BROAD SPECTRUM OF THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF PSILOCYBIN: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Psilocybin is a psychoactive chemical compound found in the mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus which have gained significant popularity over the past decade due to their impact on neuroplasticity, serotonergic action, and their ability to create new connections between areas that previously did not communicate with each other. The aim of the study was to assess the potential applications of psilocybin in the treatment of mental illnesses. The article was developed using PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on articles published after 2021. Psilocybin is considered an alternative therapeutic option for treating mental health disorders such as: depression, anxiety, addictions, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anorexia. Studies show that even a single dose or several small doses, combined with psychotherapy, can bring rapid benefits lasting for months. Psilocybin offers a promising alternative for patients with treatment failures, side effects, or unsuitable traditional treatments. It can also be used in healthy patients with impotence. Psilocybin demonstrates the best safety profile among other psychedelics. It does not cause life-threatening side effects, and it has few contraindications. More scientific research is needed to establish treatment standards for psilocybin, which would thus allow the introduction of hallucinogens into everyday clinical practice.