Magic mushrooms could help treat depression

A new study has revealed the positive effects of magic mushrooms treating depression.

19 patients ingested the psychedelic ingredient psilocybin, with results showing that half of them had responded positively after five weeks.

Reduced depressive symptoms happened as a result of decreased amygdala CBF, as stated by Scientific Reports.

The study goes on to say: "The post-treatment brain changes are different to previously observed acute effects of psilocybin and other ‘psychedelics’ yet were related to clinical outcomes. A ‘reset’ therapeutic mechanism is proposed."

Dr Robin Carhart-Harris of Imperial College London told the BBC: "Patients were very ready to use this analogy. Without any priming they would say, 'I've been reset, reborn, rebooted', and one patient said his brain had been defragged and cleaned up."

However, Carhart-Harris advised people not to self-medicate.

Ketamine is another drug being tested as a treatment for depression, while MDMA has been given "breakthrough status" in PTSD treatment trials.

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter