Skip to content
Surprising Science

Psychedelic Anti-Depressants

"Scientists suggest that some psychedelics are remarkably good at treating disorders like depression and may now have a clue as to why." Studies on psychedelics may create new treatments.

“Scientists suggest that some psychedelics are remarkably good at treating disorders like depression and may now have a clue as to why.” Studies on psychedelics may create new treatments. The drug in question is Ketamine, a power animal tranquilizer that lists hallucinations as a potential side affect. In studies, Ketamine builds new synapses in the brain within ten minutes, a biological response which eases symptoms of depression and stress. In another study, psilocybin, or “magic mushrooms” were shown to ameliorate symptoms of depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Scientists are searching for “a drug that treats depression the same basic way as a psychedelic but without any of the hallucinations and other mind-bending effects.”


Related

Up Next
"While America's super-rich congratulate themselves on donating billions to charity, the rest of the country is worse off than ever." Der Spiegel reports on the rising rich-poor gap in the U.S.