One or two doses of psilocybin, a substance found in psychedelic mushrooms, could enhance the mental well-being of cancer patients when paired with psychotherapy, according to recent research. Another study has indicated that psilocybin treatment can lead to positive, lasting changes in personality for those suffering from alcohol use disorder.
One or two doses of psilocybin, a substance sourced from psychedelic mushrooms, might boost the mental health of cancer patients when integrated with psychotherapy, as highlighted by a new study. Additionally, a separate study revealed that psilocybin treatment led to enduring positive changes in personality traits of individuals with alcohol use disorder.
The findings from the first report were released online on October 7 in the journal Nature Mental Health, while the second study was published in a special edition of The American Journal of Psychiatry on January 1, focusing on research related to psilocybin.
In this initial study, experts at NYU Langone Health discovered that psilocybin, when combined with psychotherapy, significantly alleviated symptoms of anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, feelings of anger toward others, and physical manifestations of psychological distress, with benefits lasting up to six months.
“Our results indicate that the mental health advantages of psilocybin therapy for cancer patients might extend well beyond previous understandings,” stated Petros Petridis, MD, the lead author of the study and a clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry.
The study also found that psilocybin did not result in any lasting issues such as paranoia, psychosis, or intense phobias. This suggests that psilocybin can be safely administered with appropriate medical supervision, according to Stephen Ross, MD, the senior author of the study. Ross also serves as an associate director at NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Center for Psychedelic Medicine.
For this investigation, researchers reviewed data from two earlier clinical trials, where psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy was utilized to manage anxiety and depression among 79 cancer patients. In these trials, approximately half of the participants received a substantial dose of psilocybin, while the others were given a placebo, either vitamin B3 or a very small dose of the psychedelic. Both participants and researchers were unaware of which substance each person received.
Six or seven weeks after the initial treatment, the groups switched substances. Each dosing session was preceded and followed by psychotherapy, and participants rated their mental health symptoms at the beginning of the study and again six months after their second dose.
In the second study, another group of researchers from NYU Grossman School of Medicine found that psilocybin therapy might also benefit those with alcohol use disorder. Compared to a placebo group, patients receiving psilocybin showed marked reductions in impulsivity, depression, and susceptibility, coupled with increased “openness,” which refers to their willingness to accept their thoughts and feelings. These effects persisted even seven months after the participants’ second psilocybin dose.
This analysis looked at personality changes in individuals from a previous clinical trial that examined psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for alcohol dependence. During this trial, participants randomly received two doses of either psilocybin or an antihistamine placebo, along with psychotherapy before and after each session. The study involved testing 83 of the participants using a standard personality evaluation before starting psychotherapy and again eight months following the first dose.
“Since impulsivity is closely linked to both excessive drinking and the likelihood of relapse after treatment, the personality shifts produced by psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy could assist those in recovery from alcohol dependence in staying resilient against both internal and external stressors that may trigger relapse,” noted Broc Pagni, PhD, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Interestingly, the results indicated that men tended to experience more uplift in positive emotions, while women displayed greater increases in openness. However, additional research is required to understand the reasons for these differences and what they may mean for individual patients, according to Michael Bogenschutz, MD, the senior author of the study.
Bogenschutz, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and director of its Center for Psychedelic Medicine, mentioned that the research team aims to investigate whether the personality changes noted in this study happen in psilocybin trials targeting opioid use disorder as well.
Bogenschutz warned that in both studies, a majority of participants correctly deduced whether they had received psilocybin or a placebo.
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound derived from fungi, known for its mind-altering effects akin to those of LSD and mescaline. Many participants undergoing treatment report significant changes in perception, emotions, and self-identity, often including experiences that feel deeply personal and spiritually meaningful. Due to its potential to elevate blood pressure and heart rate, and the capacity to induce powerful psychological effects, researchers emphasize that it should be administered in controlled environments, alongside thorough medical and psychological evaluations and careful preparation.
Funding for the research published in Nature Mental Health came from National Institutes of Health grants UL1TR000038 and T32DA007250, with additional support from various foundations. The research published in The American Journal of Psychiatry received backing from the Heffter Research Institute and individual donations.
Alongside Petridis, Ross, Pagni, and Bogenschutz, other researchers from NYU Langone involved in these studies include Richard Zeifman, PhD; Brennan Carrithers, MD; Noam Goldway, PhD; and Kelley O’Donnell, MD, PhD. Other co-investigators are associated with various prestigious institutions including Columbia University, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, Arizona State University, and the University of New Mexico.
Pagni and Zeifman are supported by the NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine Research Training Program, funded by MindMed. Bogenschutz has also received funding from multiple sources, along with serving on several advisory boards related to psychedelic research. Ross is the director of NYU Langone Health’s Center for Psychedelic Medicine Research Training Program, which is also funded by MindMed. Each author has declared commitments and affiliations managed by NYU Langone Health.
