Frontiers in Psychiatry (Oct 2024)

A narrative exploration of psilocybin’s potential in mental health

  • Huitae Min,
  • Soon Young Park,
  • Jisu Park,
  • Jisu Park,
  • Seongsu Na,
  • Seongsu Na,
  • Hoe-Suk Lee,
  • Taejung Kim,
  • Taejung Kim,
  • Jungyeob Ham,
  • Jungyeob Ham,
  • Jungyeob Ham,
  • Young-Tae Park,
  • Young-Tae Park

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1429373
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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Psilocybin, a psychoactive substance, has recently garnered attention for its high therapeutic potential in psychiatry. In this study, we investigated the multifaceted aspects of psilocybin, highlighting its chemical properties, mechanisms of action, and burgeoning role in psychiatric treatment. Furthermore, we examined the clinical applications and potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin in the treatment of various mental health disorders, supported by accumulating clinical evidence. This review aims to deepen our understanding of the clinical impact of psilocybin, elucidate its therapeutic value, and propose directions for future research, thereby paving the way for its integration into mainstream psychiatric treatments. Psilocybin has been shown to be safe in clinical trials with manageable side effects. However, additional safety measures are required after this discussion, including dosing protocols, patient monitoring, and distress management strategies.

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