Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has demonstrated promising outcomes in addressing multiple psychiatric symptoms in patients with cancer-related distress, according to a new study published in Nature Mental Health.
Psilocybin mushrooms.
Conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Columbia University, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, and Yale University, the study analyzed data from two randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trials involving 79 participants.
While PAP has previously been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, this study evaluated its impact on a broader spectrum of psychiatric dimensions. Researchers assessed nine categories, including interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, obsession–compulsion, somatization, phobia, paranoia, and psychosis.
Results revealed significant improvements in anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, obsession–compulsion, and somatization. Notably, the therapy did not result in lasting phobia, paranoia, or psychosis in participants.
“PAP significantly improved anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, obsession–compulsion and somatization without inducing any lasting phobia, paranoia or psychosis”, states the study. “Clinical improvements were consistent between trials.”
Researchers conclude by stating that “Together, our findings suggest that PAP has the potential to be a comprehensive mental health treatment for patients with cancer.”
Below is the study’s full abstract:
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has shown promise in treating mood and anxiety disorders in patients with cancer. However, patients with cancer often suffer from more than just depression and anxiety, and so far, PAP’s effect on other psychiatric symptoms remains largely unknown. To address this gap, we pooled previously unpublished data from two phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trials involving 79 participants with cancer-related distress and analyzed PAP’s effect on 9 psychiatric symptom dimensions: anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, obsession–compulsion, somatization, phobia, paranoia and psychosis. PAP significantly improved anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, obsession–compulsion and somatization without inducing any lasting phobia, paranoia or psychosis. Clinical improvements were consistent between trials. Together, our findings suggest that PAP has the potential to be a comprehensive mental health treatment for patients with cancer.
