It was just one of many recent breakthroughs in the use of psychedelic drugs to treat mental disorders.
A study published in Nature last July showed that the effects of psilocybin the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms can last for weeks after taking it, offering new hope for those suffering from severe treatment-resistant depression and trauma-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
The study adds to a mounting body of evidence showing that psilocybin may promote the growth of nerve connections through the development of new nerve growth and new synaptic connections between them, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity, says Peter Silverstone, a psychopharmacology expert in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta.
