Resistant Depression: Psychedelics Gain Ground in Audience in the US

Pennsylvania Assembly Democrats held a public hearing to discuss the use of psychedelic therapies, especially psilocybin, in the treatment of resistant depression. This condition, which does not respond to conventional antidepressants or psychotherapies, affects millions of people and remains a challenge for medicine.

War veterans were protagonists in the reports: many described how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and deep emotional pain became lighter when they had access to alternative therapies involving psychedelics. For lawmakers, hearing these stories is an important step in breaking the stigma that still surrounds the topic.

Between science, regulation, and economy

Researchers and invited doctors emphasized that psilocybin is not a first-line treatment, but it can represent a revolution in severe cases. Studies already point to positive effects that can last up to six months after therapeutic sessions, which arouses interest not only clinically but also economically.

By reducing hospitalizations, work absences, and indirect costs of severe depression, regulation could bring benefits beyond health. The challenge now is to balance safety, science, and public policies to transform what was once taboo into a concrete possibility of care.

With information from Marijuana Moment.