Magic Mushrooms and Postpartum Depression: New Findings
Recent research from the University of California, Davis, reveals that magic mushrooms might not be the solution for postpartum depression. A novel study published in Nature Communications by a diverse team from the university’s Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics (IPN) administered psilocybin to mother mice, only to discover it heightened anxiety and depressive-like symptoms linked to perinatal mood disorders, which can emerge during or after pregnancy.
While psilocybin has demonstrated potential advantages for various mental health issues by promoting neuronal growth, the findings suggest it’s not universally effective.
David E. Olson, a study co-author and IPN director, noted, “We’ve seen that a single psychedelic dose can produce lasting positive effects, but it’s more complicated when considering who might benefit versus who could be at risk. Different patient groups are involved.”
Given that mental illness is the primary cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., this research establishes an essential groundwork in the quest for effective treatments.
“Treatments during the postpartum period are urgently needed,” said Danielle Stolzenberg, another study co-author and IPN affiliate. “We’ve found that the effects of psychedelics can vary based on ovarian hormone contexts, which is a significant realization.”
The negative effects of psilocybin persisted for two weeks in the mother mice following just one dose, and notably, their offspring exhibited similar anxiety and depression-like behaviors well into adulthood. It seems the negative impacts were transmitted through lactation, potentially hindering the offspring’s neurodevelopment permanently.
Innovative Mouse Model for Understanding Postpartum Depression
The foundation of this study lies in Stolzenberg’s unique mouse model of postpartum depression. In this experiment, mouse mothers cohabitate with their litters in a two-cage setup that allows for respite from maternal responsibilities. Repeated exposure to a social threat—like a male mouse—disrupts maternal behavior, causing the mothers to avoid their young and exhibit stress responses characteristic of postpartum depression observed in humans.
Stolzenberg remarked, “Clinical literature frequently discusses how mothers struggle to bond with their infants when experiencing depressive symptoms. In our model, mouse mothers in stress conditions spend significantly more time away from their pups, often checking on them but also avoiding them for extended stretches.”
The research team initially hypothesized that psilocybin could help mitigate postpartum depression symptoms.
Cassandra Hatzipantelis, a postdoctoral fellow at the IPN and first author of the study, mentioned, “Psilocybin intrigued us because it has shown effectiveness across various mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. We thought it could improve the challenges faced in postpartum depression, such as parent-infant bonding.”
However, the results turned out to be the opposite; the drug produced negative effects on both mothers and their offspring. Mother mice continued to avoid their young and displayed ongoing symptoms of anxiety and depression, even after separation from their pups.
“Two weeks post-psilocybin treatment, the mothers showed significant impairments,” Hatzipantelis expressed. “We were taken aback.”
Moreover, mice treated with psilocybin faced a heightened risk of behavioral impairments and depressive-like symptoms. “I was genuinely surprised to see the mothers worsen,” Olson added.
Interestingly, virgin female mice didn’t exhibit such effects, suggesting that distinct neurochemical differences in maternal brains could be at play, leading to adverse outcomes from psilocybin.
Stolzenberg noted, “Ovarian hormones influence serotonergic signaling, but we still don’t fully understand how these hormones interact with serotonin-affecting drugs, which is crucial for understanding psychedelics’ impacts on the brain.”
Transference of Negative Effects to Offspring
The research team also observed that the behavioral effects were inherited by the offspring. Nine weeks after weaning, both male and female young displayed significant anxiety and depression indicators compared to control groups, with their brains containing traces of psilocin, a metabolite of psilocybin.
“It’s clear now that even low-dose exposure can have long-lasting effects on offspring,” Stolzenberg concluded.
This study underscores the commitment of the IPN to exploring both the positive and negative aspects of psychedelics.
Olson stated, “These could prove to be important therapeutic tools, but we also recognize they have constraints, and extensive research is needed to identify those limits.”
Since its establishment in 2023, the IPN has attracted nearly 80 faculty members from UC Davis working in diverse fields ranging from anthropology and chemistry to neuropharmacology and genomics.
“UC Davis benefits from exceptional experts in various disciplines and specialties,” Olson said. “This multidimensional approach makes high-impact scientific endeavors possible. It truly comes down to the people involved.”
