Exploring Differences in Therapeutic Outcomes Between Synthetic Psilocybin and Whole Psilocybe Mushrooms: A Qualitative Study

This presentation will examine findings from a qualitative study exploring patient experiences with synthetic psilocybin, mycological extracts, and whole Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms in the Roots to Thrive Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy program for end-of-life distress. Participants received each form of psilocybin on separate occasions, and post-treatment interviews were analyzed to compare their subjective and therapeutic effects. Preliminary data indicate that while synthetic psilocybin, mycological extract, and whole mushrooms were all effective, participants reported whole mushrooms as providing a more “natural” and meaningful experience, often described as feeling more connected, spiritual, and emotionally powerful. These findings suggest that clinical research may benefit from including whole mushrooms, which contain additional alkaloids potentially contributing to therapeutic outcomes, to enhance our understanding of psilocybin’s efficacy in palliative care.