Abstract: Psilocybin, an active component in “magic mushroom”, may have the potential to meet the therapeutic needs for a number of indications without the addictiveness and overdose risk of other mind-altering drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, alcohol, methamphetamine, and so forth. The need for new therapies is urgent because addiction, overdose, and suicide deaths have risen throughout the United States and around the world. Anecdotal and contemporary pharmacological reports have provided some indication about the therapeutic use of psilocybin for the treatment of mental health disorders such as major depressive disorder and addiction disorders. In this Viewpoint, I summarize the current state of psilocybin therapeutic research and attempt to provide some insight into future directions on which the scientific community may wish to focus.
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Recorded use of psilocybin by humans has been demonstrated for over a century. There are reports suggesting that the molecule has potent effects on behavior, cognition, thought, spirituality, and retrospection. In the 1950s, scientists began to realize the potential of psychedelic compounds in neuroscience, mood disorders, behaviors, and psychiatry. A notable quality of these compounds was they showed little propensity for habit formation, overdoses, or addiction. In contrast to psilocybin, opioid use and addiction has spread within the U.S. population irrespective of profession or age. In 2016, drug overdose deaths exceeded 59,000, which is the largest annual jump ever recorded in the U.S. Equally disturbing, the rate of suicide among Americans aged 35 to 64 increased nearly 30% from 1999 to 2010.This troubling trend is considered underreported due to the stigma associated with suicide. Attempts at combating suicide include collaborative efforts between different agencies involved in substance abuse, mental health services, preventive services, and public education. However, there is little sign that these efforts have had a dramatic effect in slowing down the trend of suicide, overdoses, and depression. In 2017, the U.S deaths from alcohol, drugs, and suicide hit their highest level since record-keeping began.The problem is exacerbated by the lack of significant advances in psychiatric drug development, as current treatments are plagued with limited efficacy, significant side effects, and dependency on long time use, which may lead some patients to develop treatment-resistance. Academic research along with anecdotal reports suggest that psychedelics have promising therapeutic potential, and the United States National Institutes of Health has issued a mandate that funded research should include participants from diverse population.
This renewed interest in psilocybin research is beleaguered by several years of scientific dormancy, caused in part by governmental regulation and societal taboo; this has left many unanswered questions regarding the pharmacology and toxicology of psilocybin. The classification of psilocybin as a Schedule I drug in the United States and Class A drug in the United Kingdom has resulted in a relative dearth of scientific inquiry into the biology of psilocybin until recently. The therapeutic potential of psychedelics is demonstrated, especially in psychiatry over the past decade with more than ten completed clinical trials. A meta-analysis of LSD-assisted treatment of alcoholism in the 1960s demonstrated robust clinically and meaningful effects, which persisted up to 6 months after a single high-dose LSD session. In a related study conducted in 2012, participants treated with psilocybin for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and cigarette addiction demonstrated impressive improvements. Furthermore, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy has been effective in the treatment of depression and anxiety in cancer patients and also in the treatment of resistant depression....[FullArticle] 