Research Finds Psilocybin's Positive Effects On Cancer Patients Endure For Years

Almost five years after the original study, researchers at NYU have found a single dose of psilocybin can have long-lasting, positive effects on anxiety and depression when coupled with psychotherapy.

Back in 2016, researchers found psilocybin, a naturally occurring compound in psychedelic mushrooms, may offer cancer patients relief from depression, anxiety, and existential distress, as well as boost feelings of spiritual well-being. The benefits were immediate, and a follow-up study four and a half years later found them to be lasting, too1.

In the original study, 29 cancer patients were given either one dose of psilocybin or an active placebo that mimicked psychedelic sensations. The patients then attended nine psychotherapy sessions.

Researchers followed up with participants six and a half months after the study, three years later, and four and a half years later. Even in the most recent follow-up, positive effects on mental health were sustained, with participants reporting less depression, hopelessness, anxiety about life and death, and more.

Ph.D. candidate and lead author of the long-term study Gabby Agin-Liebes explains, "The drug seems to facilitate a deep, meaningful experience that stays with a person and can fundamentally change their mindset and outlook."

While more research is needed to understand exactly how psilocybin works in the body, it's thought to make the brain more open to new ideas and thought patterns2. People who are anxious or depressed, for example, may ruminate3 or get stuck in their own limiting beliefs. Psilocybin seems to broaden the lens, providing a new perspective.

The study notes conventional depression treatments may only work for half of patients4 or fewer, and as Ross notes, they don't typically address the existential anxiety that can come with a terminal diagnosis. Psilocybin paired with psychotherapy could offer a new approach for helping cancer patients with the heavier side of illnesses.

But most importantly, Agin-Liebes adds that psilocybin is not something to mess around with on your own. "They should be taken in a controlled and psychologically safe setting, preferably in conjunction with counseling from trained mental health practitioners or facilitators," she says.