Depression: Five Million Americans May Benefit From Psychedelic Therapy
Millions of Americans struggling with depression could benefit from the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, new research suggests. However, approval of such treatments will depend on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In a new study from Emory University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and UC Berkeley, researchers set out to investigate the potential demand for psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression in the United States.
“While our analysis is a crucial first step, we’ve only scratched the surface in understanding the true public health impact psilocybin therapy may have,” Charles Raison, Director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, and collaborator on the study and the lead investigator on one of the largest clinical trials looking at the efficacy of psilocybin therapy for depression, said in a statement.
“Ultimately, the realizable potential of this treatment rests in the hands of regulatory bodies, policymakers, insurers, and the healthcare community at large,” he said. “It’s our hope that these findings spur productive discussions and proactive preparations to optimize the benefit to patients while minimizing unintended consequences.”
The study will be published on September 24 in the journal Psychedelics.
