Magic Mushrooms: A Promising Treatment for Depression, Says Professor Galloway

A small study on the use of psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) to treat treatment-resistant depression has generated excitement, but the results are inconclusive. The study, sponsored by mental health care company Compass Pathways, showed that the highest dose of psilocybin had a significant reduction in depression scores after three weeks, but after 12 weeks, no doses had any statistically significant impact. Side-effects were also significant, with 84% of people on the highest dose experiencing headache and nausea. The study's authors agree that larger and longer trials are required to determine the efficacy and safety of psilocybin for depression.