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Date of Award
Summer 2023
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Diana Hawthorne
Second Advisor
Gina Montefusco
Abstract
Psilocybin is a natural chemical compound that can be found within a myriad of mushroom species such as the genera Psilocybe, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina. It has been used for centuries for its hallucinogenic properties both recreationally and for religious rituals dating back to the Aztec Indians. In modern day, it has been theorized to produce psychoactive effects on the brain, making it a potential psychopharmaceutical modality to help amplify the effects of psychotherapy in the treatment of a myriad of psychological pathologies such as major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. This article seeks to summarize the proposed mechanism of action of psilocybin on the brain, discuss the psychosocial factors that go into psilocybin treatment and analyze the current research being done to investigate this promising new treatment for various mental health disorders.
Recommended Citation
Wilde, Nikolas, "Applications of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders" (2023). Capstone Showcase. 102.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2023/pa/102
Applications of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders
Psilocybin is a natural chemical compound that can be found within a myriad of mushroom species such as the genera Psilocybe, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina. It has been used for centuries for its hallucinogenic properties both recreationally and for religious rituals dating back to the Aztec Indians. In modern day, it has been theorized to produce psychoactive effects on the brain, making it a potential psychopharmaceutical modality to help amplify the effects of psychotherapy in the treatment of a myriad of psychological pathologies such as major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. This article seeks to summarize the proposed mechanism of action of psilocybin on the brain, discuss the psychosocial factors that go into psilocybin treatment and analyze the current research being done to investigate this promising new treatment for various mental health disorders.