Emily Johnson
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition that can be caused by a myriad of traumatic experiences. While psychotherapy and medication are the most common treatments for PTSD, they are not always effective. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, for treating PTSD. Preliminary studies suggest that psilocybin may help to restore the fear extinction process, which is often impaired in people with PTSD, by promoting neuroplasticity and neuronal growth in the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in memory formation. While more research is needed, the initial findings provide hope for those seeking alternative treatments for PTSD.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Treatment type | Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) |
| Treatment promise | Evidence supports further investigation of PAP as a radically new approach for treating PTSD |
| Treatment efficacy | PAP reduced PTSD symptoms, attachment anxiety, and demoralization |
| Treatment effect | Facilitating confronting traumatic memories, decreasing emotional avoidance, depression, anxiety, pessimism, and disconnection from others, and increasing acceptance, self-compassion, and forgiveness of abusers |
| Treatment safety | PAP is considered safe, both physically and mentally |
| Treatment duration | 4-8 hours, depending on the dose |
| Treatment experience | Visual imagery of multicolored geometric shapes, vivid imaginative sequences, synesthesia, feelings of bliss and connectedness, dissolution of the self/ego, and mystical-type experiences |
| Treatment setting | Setting matters, patients may listen to music or talk to therapists |
| Treatment challenges | Patients may experience a "bad trip" or frightening hallucinations |
| Treatment mechanism | Psilocybin promotes neuronal growth and the formation of new synapses, which could explain its antidepressant effects |
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What You'll Learn
The benefits of psilocybin mushrooms for PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating, chronic disorder, and the efficacy rates of current treatments are underwhelming. For many, the symptoms are persistent and difficult to treat. This is because PTSD halts the "fear extinction" process, making it difficult for patients to learn that certain harmless stimuli they associate with a traumatic event pose no immediate threat.
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been found to promote the growth of new neurons and synapses in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory formation. It has also been found to reverse the decline in proteins associated with neuroplasticity and fear extinction. The findings provide a promising potential for using psilocybin in the treatment of PTSD.
Several studies have shown that psilocybin promotes neuronal growth and the formation of new synapses, which could explain its antidepressant effects. A study by a research team from China investigated whether psilocybin could be the key to restoring fear extinction by increasing neuroplasticity in the hippocampus. They found that psilocybin-treated mice exhibited significantly improved fear extinction compared to untreated mice, with the hippocampi of the treated mice having dendrites similar to those of control mice.
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has been found to reduce PTSD symptoms, attachment anxiety, and demoralization. Several PAP trials show preliminary efficacy in facilitating the confrontation of traumatic memories, decreasing emotional avoidance, depression, anxiety, pessimism, and disconnection from others, and increasing acceptance, self-compassion, and forgiveness of abusers, all of which are relevant to PTSD recovery.
Psychedelics are being increasingly researched as a novel method of augmenting the effectiveness of psychotherapies for the treatment of mental health conditions. The most studied psychedelics to date include psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
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How psilocybin mushrooms work in the brain
Psilocybin is the active ingredient in a variety of hallucinogenic mushrooms. When ingested, psilocybin is converted to psilocin, which acts as an agonist at several receptors in the brain.
Psilocybin has been found to massively disrupt functional connectivity in the cortex and subcortex, with some changes persisting for weeks. It also led to less distinction between brain networks that normally show distinct activity. The largest changes occurred in the brain's default mode network, which is involved in a person's sense of self, space, and time. This network is usually most active when the brain is not focused on a specific task, such as during daydreaming or mind-wandering.
Psilocybin also caused brain activity to become less synchronized, with relatively stable areas of the brain being temporarily "scrambled." The more significant the changes in functional connectivity, the more intense the person's psychedelic experience.
The effects of psilocybin on the brain are still being studied, and it is not entirely clear how these effects lead to therapeutic benefits. However, there is evidence that psilocybin may stimulate nerve cell regrowth in parts of the brain responsible for emotion and memory.
While the potential benefits of psilocybin for treating PTSD are being explored, it is important to note that it should not be used as a self-medicating treatment outside of the supervision of trained mental health experts.
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The history of psilocybin mushrooms for PTSD treatment
Psilocybin has been found to stimulate nerve cell regrowth in parts of the brain responsible for emotion and memory, offering a potential explanation for its therapeutic effects on PTSD. The psychedelic experiences induced by psilocybin can create lasting changes in an individual's worldview and facilitate the processing of traumatic memories. This makes it a viable option for those with chronic PTSD who have not responded well to traditional antidepressants or psychotherapy.
Johns Hopkins researchers have reported that psilocybin-assisted therapy, when combined with supportive psychotherapy, may offer substantial antidepressant effects that last up to a year or more for some patients. Additionally, in a small double-blind study, they found that a single large dose of psilocybin provided considerable relief from cancer-related anxiety and depression for up to six months. These findings highlight the potential of psilocybin in treating mental health conditions.
The molecular structure of psilocybin allows it to penetrate the central nervous system, and researchers are working to understand its effects on the brain and its therapeutic potential fully. While psilocybin remains a Schedule I drug, some regions, including Australia, Oregon, Colorado, and Alberta, Canada, have legalized its use for medicinal purposes under supervision.
The therapeutic potential of psilocybin for PTSD is gaining recognition, and researchers are exploring its use in conjunction with psychotherapy, known as Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy (P-AT). Early evidence suggests that psilocybin may produce large reductions in PTSD symptoms, particularly in combat veterans. However, more research is needed to understand the risks and long-term effects of using psychedelic compounds for trauma-related disorders.
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Psilocybin mushrooms vs. other PTSD treatments
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been found to promote the growth of new neurons and synapses in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory formation. This is significant because PTSD is caused by traumatic experiences that result in ingrained traumatic memories. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has been found to reduce PTSD symptoms, attachment anxiety, and demoralization. It has also been shown to facilitate the confrontation of traumatic memories, decrease emotional avoidance, depression, anxiety, pessimism, and disconnection from others, and increase acceptance, self-compassion, and forgiveness of abusers.
While there are currently two registered drugs for PTSD, they were approved 21 years ago, and there has been little innovation in treatment methods since. Conventional treatments include psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy, or cognitive processing therapy, aims to teach patients to evaluate and change the upsetting thoughts they are having in the wake of their trauma. Medication includes antidepressants, which have been found to be ineffective for people with chronic PTSD. Antipsychotics like risperidone have been found to be no better than a placebo.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy, on the other hand, has been found to induce a state of plasticity that can make it easier for people to rewire neuronal circuits and learn new things. This provides an opportunity for therapy to be more effective, as patients are more receptive to new connections and ways of thinking. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AT) has also been found to be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, with participants in four phase 2 studies finding that they were more likely to achieve clinically significant PTSD reductions.
While psilocybin shows promise in the treatment of PTSD, it is important to note that it is still classified as a Schedule I drug. However, as of February 2024, Australia, Oregon, Colorado, and Alberta, Canada, have legalized psilocybin for medicinal use in supervised settings. More research and clinical trials are needed to fully understand the effects of psilocybin and other psychedelic-assisted therapies in the treatment of PTSD.
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The risks and side effects of psilocybin mushrooms
While psilocybin mushrooms are not considered addictive, they can cause a range of physical and psychological side effects, and may be risky for certain individuals.
The physical side effects of psilocybin mushrooms include an increased heart rate and high blood pressure, which can be dangerous for people with heart disease or uncontrolled high blood pressure. Psilocybin may also increase the risk of cardiac arrest and death for people with heart disease. Additionally, psilocybin may worsen diarrhoea in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The psychological side effects of psilocybin mushrooms include confusion, fear, hallucinations, headache, nausea, paranoia, anxiety, panic, and psychosis. Psilocybin can alter serotonin levels in the brain, leading to changes in perceptions, feelings, and thought patterns. This can result in a ""bad trip", where individuals experience intense fear or disturbing hallucinations. Certain factors, such as stress or anxiety before taking psilocybin mushrooms, being in an unfamiliar or crowded environment, and individual mood and expectations, can increase the risk of a bad trip.
While psilocybin mushrooms are not typically lethal, consuming large amounts can lead to overdose symptoms, including accidental self-harm. It is important to note that psilocybin mushrooms can interact with certain medications, particularly those that increase serotonin levels, leading to serious side effects such as heart problems, seizures, and vomiting.
One of the most serious risks associated with psilocybin mushrooms is mushroom poisoning, as they closely resemble poisonous mushrooms that can cause severe illness, organ damage, and even death. Additionally, psilocybin mushrooms may be contaminated with other substances, such as LSD or phencyclidine (PCP), further increasing the risk of adverse effects.
Long-term side effects of psilocybin mushrooms include flashbacks, which can occur weeks, months, or even years after taking the drug. These flashbacks are associated with hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD), a rare condition. Some individuals may also experience long-term changes in personality and an increased risk of mania, especially those with bipolar disorder or a family history of bipolar disorder.
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Frequently asked questions
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex anxiety disorder caused by one or more traumatic events. Symptoms include re-experiencing trauma through vivid memories, flashbacks, or nightmares, often accompanied by strong emotions like fear or horror.
PTSD is typically treated with psychotherapy, which uses psychological methods to help patients change their thought patterns and the way they feel. Medication and talking therapies are also used. However, current treatments are not effective for everyone, and new treatments are being sought.
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, can induce a state of plasticity, making it easier to rewire neuronal circuits and learn new things. This provides an opportunity for therapy to be more effective. Psilocybin also promotes neuroplasticity in the hippocampus, which is involved in memory formation and retrieval, and can help restore fear extinction.
After ingesting psilocybin, patients may experience introspective and relaxed states, and may hallucinate. They may listen to music or talk to therapists, who are trained to help them manage any fear or paranoia that arises. The treatment regimen may include one or several days of dosing.
Psilocybin is a Schedule I drug, and as of February 2024, it has only been legalized for medicinal purposes in a few places. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms of its effects, and large clinical trials are required to compare its efficacy to existing treatments. There is also a risk of a "bad trip" or frightening hallucinations.
