New study may have found treatment for lasting relief from depression
Magic mushroom therapy could provide lasting depression treatment for years
- Research from Ohio State University and Johns Hopkins University indicates that two-thirds of individuals who underwent psilocybin-assisted therapy remained free from depression five years later.
- This long-term follow-up study suggests that the significant improvements in depression symptoms observed after one year continued to hold strong, potentially lasting longer than traditional treatments.
- Participants in the original study received two doses of psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, alongside 13 hours of psychotherapy support.
- Researchers have acknowledged the studies’ limitations, including the absence of a comparison group, the use of antidepressants by some participants, and the lack of a placebo in the initial trial.
- Despite methodological challenges, the findings suggest lasting benefits from just one or two treatment sessions, potentially by triggering positive behavioural feedback loops and fostering personality changes.