Psychedelic-assisted therapy, using magic mushrooms (psilocybin) and the infamous party drug LSD, might just be the unexpected hero for people grappling with anxiety and depression from life-threatening illnesses like cancer. However, the evidence is like a blurry photo—promising but not quite clear. These trippy treatments might also help with existential dread and improve overall quality of life, though results are about as consistent as a cat on a hot tin roof.
MDMA, the love drug, has minimal data backing it up and its effects are as predictable as a cat’s mood—highly uncertain. The good news is that no one reported severe side effects, and the moderate ones faded faster than party glitter after the drugs wore off.
Anxiety, depression, and that gnawing existential angst are major downers for those with serious illnesses and are notoriously hard to treat with the usual methods. Out of six studies involving 149 brave souls, there were hints that psychedelic therapy could be beneficial, but we need more research to be sure—think of it as needing more pieces to complete a psychedelic jigsaw puzzle.
MDMA therapy didn’t quite hit the mark for anxiety and depression and didn’t even attempt to tackle existential distress. On the flip side, classic psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD might boost quality of life and serve up some spiritually significant experiences, but the evidence is shakier than a Jenga tower in an earthquake. MDMA therapy, sadly, didn’t improve quality of life or score any spirituality points.
Overall, both therapies are generally well-tolerated with side effects that are mild to moderate and vanish after the drug’s effects do. The studies have their limitations—small sizes and potential bias since participants knew what
Reference: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015383.pub2/full
Published Date: None