Psychiatry Research
July 16, 2022
Thomas D. Meyer, Priel Meir, Claudia Lex et al.
23 citations
Mental health professionals' attitudes toward psilocybin were neutral, but their self-rated knowledge of the substance was low. Whether the survey used the term 'Psilocybin' or 'Magic Mushrooms' did not significantly affect responses. Gender, attitudes toward medical cannabis, and personal history of psychedelic use were associated with ratings of psilocybin. These findings offer a baseline of mental health professionals' views on psilocybin, which may inform considerations if it receives FDA approval.
Psychedelic Medicine
August 18, 2023
Claudia Lex, Antonio F. Pagán, Jair C. Soares et al.
9 citations
Medical students hold generally positive attitudes toward psychedelic-assisted therapy, but their attitudes are significantly more favorable when the term "psilocybin" is used instead of "magic mushrooms." Personal experience with psychedelics is linked to more positive attitudes, beliefs, and higher self-rated knowledge. Attitudes and beliefs are stronger predictors of willingness to recommend psychedelic-assisted therapy, if FDA approved, than personal experience alone. The findings suggest that using the term "psilocybin" may be preferable in research and educational contexts.
General Hospital Psychiatry
February 25, 2026
Alan C. Courtes, Blake Myers, Noah Daly et al.
1 citation
Psychological stress worsens cancer outcomes by activating adrenergic signaling between nerves and tumors, a process called tumor-neuron crosstalk. Preclinical models show stress triggers sympathetic pathways that promote cancer progression and treatment resistance. Conventional antidepressants are often less effective for cancer patients, but psilocybin has achieved 60-80% long-term remission of cancer-related depression and anxiety in limited samples, while ketamine provides rapid but short-lived symptom control. These agents may normalize HPA axis function and upregulate neurotrophic factors, reducing sustained adrenergic tone and interrupting stress-driven tumor-neuron signaling. Integrating these drugs into oncology could improve survival, and hospital-based psychiatrists are positioned to lead interdisciplinary research with biomarker-rich trials.