According to Drug Science UK: “Mental health conditions remain the single largest cause of disability in the UK, representing not only a significant source of distress and suffering but are also responsible for a wider economic cost estimated at more than £100 billion per year.
Our first line treatments for a number of mental health conditions, pharmaceutical antidepressants, cost the NHS nearly £650,000 every day, despite high levels of incomplete response or non-response, and unpleasant side-effects that reduce patient adherence.
Yet there is hope. Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows great promise in the treatment of a wide range of the most difficult-to-treat mental health conditions. A recently completed phase 2 trial found that psilocybin had equal antidepressant effects to the leading prescription antidepressant.”
In this short series, I approached a Professor in Psychopharmacology Joanna Neill, the CEO of Heroic Hearts Keith J Abraham and Club and Drug Researcher Dr Karenza Moore. I also spoke to a selection of people who have tried or were undergoing Psilocybin-assisted therapy.