Applications of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders

Date of Award

Spring 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.

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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.