on psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD based therapy for TRD, PTSD, and other mental illnesses. We need to: 1. remove stigma, 2. create safe environments, 3. coordinate with qualified and trained psychotherapists who can guide the therapy,” outlined an anesthesiologist and Sermo member. “Hospitals are not a good place to do this. You need a safe and comfortable environment. There should be networks of certified centers for this therapy.”
Clinical efficacy of psilocybin therapy and future trends
As exciting as the research on psilocybin continues to be, it’s important not to get too carried away with the findings. While this 2022 study reaffirmed the thinking that psychedelics could be used to treat depression, addiction, and mood disorders, it also raised the point that research has had a slightly narrow focus. Much of the work exploring psilocybin’s effect on addiction has centered around nicotine and alcohol. It is also still unclear how exactly psilocybin changes a user’s neurological pathways to minimize the impact of depression or reduce cravings for certain substances.
This amount of unknown terrain serves as a reminder that psilocybin therapy has only been an open topic for a few decades. The knowledge base for this type of treatment is still being built. But the combination of strong evidence and an awareness of how depression harms patients is enough to continue learning. In a separate poll of the Sermo community, 92% of participants agreed that there is a need to keep studying the merits of psilocybin therapy. 78% of physicians also said they and their patients would be open to trying psilocybin to manage their condition.
Current risks and limitations of psilocybin therapy
Of course, the use of psilocybin as a therapeutic tool is not a guaranteed solution for everyone with mental health concerns. There are risks associated with the ingestion of any substance, and it’s natural to have some reservations about its use, given its status as an unconventional method of care and the lack of experience most medical professionals have in delivering psychedelic-assisted therapy.
The good news is that psilocybin is much less threatening than other commonly abused drugs. Psilocybin mushrooms do not have the same addictive properties as opioids or stimulants, meaning there is much less chance of a psilocybin user developing a chemical dependency on them. However, that is not to say that users cannot develop a problematic pattern of use if under improper or no supervision. There has also been little connection found between the use of psychedelics and fatal overdoses or organ damage stemming from the use of these substances.
There are other valid concerns of psilocybin use to be aware of. As explained in an article by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the process of psychedelic-assisted therapy is different for every person. A person’s mood, personality, expectations, and the setting in which they take psilocybin are a few of the many factors that can affect the experience of taking the substance. This can make the final results of the therapy sessions more varied and harder to predict.
As mentioned previously, short-term headaches and nausea were the most common adverse effects of psilocybin therapy, but other potential complications of taking “magic mushrooms” include:
- Increased heart rate
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Insomnia/Sleep issues
- A lack of focus and cognitive functioning
- Hallucinations
Due to worries over the impact of a negative reaction, the use of psilocybin may not be recommended for people with psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or severe forms of borderline and bipolar disorder.
Regardless of what the studies say, many physicians are still wary of the consequences of mismanaged psilocybin use. “This study is interesting, but the small sample size and lack of standardization of fMRI findings in depression make this study questionable,” opined a neurologist. “PET or MRS would be better or good additions, and control groups are needed that are not depressed and who get a placebo.”
More research and standardization of use are needed before psilocybin therapy becomes a part of mainstream healthcare. “[Psychedelic-assisted therapy] should be allowed only with a prescription until more of the potential side effects have been explored,” said an internal medicine physician. “Need to know how to address treatment of side effects as well.”
What doctors can learn from the research on psilocybin therapy
Whether you’re fresh out of medical school or have decades of experience, physicians have a professional and ethical responsibility to remain curious and educated on the latest mental health treatments. The conversations around depression and mood disorders have evolved greatly in the past decade, but there is still shame about expressing a need for help managing your thoughts in some quarters. Medical professionals need to have all the tools at their disposal to demonstrate person-centered care and provide the support that a patient needs in times of distress. The idea that using magic mushrooms or music as part of a medical practice may have seemed outlandish in a previous time, but both are examples of how patient care shifts over time.
A patient’s well-being is obviously the most important factor, but a willingness to learn is also beneficial for physicians. Mental health plays a huge role in physician burnout. Learning how to treat patients better also helps you understand how to treat yourself with more grace.
Join the discussion on Sermo
Psilocybin therapy represents a new frontier in mental health treatment. The practice has shown promise in helping patients suffering from serious bouts of depression and other conditions alleviate their issues. Despite the encouraging signs from numerous clinical trials, there are further steps to be completed before psychedelic therapy is a formally recognized option in the healthcare lexicon. The practice is not yet legal in large swathes of the world; additional research is needed to confirm that these treatments are as purely beneficial as is hoped, and physicians need to be educated on how to conduct these sessions to ensure patient comfort and safety.
Raising the general level of understanding of psilocybin therapy is also fundamental to the development of this treatment, and that can only happen if physicians distribute and discuss the latest research into the field. Sermo is a great platform for these conversations to take place. Medical professionals from all over the world can congregate to share their views on psychedelic-assisted therapy. These talks aren’t just a way to improve the discourse on mental health; they can also be a supplemental income stream. Participants in our online surveys receive compensation for their input. Sign up for Sermo today to join in on the discussions.
