Psilocybin, which is found in magic mushrooms, was administered to depression patients in a pill Credit: TELEGRAPH
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A hallucinogenic chemical found in magic mushrooms has successfully lifted severe depression in previously untreatable patients.
Scientists at Imperial College London induced intense psychedelic trips in 12 people using high doses of the banned substance psilocybin.
A week after the experience all the volunteers were depression-free, and three months later five still had no symptoms of the condition.
Published in the Lancet Psychiatry Journal, the study welcomes the results as “promising, but not completely compelling".
Its authors are now seeking further funding from the Medical Research Council and other bodies to carry out fuller trials.
They conceded, however, that the use of a placebo control, a crucial component of thorough clinical trials, would be difficult as it would be obvious who was having a hallucinogenic experience and who was not.
The psilocybin is believed to cause relief from depression by targeting receptors in the brain and disrupting the Default Mode Network, which is responsible for sense of self and is overactive in depressed people.
However, the scientists did not rule out that the psychedelic trip could have caused an “awakening”, of the kind achieved by spiritual teaching, which also helped lift the depression.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I was just making a general comment. Hell, I wish something would work to get people off dope. Here in Portland, OR downtown is like a scene from the walking dead with all the junkies wandering around aimlessly.
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