Can a psychedelic help relieve depression in cancer patients?

A psychedelic could help alleviate mental health symptoms in patients with cancer.

In a study published in Cancer, researchers assigned 30 patients aged 30 to 78 years with cancer and major depressive disorder to receive 25 milligrams of psilocybin during a monitored session in addition to psychotherapy.

The researchers found that a single dose of psilocybin provided sustained reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms at two, 18 and 24 months posttreatment. They reported favorable safety outcomes and no depression-related hospitalizations following treatment with psilocybin.

The findings could lead to novel treatment strategies for major depressive disorder in this patient population.

Read more: Cancer 

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