The Lookout
Zachary Barnett
Psychedelic Psychotherapy – How GMOs and Magic Mushrooms Will Solve the Mental Health Crisis Zachary Barnett
ABSTRACT: Psilocybin and its metabolic derivative, psilocin, are psychoactive molecules that occur naturally in certain mushroom species. Recent research has shown psilocybin to be an effective means of treating several mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, OCD, and addiction. However, current legislation and the specific environmental requirements for the cultivation of psilocybin-containing mushrooms prevents the mass use of this biopharmaceutical. Fortunately, through the application of bioprocess engineering, both Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be genetically modified to produce psilocybin in vivo, which addresses the environmental and financial limitations seen in mushrooms that inhibit mass production. This thesis paper will provide an argument for the cultivation of genetically modified organisms for the mass production of psilocybin for use as an innovative antidepressant based upon reduced production costs, a high degree of chemical safety, and effective treatment rates of various disorders. Introduction The United States is undergoing a mental health crisis. Approximately 40 million adults are affected by mental health disorders each year. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S and
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impact roughly one-fifth of the population [1]. Mental health has become a sensationalized issue in modern media, with terms like ‘anxiety,’ ‘depression,’ ‘OCD,’ and ‘addiction’ occupying a large degree of space in our headlines. Two studies published by the American Psychiatric Association involving thousands of
