engleski

Potential use of psilocybin in psychiatry

Introduction/Objectives: A question that often arises in clinical practice is how to treat patients with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post- traumatic stress disorder, depression in life- threatening diseases, alcohol and smoking addiction as well as cluster headaches who do not respond to conventional psychiatric therapy. Participants, Materials/Methods: Psilocybin is a psychedelic substance used to induce hallucinations and altered states of consciousness in different cultures since prehistoric times. It acts through serotonin receptors, with the highest affinity for the serotonin 2A receptor and increases the concentrations of extracellular serotonin and dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and in the frontal lobe of the cortex. The effects are dose-dependent causing cognitive, emotional and perceptual changes. Psilocybin improves mood with this effect continuing over several months. It is well tolerated, however, the most common side effects reported are nausea, dizziness, headache, blurre dvision, increases in heart rate and blood pressure as well as transient anxiety. Results: To date, several studies have been conducted regarding the use of psilocybin in psychiatric treatment, which show an improvement in patients with depression or anxiety resistant to previous treatment. Additional studies may be useful in determining the value of psychedelic substances in psychiatry. Based on studies to date, the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a multicentre multinational trial of psilocybin with the first results expected during 2021. Conclusions: The use of psilocybin may pose some level of risk and abuse potential ; however, there is currently no strong evidence of physical or psychological dependence. Taking this into account it can therefore be considered safe for use under medical supervision. The use of psilocybin may provide additional support to current psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment in psychiatry. Nonetheless, further research is necessary in order to evaluate the effects of psilocybin in the management of various psychiatric disorders.

psilocybi ; anxiety ; psychotherapeutic treatment

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