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Can psilocybin treat the deadliest mental health disorder?

Recruitment for an upcoming trial – Psilocybin as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study

Anorexia has a higher mortality rate than any other psychiatric condition, as patients have a high risk of death by both suicide and organ failure.

Current treatments work for less than half of patients, which is why Imperial College London is preparing to study psilocybin therapy as an alternative. 

The school is recruiting female patients who have had a diagnosis for at least 3 years and have tried other forms of treatment without success. They’ll each receive 3 doses of psilocybin, and researchers will use several MRIs and EEG scans to understand the effects of the treatment.

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Depression free for 1 year

Psychedelic therapy for depression still effective one year later

Johns Hopkins researchers followed up with patients one year after receiving psilocybin therapy. They found that 75% of patients sustained significant reductions in depression scores and 58% no longer qualified for a diagnosis. 

However, about a third of patients also used traditional antidepressants and 42% received additional psychotherapy at some point during the year.

So although psilocybin therapy can have rapid results, multiple treatment options can help sustain the benefits.

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Shroom use →  less crime

Psilocybin use associated with lowered odds of having been arrested, study finds

People who use shrooms are less likely to commit crimes, according to new research.

An analysis of The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that psilocybin use is linked to significantly reduced odds of arrest for:

  • Larceny
  • Burglary & robbery
  • Simple assault & battery
  • Serious violence
  • DUI
  • And other miscellaneous crimes

LSD appeared to have no impact on crime rates 🤔

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Is microdosing a placebo? 💊

Nova Mentis Study Confirms Oral Microdose Psilocybin Treatment of Autism

This week, Nova Mentis (NOVA) announced that rats with cognitive impairments showed improvements in memory when given a microdose of psilocybin every other day for just two weeks.

However, a new University of Chicago study found no effect on mood or task performance after giving healthy volunteer 4 LSD microdoses 3-4 days apart in a placebo-controlled study.

Could it be that a more frequent dose is needed to see benefits? Or is psilocybin faster acting than LSD? Or maybe microdosing is a placebo after all.

Stay tuned as we follow along with the latest research. 

Novamentis
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Unanimous win for Hawaii

Hawaii Senators Approve Psilocybin Task Force Bill In Committee, With Decriminalization Measures Still Pending

Hawaii senators unanimously passed a bill to create a psilocybin research task force and develop a long-term strategy to make treatments accessible and affordable.

The state also has a bill to decriminalize psilocybin and establish psilocybin treatment centers, which remains active but has yet to be scheduled for committee hearings.

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Detox with Indigenous wisdom

Universal Ibogaine and Osoyoos Indian Band sign MOU to battle opioid crisis

Universal Ibogaine (IBO) and Osoyoos Indian Band signed an agreement to develop a detox center that combines western science and Indigenous wisdom.

The center will use ibogaine treatments to ease opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, followed by Indigenous healing practices as aftercare to “rebuild people in a holistic manner.”

Their flagship detox center will be in Manitoba, Canada with the goal of working with other First Nations to expand across the country, and then globally. 

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Brand new states of consciousness

Y Combinator Startup Uses AI To Design New Drug-Induced States Of Consciousness

Mindstate Design Labs raised $11.5M in seed funding to create “new novel states of consciousness that just don’t exist yet.”

The company is taking a reverse approach to drug discovery. Researchers will design a unique state of mind first and then create a compound that can get you there. 

How? Using predictive AI technology, subjective data from 7,000+ trip reports, and biochemical data on how different molecules interact with receptors in the body. 

Who’s brave enough to test out a brand new state of mind?

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Take a DMT trip without the anxiety

Cybin Announces Grant of U.S. Patent Covering its Proprietary Compound CYB004 (Deuterated DMT) for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

A wild DMT trip that blasts you off to a different dimension has potential to be therapeutic, but also very anxiety-inducing. 

That’s why Cybin (CYBN) developed a version of the molecule that breaks down slowly in the body. So instead of a 10-minute rocket ride to outer space, patients have a smoother, more pleasant experience with a larger therapeutic window. 

The company received a patent for the formulation this week and will study it as a treatment for anxiety disorders in Q3 of this year.

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New rules for Oregon’s legal psilocybin program

Oregon proposes only using one type of mushroom for new psilocybin system, and no pills

The Oregon Health Authority released the first draft of rules for the state’s legal psilocybin program. Only one of 200 species of psilocybin mushrooms will be allowed (psilocybe cubensis, the most popular species) and synthetic psilocybin will be banned. Plus, facilitators will need 120 hours of instruction on psilocybin history, safety, racial justice, and cultural equity.

Oregon Public Broadcasting

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A dose every six months keeps the divorce lawyer away

Can MDMA Save a Marriage?

A couple was on the verge of getting divorced until they took MDMA together for the first time.

The wife, Ree, said her husband couldn’t open up to her or deal with conflict, but MDMA helped them see eye-to-eye.

“My husband started sharing with me for the first time all these thoughts and emotions,” Ree said. “It was him without the walls.”

They decided to take MDMA together twice a year and go over a list of issues they want to address. Three years later, their marriage is solid and they can communicate openly without the need for drugs.

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