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\n 31\/07\/2025 – 14:15 GMT+2\n <\/p>\n
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Germany\u2019s medicine regulator will allow certain patients with treatment-resistant depression to try psilocybin therapy, a major shift as psychedelics inch closer to mainstream medicine.<\/p>\n
It is the first time in the European Union that psilocybin \u2013 the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms \u2013 will be made available through a compassionate use scheme, in which patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses can get access to drugs that have not yet been approved.<\/p>\n
In Germany, psilocybin will only be prescribed in \u201cjustified exceptional cases,\u201d according to the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), which asked regulators to greenlight the programme.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an enormously important step that expands our scope for action,\u201d Dr Gerhard Gr\u00fcnder, head of CIMH\u2019s molecular neuroimaging department, said in a statement.<\/p>\n
In some cases, psilocybin therapy \u201ccan be a medically and ethically justifiable option, provided it is carried out under strictly controlled conditions and with careful medical supervision,\u201d Gr\u00fcnder added.<\/p>\n
Depression is a common mental health problem, but approximately 20 per cent to 30 per cent of people with depression do not respond well to standard treatments, CIMH said.<\/p>\n
Studies have shown that psilocybin could be a promising alternative for these patients. The drug is thought to foster connections between different regions of the brain, helping people let go of excessive self-focus and rumination, according to scientists from the United Kingdom and United States.<\/p>\n
But sceptics have warned that studies on psychedelic drugs can be hard to replicate.<\/p>\n
Growing interest in psychedelics<\/p>\n
The decision from Germany\u2019s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) reflects growing interest in psychedelic therapies, including psilocybin and MDMA, as a treatment for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the Czech Republic legalised the medical use of psilocybin for conditions such as depression.<\/p>\n