Other Clinical Applications for Psychedelics and Final Conclusions

Summary

Psilocybin has shown powerful effects in treating end-of-life depression, OCD, resistant depression, and addictions like smoking and alcohol, with these findings needing replication in major double-blind controlled studies. Historical and recent studies indicate psilocybin's utility in psychiatric conditions, particularly addiction and affective disorders. Major multicenter trials for resistant depression are ongoing, with rare adverse effects when used in medical settings. Psychedelics may disrupt maladaptive brain pathways, allowing normal brain function to resume.

Study at a glance

Abstract

New studies in end-of-life depression, OCD, resistant depression, smoking and alcohol addiction have revealed powerful effects for psilocybin These need to be replicated in major double-blind controlled studies Historical use of psychedelics that ended in the 1960s revealed they had considerable utility in a number of psychiatric conditions especially addiction and affective disorders Over the past few years, these effects have now been replicated in modern studies using modern diagnostic and outcome criteria Major multicenter trials of psilocybin in resistant depression are now underway Adverse effects are rare and not serious when these drugs are used in medical settings with the right level of psychological support Psychedelics work differently to conventional treatments They only require a single administration to produce enduring therapeutic effects Based on brain imaging studies, the author thinks that this is because psychedelic treatment disrupts maladaptive brain pathways that underpin the psychiatric disorder and allow the brain to resume its normal working pattern