Therapeutic potential of psilocybin: a promising agent in treating major depressive disorder

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a serious mental disorder and ranks first among psychiatric disorders that dominate the global disease burden. Recently, it was found that psilocybin, active compound derived from psychotropic mushrooms, can relieve depression symptoms rapidly and sustained benefits for several months. Beside MDD, psilocybin can alleviate symptoms of anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the human body, psilocybin is dephosphorylated to form its active metabolite, psilocin which exhibits its effect through binding to various serotonin receptors. Is is considered relatively safe and can potentially meet the therapeutic needs without addictiveness and overdose risk. Although psilocybin has great potential in treating MDD and other psychological disorders, many studies so far lack homogeneity in their methodology, which limits conclusions. Further studies are needed in more extensive and diverse populations.