Enhancing emotions rather than numbing: Psilocybin outperforms antidepressants in study

19 Jul 2023 --- Psilocybin activates a different set of serotonin receptors rather than suppressing emotions which are common effects of antidepressants, according to a new study comparing the after effects of medical treatments and psilocybin. The researchers found that even though both are effective in treating depressive symptoms, they have different effects on the brain.

Conventional antidepressants such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Incubators (SSRIs) and psilocybin have therapeutic effects and act on the 5-HT systems. However, the study found that psilocybin acts as a direct agonist on some 5-HT receptors and confirmed that the magic mushroom compound often brings a higher acceptance of emotions.

Nutrition Insight speaks about the findings with Dr. Matthew Wall, author of the study and a senior imaging scientist at Invicro, London, UK.

“SSRIs can often lead to a reduction in the range or depth of emotions that people feel. This is often called emotional blunting. In contrast, psychedelic therapy may selectively reduce responses to negative emotions and enhance positive ones, at least in the short-term,” explains Wall.

In the psilocybin group, reduced depression scores also showed a higher emotional function post-therapy.Mental health benefits
SSRIs are widely used for moderate to severe depression and have side effects such as emotional numbness, which the new study also confirmed. 

There was a change in brain activity in the group receiving escitalopram treatment – an SSRI – that made the brain less responsive to emotions. Although, the group that showed the most disconnection of emotions also had the most reduced depression symptoms among the SSRI participants. 

In the psilocybin group, reduced depression scores also showed a higher emotional function post-therapy.

Wall details that psilocybin therapy is currently being investigated for several other mental health conditions, including OCD, chronic pain and eating disorders. 

“It may also be helpful in several other conditions such as addiction, anxiety disorders, and others,” he adds.

Potential for wide applications
Earlier this year, an Italian study highlighted the potential of psilocybin and Ibogaine – the naturally psychoactive compound found in the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga and other plants of the Apocynaceae family – for curing addiction and improving mental well-being.

“The point about the wide applications in other disorders is that the mechanism of action of psychedelic-assisted therapy is quite different to standard psychiatric therapy, and is ‘transdiagnostic’ – meaning, not tied to a particular diagnostic category of mental illness,” says Wall.

He details the mechanism of action is currently thought to be a general reset of brain pathways or putting the brain into a flexible, “plastic state,” where old (dysfunctional) pathways can be degraded, and new (more functional) ones can be promoted. 

“The ‘therapy’ part of the process is important here, of course, and that part might have to be tailored to the patient’s particular condition. A general term for mood and anxiety disorders is ‘internalizing’ disorders, and psychedelics will likely be useful for that class of problem.”

Furthermore, ‘externalizing’ disorders are those characterized by disrupted behavior and impulsivity, such as mania or psychotic disorders, and it’s less likely that psychedelics will be helpful. It might even be harmful in those conditions, Wall warns.Wall says he is hopeful that psychedelics will become a standard practice in mental health.

“So, given that we have potential applications in depression, anxiety, addiction, chronic pain, eating disorders, trauma-related disorders and possibly others – I think the applications are wide,” he argues.

Forecasting psilocybin
Wall says he is hopeful that psilocybin and other psychedelics will become a standard practice in mental health as science evolves.

“Currently, Australia is leading the way in licensing psilocybin and MDMA for certain disorders, and perhaps other countries will soon follow. However, there are big legal problems to address, as these drugs are still highly illegal and classed as having no medical uses in most countries.”

An international research team recently found that the antidepressant effects from psilocybin last longer and kick in faster than medications.

“Psychedelics can produce fast and enduring antidepressant responses with a single dose when administered in a controlled clinical setting with the supervision of trained professionals,” Rafael Moliner, lead author of the international study, previously told Nutrition Insight.

Wall says that public demand for these treatments will likely be an essential factor in driving politicians to re-class them, as has been helpful for medical cannabis.

By Beatrice Wihlander