Similarly to the John’s Hopkins experiment, the UCLA Psilocybin and Cancer trails tested the saftey and efficacy of psilocybin. This study included 12 patients who suffered from anxiety and stress due to their advanced cancer. In addition, this test was a double-blind study that included a placebo and psilocybin. Each participant recieved two treatment sessions (about 6 hours long), which were distributed about three weeks apart. Also, follow ups were conducted two weeks after the first treatment, and 6 months after the second (Grob CS, Danforth AL, Chopra GS, & et al).
An interview was conducted with research participant Annie Levy, here is a summary of her experience:
Lasting effects
Annie now feels like someone has put a light bulb in her head. She is now more focused on living in the moment and feels freed from her anxiety (Delaney, Janeen, Levy, Annie, Walcoff, Estalyn).
UCLA Case Study
Prior to treatment
Annie Levy's terminal cancer diagnosis changed her view on life. She constantly thought about the process of dying and the suffering that comes along with it. As a result of her severe anxiety, she completely lost her faith. She looked into taking psilocybin because she wanted to learn how to control her anxiety and freely live her life (Delaney, Janeen, Levy, Annie, Walcoff, Estalyn).
Follow me back to the Mad Shroom Party!
Psilocybin experience
Annie’s psilocybin experience lasted about 6 hours and took place in a hospital room that was decorated with flowers and other décor that referenced being one with the universe. Her doctors checked on her every hour. During her experience, she did have slight spurts of anxiety, but there were professionals present to calm her down and guide her through her journey. With her eyes covered, Annie saw patterns and faces, and thought about the people she loved. She also had a spiritual experience where she felt as if monks were teaching her how to relax and overcome obstacles, which connected her to the universe. While looking in the mirror on a bathroom break she saw a younger version of herself, which made her reflect on her growth and changes through the years (Delaney, Janeen, Levy, Annie, Walcoff, Estalyn).
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