Magic mushrooms lift severe depression in clinical trial

[bananas]

Source: Guardian

Magic mushrooms have lifted severe depression in a dozen volunteers in a clinical trial, raising scientists’ hopes that the psychedelic experiences beloved of the Aztecs and the hippy counter-culture of the 1970s could one day become mainstream medicine.

A clinical trial, which took years and significant money to complete due to the stringent regulatory restrictions imposed around the class 1 drug, has found that two doses of psilocybin, the active substance in the mushrooms, was sufficient to lift resistant depression in all 12 volunteers for three weeks, and to keep it away in five of them for three months.

The size of the trial and the absence of any placebo means the research, funded by the Medical Research Council and published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal (pdf), is a proof of principle only.

The scientists, from Imperial College London, said they hoped the results would encourage the MRC or other funders to put up the money needed for a full trial. However, the use of a placebo control, comparing those who use the drug with those who do not, will always be difficult, because it will be obvious who is having a psychedelic experience.

<snip>

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/may/17/magic-mushrooms-lift-severe-depression-in-clinical-trial

[LiberalEsto]

1. Where do I sign up?

Seriously, I wish NIH would do a study. I've had depression for decades.

[Fuddnik]

80. Take a vacation to Florida.

And spend some time in pastures after a rain.

[pscot]

83. Washington too

[scscholar]

2. Magic as in religious?

This isn't science.

[truebluegreen]

18. Are you high?

"Magic mushrooms" is a street name for psilocybin or hallucinogenic mushrooms.

[scscholar]

22. Why would a study use a street name?

That doesn't make any sense.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

24. It seems you are confusing an article about a study with the study. (though I didn't follow link).nt

[99th_Monkey]

35. Confused is the operative word in this case -nt-

[AtheistCrusader]

28. It didn't. The media doesn't report things as they are. They have to sensationalize it.

That's also why there's almost never a link to the study in the article, even if the study isn't behind a paywall.

[PoliticalMalcontent]

31. I know someone already said it, but the news article, not the study, uses the term Magic mushrooms.

I find this stuff fascinating. I've heard a great deal through the years about how hallucinogens can potentially unlock positive things in people. More empathy, less fear of death, and lessening depression to name a few. All this with low 'therapeutic' doses.

There's some fascinating studies out there.

I'd recommend googling Cary Grant and LSD. It's an interesting read.

[elljay]

87. They apparently create new neural connections in the brain

thereby creating new links among the various parts of the brain. Saw a recent documentary that had pre and post hallucinogen brainscans. There was quite a difference. If your brain continually locks you into certainly unhealthy patterns, I can see how hallucinogens can help break the cycle.

[PoliticalMalcontent]

94. That's pretty incredible.

Sign me up. Life is a slog and it'd be nice to see it in a different, positive light.

[elljay]

98. Having indulged quite a lot

in my younger years, I can see the potential benefits but also how it can go badly wrong if not careful (not my experience, but people I knew.). They have wasted decades they could have been studying these drugs all because they were afraid that somewhere, somehow, someone was having fun.

[PoliticalMalcontent]

99. Totally.

People legislate on things they aren't familiar with, then they make laws making it extremely difficult to study the potential harms and benefits of these things.

The world is a 'funny' place. That's a topic for another day though, perhaps.

Thanks for your insight.

[Beartracks]

37. Kinda think the article headline used the street name, NOT...

... the scientists in the study.

Reporters like to succinctly inform readers of article content with pithy headlines... AND if they can find words to imply a nice juxtaposition (say, between respectable medicine and counter-culture drug use), they'll see that as the best option!

===============

[99th_Monkey]

38. Why would you make an issue out of this? nt

[truebluegreen]

40. Maybe because he/she is a scholar.

[99th_Monkey]

61. You forgot a couple of things

or perhaps they fell out of your pocket.

[truebluegreen]

62. ?

It's late here and I'm old, maybe that's why I didn't get the joke?

[99th_Monkey]

72. OK

It seemed to me you were going WAY out of your way to find a "problem" with the
study about shrooms, questioning why a supposedly scientific study would use the
drug's street name rather than it's technical name, ignoring that the street name was
what was used by the media, and not the study per se.

Then when I ask "Why would you make an issue out of this?", you respond with
"because he/she is a scholar", which struck me at the time as an odd response calling
for a sarcasm and/or roll-on-floor-laughing. Honestly, I'd had a few glasses of wine
myself, so that may have played into oddness of our exchange.

But I meant no ill-will or disrespect by my post, so I think it's "all good", as they say.

[truebluegreen]

93. Um, you were / are responding to the wrong poster.

And yes, i could have added a sarcasm thingie. You and I actually agree on the so-called problem and the person who had a problem with it.

No harm.

[99th_Monkey]

96. My bad.

Thanks for you gracious reply

[SammyWinstonJack]

88. Ha!

[anigbrowl]

41. Because that is how they are best known

It may have escaped your attention that this is a newspaper article describing the publication of a study, not a journal article.

[IronLionZion]

58. psilocybin

[Spitfire of ATJ]

75. You obviously were never invited to any of the cool parties.....

Or logged far too much time staring into a fireplace.

[Ghost Dog]

76. Nice one

[thereismore]

3. This is great. But you can't have a placebo in

a study where the active ingredient is a psychedelic drug lol.

[valerief]

67. Sure you can. They call it religion. nt

[bananas]

4. We saw magic mushrooms lift long-term depression. It’s time for a change of perception

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/17/magic-mushrooms-depression-psychedelic-drugs-psilocybin

We saw magic mushrooms lift long-term depression. It’s time for a change of perception

Amanda Feilding

After 50 years in the wilderness, psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, found in mushrooms, deserve to be examined for their potential in treating illness such as depression

Tuesday 17 May 2016 10.51 EDT

Those of us who have never felt depression will certainly know people who have, and will have shared with them that impatient hope that with time, exercise, a new season, a new prescription, a new counsellor, the cloud might lift. Thankfully it usually does; it can never feel soon enough.

In the latest Beckley/Imperial study, we selected 12 people who had experienced depression over an average of 18 years, despite all that modern medicine can offer. Instead of daily medication, we wanted to know if their condition would improve after an “inner journey” on a 25mg dose of the psychedelic drug psilocybin. We also wanted to assess the safety of administering these “trips”.

Though all 12 felt some unease as the drug’s otherworldly effects came on, all were able to let go of that anxiety with the reassuring presence of the clinicians, and all of them felt that they benefited from their four-hour “inner journey”. To varying degrees, they moved into the days and weeks afterwards feeling less anxious and more able to take pleasure from life. A week on from their “trip”, eight were in full remission. Three months on, five remained free of depression.

In the 1950s and 60s there was a flood of research into psychedelics and their therapeutic use, with dazzling claims made about their potential. Not all of this work met modern standards of rigour and responsibility.

<snip>

[Gregorian]

5. Worked for me. I wondered if they'd ever find out.

I used to take small doses and go to work. I go from a serious, focused person to one who is comical and easygoing. That was 40 years ago, and I've often wondered if I should try it again. I hear lots of young people saying they get the same effect.

I remember the schroom parties I went being not only the most incredible happy times,, but super easy to find by the loud laughter.

I once was reprimanding dishes, and ended up with unexpected applaused from a group of people outside my kitchen window. Haha.

[wordpix]

73. me, too, late 1960's and early 70's---went from suicidal to

take it as it comes, worked out family issues (in my brain) and forgave everyone including myself, was able to understand things I otherwise couldn't.

Very happy to get this report and hope shrooms will bring relief to people as it did me.

[Ghost Dog]

77. But, let them not become Corporate

'shrooms.

Just natural.

[bananas]

6. Scientists Test 'Magic Mushroom' Chemical for Tough-to-Treat Depression

http://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2016-05-17/scientists-test-magic-mushroom-chemical-for-tough-to-treat-depression

May 17, 2016, at 4:00 p.m.
Scientists Test 'Magic Mushroom' Chemical for Tough-to-Treat Depression
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, May 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A hallucinogenic compound found in "magic mushrooms" shows promise in treating depression, a small, preliminary study found.

"Depression continues to affect a large proportion of the population, many of whom do not respond to conventional treatments," said Dr. Scott Krakower, a psychiatrist who reviewed the study.

"Although this was a small study, it does offer hope for new, unconventional treatments, to help those who are battling with severe depression," said Krakower, who is chief of psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y.

<snip>

There were no serious side effects, the study authors said in the report published May 17 in The Lancet Psychiatry.

<snip>

[rurallib]

7. big Pharma and the alcohol industry will deploy their own magic

called "money" to those who make policy to keep this and all natural healing unavailable.

[SusanCalvin]

16. ^THIS^

[Left Coast2020]

84. Just think of how happy we all would be on any given day.

Damn!!! Tell the FDA to Bring it on!!!!!!

[AlbertCat]

69. all natural healing

Uh... what healing is "unnatural"?

Where do you think other cures come from.... even if they "manufacture" the chemicals?

[SusanCalvin]

90. OK.

Healing Big Pharma doesn't have a vise grip on.

[AlbertCat]

97. Much better!

....

[bananas]

8. Magic mushrooms 'promising' in depression

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36247599

Magic mushrooms 'promising' in depression
By James Gallagher
Health editor, BBC News website
17 May 2016

A hallucinogenic chemical in magic mushrooms shows promise for people with untreatable depression, a short study on just 12 people hints.

Eight patients were no longer depressed after the "mystical and spiritual" experience induced by the drug.

The findings, in the Lancet Psychiatry, showed five of the patients were still depression-free after three months.

<snip>

In one patient, symptoms had lasted for 30 years.

<snip>

[anigbrowl]

42. Could you please put these in a sub-thread?

It's disorienting to read the thread and see multiple articles reporting essentially the same information every few posts. It would be easier to read if the links were consolidated into one place. Even better would be a link to the journal article rather than redundant popular news articles that are all saying the same thing.

[forest444]

9. Intriguing.

But you know, St. John's Wort helps a lot too - and has far fewer risks associated with it (as in practically none).

Nevertheless, it's always good to see the medical profession explore something other than FDA rubber-stamped poison pills.

[crim son]

12. I was under the impression that SJW worked but

only in mild-to-moderate depression. The one side effect was sun sensitivity.

[forest444]

26. You might be right.

I've found the sun sensitivity warning to be highly exaggerated though (I lived in Southern California for years, am very fair-skinned, and have taken SJW for 18 years now).

Whatever you do, don't let anyone talk you into taking Paxil.

[Brickbat]

45. Paxil is what finally kicked my depression.

I know it's a tough one, but as you say below, whatever works.

[forest444]

48. That's very good to hear, Brickbat.

I know of somebody who was on it, and committed suicide; and another person who attempted it. I also know a few people who, while they did seem more mellow, developed severe side effects as a result.

I don't doubt that for some folks it really does work; but none that I know of personally - except for you, of course. Kudos to you, Brickbat; and yes: whatever works.

[gvstn]

63. Paxil practically killed me.

I hate that drug from another life!

I'm glad I worked for you. Just shows that we all have slightly different chemistry. I read somewhere that a drug onl has to be effective in 50% of people to be approved.

[Brickbat]

65. I've heard a lot of horror stories about Paxil, but I agree, it definitely highlights the importance

of understanding how different our chemistries and perceptions are. I would just hate for someone to not try it when it could help. The hell of it is you really don't know if it will help until you try it. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with it -- I know if it's bad, it tends to be really bad.

[Duckfan]

100. I'LL TAKE THE MUSHROOMS OVER PAXIL ANYDAY

At least the side effects would be reduced significantly. With Paxil, who knows what would happen.

[gvstn]

102. It was really bad.

Prosaic was bad but Paxil took it to a new level. Shutting off every good emotion during the process. Never again for SSRI's.

Magic mushrooms could work if they get the active ingredient in pill form. Thank you for your kindness. Depression is a terrible thing.

[SusanCalvin]

17. Didn't do a thing for me.

Of course, that's better than SSRIs, which caused me, after a few days, to have thoughts that frightened me. Dropped those things like a hot potato.

[forest444]

29. Sorry to hear that, Susan.

Whatever works, right?

All the best to you.

[SusanCalvin]

47. Whatever works, for sure.

Just above is a post saying Paxil (an SSRI) worked.

Thanks for the good wishes.

[forest444]

51. Likewise!

He or she was very fortunate, I think, because my experience with it - and those of everyone I've ever known to have taken it (admittedly, just a few people) - ranged from regrettable to disastrous.

But yes: to actually find something in life that really helps whatever happens to ail us is, at least for that person, a Godsend.

[SusanCalvin]

53. You can add one more in me.

I generally have pretty good control of my thoughts and actions, if not my emotions. I've never had anything happen like happened on that SSRI.

[forest444]

54. Excellent!

It's certainly not always easy to keep one's cool, even for people who've never had any such issues (that they know of, anyway).

My impression is that many of our politicians have had to deal with depression and/or anxiety problems. In a way I'm glad, as it proves that they too are human.

[SusanCalvin]

56. I bet you are absolutely right.

Take Nixon or Johnson, to name just two.

[forest444]

59. Bingo.

While there have been some brave attempts, far too little has been written about the secret history of our presidents.

[LeftyMom]

27. St. John's Wort interacts badly with many common drugs including birth control and antibiotics.

And it has the usual problem with herbal supplements: knowing whether you're getting a correct potent quantity of what you think you're buying or a capsule full of lawn clippings is impossible for the average consumer.

You'll know it's the real deal if you get a photosensitive rash, but that seems like a terrible way to check.

[forest444]

32. Excellent points.

I should point out that, after 18 years, I've never noticed the photosensitive rash (knock wood).

[SusanCalvin]

52. Hmmm....

Maybe I should try it again with a different brand - my last try was just whatever was on the drugstore shelf.

[Ruby the Liberal]

91. Ketamine ("Special K") is another one

Been off patent for eons, so its dosed with FDA approval, but off-label (a use other than what it was approved for). Treatment resistant chronic depression patients are being treated with it - and quite successfully. "Discovery" of being able to use this hallucinogenic anesthesia med in micro doses for depression was in 2000, and just last week - the Director of the National Institute of Health in Bethesda put this on his blog about the success of the ongoing NIH/University of Maryland study:

https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2016/05/10/fighting-depression-ketamine-metabolite-may-offer-benefits-without-the-risks/

I love this for more reasons than just the possibilities of how many it could help. The biggest one is the fact that a licensed Veterinarian can buy ketamine by the metric shit ton - there is no money in it for Pharma. UM and the NIH, among others, are doing all the legwork. (Noting that J&J is working on a nasal inhaler version, but it isn't even comparable in effectiveness to the current IV regimen)

I have a colleague who knows the Princeton researcher/Doctor who is another lead on this research and now owns Ketamine 4 clinics with 3 more opening in the next year:

https://ktcpartnership.com/

[forest444]

95. Fascinating, and good to hear.

I could certainly use that some days, let me tell you.

[olddad56]

10. Since Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton cause severe depression in the citizens of this country...

why not feed the psychedelic mushrooms to them. It will cause them to go within, have an agonizing reappraisal of their lives, make some positive changes in their personalities, and help to ease the stress in the people whom they have caused the depression.

[wordpix]

74. I would love to see The Donald on shrooms

[Thespian2]

86. Exceptional response...

Must plus this several thousand times...

[olddad56]

11. I have known this from the early 70s.

[Runningdawg]

30. That makes 2 of us

God bless Oklahomas cows and wet springs.

[underpants]

13. Story several years ago - one dose of shrooms leads to liberalism

Can't find a link.

[jhart3333]

14. If I recall correctly it lasts for exactly 25 years. I'm due.

[Major Nikon]

20. Don't know about shrooms, but....

[jhart3333]

15. Great read about how it helps terminal patients:

Grob’s interest in the power of psychedelics to mitigate mortality’s sting is not just the obsession of one lone researcher. Dr. John Halpern, head of the Laboratory for Integrative Psychiatry at McLean Hospital in Belmont Mass., a psychiatric training hospital for Harvard Medical School, used MDMA — also known as ecstasy — in an effort to ease end-of-life anxieties in two patients with Stage 4 cancer. And there are two ongoing studies using psilocybin with terminal patients, one at New York University’s medical school, led by Stephen Ross, and another at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where Roland Griffiths has administered psilocybin to 22 cancer patients and is aiming for a sample size of 44. “This research is in its very early stages,” Grob told me earlier this month, “but we’re getting consistently good results.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/magazine/how-psychedelic-drugs-can-help-patients-face-death.html?_r=0

[SusanCalvin]

19. Denying terminal patients pretty much anything that helps

Is the height of immortality.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. immorality or "immortality"?

[SusanCalvin]

49. Oops. Darn autocorrect...

I'm an atheist, so what the tablet typed is not what I meant!

[Ghost Dog]

79. Immortality requires no Dog,

theoretically.

[jhart3333]

44. I'm in total agreement however you meant it.

[madokie]

21. I truly believe

it helped me more than anything upon my return from 'Nam. I was pretty messed up. A lot of it I only know now in hindsight, not realizing it at the time. But Psychedelics, mushrooms, Peyote and pot allowed me to regain my old self, somewhat that is.
Looking back I see that War does something to a person that nothing else comes close to that. Its a shame we have to have them.

As I say, War is an admission of failure. think about that for a second

[KamaAina]

23. That may actually be news a friend of mine can use!

[SHRED]

33. "...hippy..."?

Damn I must be old since I know how to spell it.

[SusanCalvin]

50. .

[randr]

34. Free your mind

the rest will follow

[Beartracks]

39. +1

[Warren DeMontague]

36. Time to stop putting people in prison for altering their own consciousness.

The New Inquisition needs to end.

[yardwork]

43. Totally agree.

[SammyWinstonJack]

89. +1000000

[elmac]

46. Shrooms scare the hell out of me

I'm afraid I would pick the wrong kind and end up like that dude in Dead Pool.

[NBachers]

57. Once you're introduced to them, they're pretty easy to pick out.

You develop kind of a scanning technique across the damp cow pasture, homing in on any cow pies with mushrooms on them. If they look like the right ones, then go ahead and pick 'em.

The only problem is, after you eat them, your burps taste like the cow pie. But it's a small price to pay.

[packman]

66. "Your burps taste like the cow pie. But it's a small price to pay".

That is probably the funniest thing I'm going to read today - Thanks.

That could be a metaphor for life, take a chance but pay the price.

[OnyxCollie]

60. Yep.

Worked for me.

[gvstn]

64. And the effect last for several months or longer.

I took 'shrooms for about 4-6 weeks (on and off) and for months had a much better attitude toward life.

[AlbertCat]

68. Well...

..... I know I laughed my ass off when I did them in college.

Of course I was useless for about 6 hours or so.

[Optimism]

70. I swear I was possessed ...

... by the spirit of some long-gone comedian after stumbling upon a field of them ages ago! One of the funniest, most memorable days of my life. And I wasn't depressed for decades after!!

[SpankMe]

71. Psilocybin all but cures PTSD

I heard a TED talk about two years ago on some American neuropsychologists who used mushrooms in conjunction with some special type of talk therapy to treat PTSD. They basically cured it in 6 of 8 patients by giving them light doses of the mushrooms with 8 or so sessions of this special talk therapy (which they didn't describe in detail). It was pretty much a slam dunk in favor of the use of psychedelics to treat various brain disorders.

I have been unable to find that TED talk, or any links or references to it. It was very compelling. Its total disappearance from the web is suspicious.

[Ruby the Liberal]

92. Is this it? (First link)

http://reset.me/video/graham-hancocks-banned-ted-talk-on-psychedelic-medicines/

Google also has a bunch by other people:

Dr Roland Griffiths https: //

Dr. Robin Carhart Harris http://ed.ted.com/on/qzxWYm9R

[Wanney]

78. Wow

Amazing.

[Fuddnik]

82. Funny story.....

Back in the late '70s-early '80s, you could buy kits to grow your own shrooms. You got about a dozen honey jars, a rice cake for each one, and a package of spores. It took about a month to produce shrooms.

I had mine going for about 2 weeks, and was involved in a serious motorcycle accident, and spent the next 6 weeks in the hospital. During that period, my mom decided to go over and clean my apartment, without my knowledge. She came in the next day and told me she found some dirty old jars in the bedroom. "It looked like they had mushrooms growing in them. I tossed them out".

Thanks Mom......

[bigwillq]

85. Shrooms were cool.

Not my fave, but cool.

[PassingFair]

101. I had the best meal of my life whilst flying on mushrooms....

I absolutely HATED choking them down. (Why the *uck did I believe my friend that taking them with PEANUT BUTTER was a good idea?)

Restaurant at the St. Regis Hotel.... Steak Diane...

I laughed, I cried, I told jokes and stories, I ate, I drank, I paid!

In short, I was magnificent!

Good thing there is no video of this dinner... I prefer to remember myself as I remember myself!