. Depression is often compared to a vast ocean. Mesmerizing in its depths and terrifying in the helplessness it breeds. A recent study by Johns Hopkins proposes a new antidote to the crushing disease. Psilocybin is a compound that is most often found in “magic mushrooms.” This new study released November 4th, 2020 in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that psilocybin is directly linked to reductions and full remissions in cases of depression. If true, this would be a major scientific advancement. To really crack this topic open, it’s time for a deep dive.
What We Know So Far:
Alan Davis, Ph.D., adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine explained in the report that “the magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market. Most other depression treatments take weeks or months to work and may have undesirable effects. If these findings hold up in future ‘gold-standard’ placebo-controlled clinical trials,’” we could see a massive overhaul in the medical industry.