Study Indicates People Are Cautious About Psilocybin Therapy, More Awareness Needed
A new study has found that individuals are cautious about the use of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of depression. Psilocybin is an active chemical found in magic mushrooms. This mind-altering compound may influence how individuals experience the world by inducing changes in the sense of self as well as a user’s perception of time, sensory perception and mood.
Preliminary studies have shown that administering psilocybin in conjunction with psychotherapy can bring about improvements for patients afflicted by depression.
The researchers’ objective was to look into individuals’ perceptions of psilocybin-assisted therapy in comparison to their perceptions of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is the standard, evidence-based therapy for depression. The study’s focus was based on the fact that individual impressions on treatments influenced a patient’s use of and subsequent outcomes, plus the growing interest directed at psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
For their research, the scientists used a sample of 803 adults who were having some symptoms of depression. Each participant was required to provide demographic information, which included their racial identity, gender and age, among other things. Each participant was also required to answer questions detailing their experience with the use of psychiatric medicines, psychotherapy and hallucinogenic drugs plus their views on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
The researchers discovered that cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy was perceived as a more credible form of therapy in comparison to psychedelic psychotherapy. The researchers also found that participants who had used hallucinogenic drugs before viewed psilocybin therapy as the more credible treatment while those with therapy experience viewed cognitive-behavioral therapy as the more credible option.
The corresponding author of the study, Brianna Altman, stated that as a clinician and a scientist, she was eager to carry out research that could inform clinical interventions to decrease suffering. She noted that the prevalence of depression highlighted the importance of examining all possible options for intervention.
In an interview, Altman also stated that this finding wasn’t surprising as a prior study had found that participants rated cognitive-behavioral therapy as more credible than ketamine-assisted therapy.
Separate research has also discovered that some mental health practitioners in the United States believe that psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin possessed psychological benefits, despite being concerned about potential risks associated with their use.
Similar to the findings of Altman’s study, this research found that most psychologists were more receptive to conventional drugs than psychedelic medications. The researchers published their findings in the “Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.” Other researchers involved in this study include Joseph De Leo and Mitch Earleywine.
As more companies such as Cybin Inc. (NYSE American: CYBN) (NEO: CYBN) conduct research on psilocybin and other hallucinogenic compounds, more information will become available to the public, and the confidence to opt for these new medicines will grow.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CYBN
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the PsychedelicNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by PNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.PsychedelicNewsWire.com/Disclaimer
A new study has found that individuals are cautious about the use of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of depression. Psilocybin is an active chemical found in magic mushrooms. This mind-altering compound may influence how individuals experience the world by inducing changes in the sense of self as well as a user’s perception of time, sensory perception and mood.
Preliminary studies have shown that administering psilocybin in conjunction with psychotherapy can bring about improvements for patients afflicted by depression.
The researchers’ objective was to look into individuals’ perceptions of psilocybin-assisted therapy in comparison to their perceptions of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is the standard, evidence-based therapy for depression. The study’s focus was based on the fact that individual impressions on treatments influenced a patient’s use of and subsequent outcomes, plus the growing interest directed at psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
For their research, the scientists used a sample of 803 adults who were having some symptoms of depression. Each participant was required to provide demographic information, which included their racial identity, gender and age, among other things. Each participant was also required to answer questions detailing their experience with the use of psychiatric medicines, psychotherapy and hallucinogenic drugs plus their views on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
The researchers discovered that cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy was perceived as a more credible form of therapy in comparison to psychedelic psychotherapy. The researchers also found that participants who had used hallucinogenic drugs before viewed psilocybin therapy as the more credible treatment while those with therapy experience viewed cognitive-behavioral therapy as the more credible option.
The corresponding author of the study, Brianna Altman, stated that as a clinician and a scientist, she was eager to carry out research that could inform clinical interventions to decrease suffering. She noted that the prevalence of depression highlighted the importance of examining all possible options for intervention.
In an interview, Altman also stated that this finding wasn’t surprising as a prior study had found that participants rated cognitive-behavioral therapy as more credible than ketamine-assisted therapy.
Separate research has also discovered that some mental health practitioners in the United States believe that psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin possessed psychological benefits, despite being concerned about potential risks associated with their use.
Similar to the findings of Altman’s study, this research found that most psychologists were more receptive to conventional drugs than psychedelic medications. The researchers published their findings in the “Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.” Other researchers involved in this study include Joseph De Leo and Mitch Earleywine.
As more companies such as Cybin Inc. (NYSE American: CYBN) (NEO: CYBN) conduct research on psilocybin and other hallucinogenic compounds, more information will become available to the public, and the confidence to opt for these new medicines will grow.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CYBN
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the PsychedelicNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by PNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.PsychedelicNewsWire.com/Disclaimer
