Disease: cancer-related anxiety

Meta-correlation of the effect of ketamine and psilocybin induced subjective effects on therapeutic outcome

This study examined whether the psychological experiences people have while taking ketamine or psilocybin—such as feeling disconnected or having spiritual insights—are actually responsible for their mental health improvements. Researchers analyzed 23 studies and found that these subjective experiences explain about 10% of ketamine’s benefits and 24% of psilocybin’s benefits. Psilocybin’s effects appear more connected to therapeutic outcomes than ketamine’s, and both drugs showed stronger connections between subjective effects and treatment success in substance use disorder compared to depression.

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The effect of psilocybin on empathy and prosocial behavior: a proposed mechanism for enduring antidepressant effects

This review examines how psilocybin may help treat depression by increasing empathy and prosocial behavior. While psilocybin leaves the body within hours, its antidepressant effects can last months, and researchers believe empathy and helping others may explain this lasting benefit. The authors suggest psilocybin starts a positive cycle where increased empathy leads to helping others, which boosts mood and well-being, which further reinforces empathetic behavior.

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Body mass index (BMI) does not predict responses to psilocybin

Researchers investigated whether a person’s body weight affects how they respond to psilocybin-assisted therapy. Analyzing 77 participants across three studies, they found that BMI did not predict how intensely people experienced the drug or how much their mental health improved afterward. This surprising finding suggests that everyone might benefit from the same fixed dose of psilocybin rather than doses adjusted to body weight, making therapy simpler and more cost-effective to deliver at scale.

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Safety, tolerability, and clinical and neural effects of single-dose psilocybin in obsessive–compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-crossover trial

This study tests whether psilocybin (the active compound in certain mushrooms) can help people with obsessive-compulsive disorder who haven’t responded to standard treatments. In a carefully controlled trial, participants receive either a single dose of psilocybin or a placebo while receiving psychological support, with their brain activity and symptoms monitored. The research aims to determine if this novel treatment is safe and whether it could work faster than existing medications for this difficult-to-treat condition.

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Analysis of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Medicine: A Narrative Review

This review examines how psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, may help treat difficult-to-treat conditions like smoking addiction, alcohol dependence, and depression. Clinical trials show psilocybin-assisted therapy achieves better smoking cessation rates (80%) than standard medications and reduces depression symptoms as effectively as common antidepressants. The treatment works differently than daily medications, requiring only a few supervised doses weeks apart, potentially offering a new option for millions of people.

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