New Zealand
Psilocybin, a psychedelic found in magic mushrooms, might be a good treatment for depression, but New Zealand ketamine researchers warn that we don’t yet know enough about it. In June this year, Medsafe gave one New Zealand psychiatrist permission to give psilocybin to people with depression when other treatments didn’t work. However, the authors of a Viewpoint piece in the NZMJ say there is not yet enough good research on psilocybin to know whether it works well and is safe. They also say that it is very expensive and uses a lot of staff time, so it will not be an option for most people.
From:
Reappraisal of the hype and hope offered by psilocybin treatment of depression
Considering recent announcements, we summarise the evidence for psilocybin treatment of depression to ensure expectations by the public and health professionals are appropriately set. We highlight issues with psilocybin studies that mean benefits are over-stated. We suggest that psilocybin treatment is likely to remain a niche treatment because it is resource intensive and costly.
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