spudgene

Generally known as "magic mushrooms", Psilocybe mushrooms are natural creatures whose sale and use are prohibited in many countries. However, these mushrooms may have medical benefits just like cannabis. It seems that they can find a place for themselves in natural medical treatments for depression and mental illnesses or in therapies for improving cognitive abilities.

 

According to a new study conducted at the University of South Florida, it was observed that psilocybin, the active ingredient of psychedelic (mind-opening) mushrooms, can create new brain cells. It is thought that this feature can treat mental illnesses and cognitive impairments.

 

A study published in Experimental Brain Research determined that psilocybin can bind to special receptors that stimulate the growth of neurons in the brain and the healing of damaged neurons. In mice, it was observed that "post-traumatic stress disorder" was eliminated, brain cells were repaired and even depression decreased thanks to the active molecule.

 

Dr. Juan R. Sanchez-Ramos, who conducted the research, trained mice to fear when they heard a sound stimulus given with an electric shock, even without the shock. Later, it was observed that mice given certain doses of psilocybin did not respond to the sound stimulus and stopped responding more quickly than mice not given psilocybin.

 

Psilocybin is known as a "nootropic" agent or, more specifically, as a factor that has numerous functions in the brain and improves hippocampus health. The hippocampus is an active region in the brain that enables learning and records short-term memory by converting it into long-term memory. The new cells that will form in the hippocampus thanks to psilocybin mean a healthier brain, better memory and learning ability.

 

Studies on psychedelic mushrooms are much less frequent than those conducted with cannabis and are subject to a more difficult ethical committee approval process. However, compared to other hallucinogenic substances, the natural mushroom plant used in the study does not seem to deserve such a ban.

American researchers have reported the success of the second phase of clinical trials of combined individual and group psilocybin psychotherapy for the treatment of major depression in cancer patients. A report on the work was published in the journal Cancer, and a separate publication in the same journal is dedicated to the study of subjective the perception of such treatment.

 

Depression often accompanies cancer, with clinically significant manifestations observed in one out of three to four patients. At the same time, the traditional approach to treatment, including psychotherapy and the prescription of antidepressants, is often insufficiently effective. Due to this, psychedelic psychotherapy, including the use of psilocybin, is of great interest, as it has repeatedly demonstrated high effectiveness in clinical trials in the treatment of major depressive, post-traumatic stress and other mental disorders.

 

Thirty cancer patients (average age 56) took part in the open (non-blind) phase II clinical trials conducted by Sunstone Therapies CEO Manish Agrawal and colleagues from several US research centers. Two-thirds of them were between one and four years old after diagnosis; 53.3 percent had metastatic and inoperable disease. Breast cancer was the most common cancer (33.3 percent), followed by leukemia and lymphoma (26.7 percent). All participants had moderate to severe major depressive disorder without psychotic features (HAM-D score of 18 or more). At the time of enrollment, they were not taking antidepressants, antipsychotics, or medical cannabis.

 

After interviews, physical examinations, and screening tests, each participant was assigned an individual psychotherapist and had two orientation sessions, which included information about psilocybin therapy. After that, they participated in weekly therapy sessions with 25 milligrams of synthetic psilocybin for eight weeks. During these sessions, the drug was administered simultaneously to three to four patients who were in adjacent rooms of a public cancer center alone with their psychotherapist for 4.25 hours, after which they were united for 3.75 hours for group support and integration of the gained experience.

 

The dynamics of the severity of depression during therapy was assessed using the MADRS scale. At the eighth week, it decreased by an average of 19.1 points (p < 0.0001) compared with the initial level. A stable response to treatment was observed in 80 percent of participants; exactly half achieved complete remission of depressive symptoms in the first week, which was maintained throughout the study. No severe side effects were registered. Some patients complained of moderate and transient nausea and headache. Laboratory tests and ECG were normal. The participants did not show any suicidal tendencies.

"What about you, food?" Eating disorder test

Eating disorders are a general name for a group of disorders related to attitudes toward food. According to DSM-5, every sixth young woman and every twentieth young man in Western countries face eating problems. Among psychiatric diagnoses, bulimia and anorexia nervosa are the most common.

 

People diagnosed with anorexia are incredibly afraid of gaining weight and see themselves as fatter than they actually are — even in a state of extreme exhaustion.

 

Bulimia is the same strong fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of one"s own body, but unlike anorexia, people with this diagnosis are prone to uncontrollable bouts of binge eating.

 

Eating disorders are directly related to psychological problems that affect attitudes toward food, body, self-esteem, and self-perception. When food becomes an important source of comfort or a means of relieving boredom, this may be evidence of a disorder.

 

Our test is based on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), which was developed by the Clark Institute of Psychiatry in Toronto in 1979. The test is widely used to diagnose eating disorders by psychiatrists and psychotherapists around the world. The EAT-26 was developed primarily to identify anorexia and bulimia, but it also helps identify other problems, including restrictive and compulsive overeating.

 

The test result determines the presence of dangerous symptoms quite accurately, but cannot be considered a diagnosis. If you find warning signs, be sure to consult a specialist.

Avoiding social situations to such an extent that it affects the quality of life (for example, I can’t change jobs because of fear of interviews, or I stop studying English in a group because of fear of looking awkward, saying something stupid, blushing in front of a group).

Hiding, remaining unnoticed, remaining silent, avoiding eye contact in interaction situations.

Taking a friend or relative with you to events.

Using protective behavior to avoid being noticed by others (e.g. wearing a cap to avoid being seen blushing, speaking loudly and confidently to hide your nervousness).

Using alcohol or psychoactive substances to calm down before an event.

 

Social Anxiety Therapy:

 

Compared to other professional areas, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has proven its effectiveness in treating social anxiety. CBT for social anxiety includes the following steps:

 

1. Cognitive reappraisal of negative thoughts that maintain the problem.

 

2. Behavioral experiments and exposures are tools that will help you face your fears, experience them, gain new experiences and implement them into everyday life.

 

3. Role-playing, social skills training will help you work through situations that you fear and avoid.

Diagnosis and Treatment

There are a number of effective treatments for depression. These include psychological and medical treatments. If you have symptoms of depression, seek help.

 

Psychological treatments are the first line of depression treatment. For moderate to severe depression, they may be combined with antidepressants. For mild depression, antidepressants are not required.

 

Psychological treatments help develop new patterns of thinking, coping, and communicating with others. They may include talk therapy, which is conducted by a professional or a non-professional therapist under the supervision of a professional. Talk therapy sessions can be conducted in person or online. Self-help guides, websites, and mobile apps can be used to learn psychological treatments.

 

Effective psychological treatments for depression include:

 

behavioral activation

cognitive behavioral therapy

interpersonal psychotherapy

problem-solving therapy.

Antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine.

 

Healthcare professionals should consider the potential adverse effects of antidepressants, the availability of psychological or drug treatments (trained professionals and/or patient access to therapy), and individual patient preferences.

 

Antidepressants should not be prescribed for depression in children or considered as first-line treatment for adolescents, who should be given antidepressants with particular caution.

 

Other medications and treatments are available to treat bipolar disorder.

 

Self-help

Self-help can often help effectively manage symptoms of depression and improve overall psychological well-being.

 

What you can do on your own:

 

try to continue activities that you used to enjoy;

stay in touch with friends and family;

keep regular physical activity, even if it is just short walks;

stay on a regular diet and sleep schedule, if possible;

Avoid or reduce alcohol consumption and avoid illegal drugs, as this can make depression worse;

Talk to people you trust about your feelings;

Seek help from a health professional.

If you are having suicidal thoughts:

 

Remember that you are not alone and that many other people have had these feelings and have been able to get help;

Talk to people you trust about your thoughts and feelings;

Talk to a health professional, such as a doctor or counsellor;

Join a support group.

If you feel you are in immediate danger of harming yourself, contact any emergency services or crisis line available to you.