Phase 1 clinical trials for psilocybin show no adverse effects

A team of researchers from King's College London and mental healthcare company Compass Pathways has released the results of a Phase 1 clinical trial for the drug psilocybin. In addition to announcing the results at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, team members also spoke with the press. They reported that thus far, they have found no adverse effects in volunteers who were given the drug.

Psilocybin is the active ingredient in magic mushrooms—it is a psychedelic drug, which means consuming it induces hallucinogenic symptoms. In recent years, mental health researchers have been investigating the possibility of using it to treat chronic depression. In most cases, proscribing psilocybin would be a treatment of last resort for patients who have not responded to any other type of treatment.

Read full story here