Mushrooms and Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions worldwide, impacting about 5% of the global population (1). Although there isn’t any cure for depression, this condition is relatively treatable, and many people learn how to manage their symptoms and enjoy meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Conventional depression treatment typically consists of a combined approach of psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, and lifestyle changes. However, in recent years, an increased focus on holistic mental health treatment has emerged. Psychedelics- despite being previously stigmatized and still currently illegal on a federal basis- have gained more of a mainstream focus, particularly among certain demographics.
An Overview of Mushrooms
Mushrooms- sometimes known as ‘magic mushrooms’ are a naturally occurring plant found in Central America, Mexico, and America with over 200 different species(2). Indigenous cultures have been integrating mushrooms into healing and spiritual practices for centuries. This drug can be taken in various forms, including cooked, brewed into tea, or eaten raw.
Psilocybin is one of the main active ingredients found in magic mushrooms. Psilocybin is believed to activate serotonin receptors, the part of the brain that regulates mood, emotion, and cognition. Psilocybin may magnify synaptic connections associated with overall emotional intelligence and resilience.
At the same time, psilocybin decreases activity within the default mode network (DMN), the part of the brain associated with rumination. This may be responsible for triggering the relaxed sense of pleasure people often experience while ‘tripping.’
Psilocybin is currently classified as a hallucinogen and use is typically associated with the following side effects:
- Visual hallucinations
- Changes in consciousness and mood
- Perceptual changes (also known as auditory or visual hallucinations)
- Distorted sense of space and time
- Mixing of senses (like hearing sounds or feeling tastes)
- Increased body temperature
- Flushed skin
- Fast, irregular heartbeat
- Feelings of contentment, peace, or euphoria
- Pupil dilation
Psychedelics and Legalization
Psilocybin is federally illegal, and the drug itself is classified as a Schedule I substance. This means the DEA does not endorse any accepted medical use, and it also indicates that there is a high potential for abuse. However, in recent years, there has been significant pushback against this classification.
Denver was the first city to decriminalize psilocybin in 2019- this was closely followed by Oakland, Santa Cruz, Washington D.C, Somerville, and Cambridge. In 2020, Oregon decriminalized psilocybin and legalized this drug use under supervised settings. Colorado enacted a similar measure in 2022.
In 2024, Missouri legalized psilocybin treatment for adult veterans experiencing major depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, or needing acute, end-of-life treatment. Other cities and states appear to follow suit, and decriminalization efforts will likely persist over the next decade.
Many people today are now in support of supervised psychedelic treatment. This is especially true among younger generations. A strong majority of mental health professionals are also advocating for its use within controlled treatment settings.
Psilocybin Overdoses
Like any drug, it is possible to overdose on psilocybin. Although overdoses are rare, they can occur if you consume too much of the drug or if your body has a negative reaction to the psychoactive properties. Those with histories of addiction or mental illness may be more susceptible to overdosing.
Because mushrooms are illegal, buying them without knowing the source is always a risk. Furthermore, wild mushrooms can be poisonous, and the difference between a safe amount and a lethal amount can be quite subtle. Any signs of mushroom poisoning or overdosing require immediate medical attention.
The main signs of overdosing on mushrooms include:
- Prolonged trip that feels scary and unsafe
- Severe panic attacks
- Extreme paranoia
- Persistent feelings of losing control
- Psychosis
- Slowed breathing or complete cessation of breathing
- Changing skin color (gray or bluish tones)
What Happens During Psilocybin Therapy?
In its ideal form, psilocybin therapy entails consuming psilocybin while being supervised by a trained mental health professional. Sessions vary in length but can last anywhere from 4-8 hours, depending on how long it takes for the full ‘trip’ to conclude.
With that in mind, the actual concept of psychedelic-assisted therapy (also known as PAP) is still considerably under development. There are currently no federal certification requirements, and this is simply due to legal issues.
If you’re looking for a provider near you, consider starting with your closest research-based university. They are the most likely to be involved in ongoing clinical research, and you may be eligible for depression treatment if you sign up through an approved clinical trial.
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a nonprofit organization developed in 1986 that connects leadership to public resources to co-create legal efforts for psychedelic use. Their website offers a centralized hub for psychedelic connection and indicates having the most advanced psychedelic-assisted therapy research. They also focus on MDMA, cannabis, LSD, ibogaine, and ayahuasca.
Furthermore, some companies offer psychedelic guidance. For example, a few years ago, 24 professionals at UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics were trained to appropriately guide psychedelic experiences in clinical settings. These professionals were diverse and included doctors, chaplains, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and more. More ‘guidance’ options will likely be available in the near future(3).
Current Research on Mushrooms and Depression
Depression is a multifaceted issue, and although many people respond well to treatment, it’s estimated that about one-third of people have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This refers to experiencing symptoms even after engaging in conventional therapy or taking different types of antidepressants.
Treatment-resistant depression comes with numerous challenges. People may feel discouraged to continue engaging in treatment if their symptoms do not resolve or worsen. However, untreated depression can progressively worsen over time, affecting all parts of someone’s life. Treatment-resistant depression may be an underlying factor in numerous mental health crises, including acute substance use, self-harm, and suicidal behavior.
Although research on psilocybin therapy is relatively scant, it’s continuing to grow. With that, recent studies have found that psilocybin is effective in treating depression.
For example, one study examining adults across 10 European countries found that participants taking a 25-mg dose experienced a significant improvement in depressive symptoms than those taking a 1-mg dose(4). Large-scale research from John Hopkins also indicated that psychedelic treatment improved depression symptoms in 80% of participants for up to one year(5). Similar results were found by researchers at New York University. In all cases, psilocybin was administered in microdoses within controlled conditions.
People who have experienced success with mushrooms often talk about how psychedelics cause an ‘opening up’ effect. This effect refers to seeing yourself and the world differently, and that can dramatically impact your state of mind. Being ‘out-of-body’ can also cultivate themes of creativity, connectivity, and gratitude. This can also impact depressive symptoms, both in the short-term and long-term.
Further research on this is certainly needed. Similarly, most advocates are adamant in suggesting that people should not try to resolve their depression using mushrooms without professional support. With that, the placebo effect may also need to be examined- people may simply feel better if they have a positive association in believing that the drug worked.
Recently, the FDA awarded psilocybin as a ‘breakthrough therapy’ for major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression(6). This was granted to expedite research, development, and clinical drug reviews.
In addition to treating depression, psilocybin therapy may also be beneficial for managing:
- Chronic pain
- Persistent PTSD symptoms
- Severe anxiety
- Smoking cessation
- Substance abuse disorders
- Severe OCD
Risks of Psychedelics for Mental Health Treatment
All treatment options have their risks, and this is particularly true for alternative approaches. Despite the potential benefits, it’s equally important to be aware of the drawbacks of mushrooms for treating depression.
Bad trips: People who have experienced ‘bad trips’ often report central themes of paranoia and fear. In some cases, these emotions may be so intense that they feel temporarily debilitating. Bad trips can happen for a variety of reasons, including excessive dosing, certain mental health symptoms, using a ‘bad’ product, or not being in the right emotional state of mind.
Post-hallucinogenic perceptual disorder: Although this condition is rare, some people report persistent hallucinations or derealization long after the trip is over. Other symptoms include heightened anxiety, distortions of size and location, seeing halos or auras around certain objects, and meshing of various colors.
Misuse or addiction: Although psychedelics are not considered to be addictive, it is possible to abuse any mood-altering substance. This risk may be heightened for people who have preexisting or current struggles with addiction.
Legal consequences: Mushrooms are federally illegal and classified as a Schedule I substance. Using them in unregulated settings (or purchasing them illicitly) entails absorbing that risk.
Difficulties associated with self-medicating: Some people find that substances numb certain emotions without necessarily helping people feel or process them to completion. While this can provide temporary relief, it can exacerbate certain mental health issues and may actually intensify themes of irritability, sadness, concentration problems, and low self-esteem. These can all magnify depression symptoms.
Final Thoughts
Depression is unquestionably a serious mental health condition. Unfortunately, treatment is not always a straightforward process and what works well for one person doesn’t necessarily work well for someone else. You may need to try a few different approaches to find what works best for you.
Like any treatment option, mushrooms come with significant benefits and risks. It’s important to evaluate these pros and cons before considering any substance use, and it’s ideal to have this discussion with a qualified mental health provider.
Sources
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
- https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/…/magic-mushrooms.html
- https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/…uc_berkeley
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206443)
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11016263/
