title: Role of psilocybin in the treatment of depression.
abstract: Psilocybin is a naturally occurring alkaloid, pharmacologically similar to the classic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Although primarily used as a recreational drug or an entheogen in particular cultural settings, recent population based studies have shown that it does not lead to serious physical or mental health problems or dependent use. In view of recent work demonstrating psilocybin's potential to increase subjective sense of wellbeing and because of its novel mechanism of 5-HT2Aserotonin receptor agonism, it is being explored for possible therapeutic utility in mood and anxiety disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, 4th floor Academic Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Ananya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahapatra
authors.affiliation: Junior Resident, Department of Psychiatry and National Drug-Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rishi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
keywords: depression; hallucinogen; psilocybin; treatment